Bathroom Remodels

Sheet liners fail when the glue degrades and liquid systems fail if the installer applies it too thin. Compared to other waterproofing methods, a hot mop pan is the most reliable way to go. A hot mop pan relies on a large and heavy barrier of thick asphalt tar with roofing paper that won't break down, warp, or rot over time. 

For waterproofing a shower floor, as previously discussed, the hot mop shower pan is the best. For waterproofing shower walls: the lath, scratch, and float method is a traditional and reliable way of waterproofing shower walls. Although there are waterproofing methods that are faster to install, the lath, scratch, and float method provides perfect, square walls and absolute strength once the shower walls become solid (this prevents grout joints from cracking over decades of use and gives you a completely plumb surface, eliminating all framing imperfections).

After installing a water-resistant barrier directly to the bare wood studs, a layer of expanded wire metal mesh is nailed down over that. This mesh provides the structure for the concrete to grip; this is the lath layer.

A thick layer of sand/cement mortar is placed into the wire mesh, being squeezed through the mesh holes so it is locked tightly to the wall behind it. With the cement still wet, horizontal grooves are scratched into the surface to allow the next layer to stick; this is the scratch coat.

After that coat dries, a second layer of mortar is applied. That layer is then smoothed out and carefully manipulated until the walls are flat, square, and vertical, creating the final layer for the tile; this is the float coat.