From what I can tell my tile guy broke just about every rule in the book when building my shower pan and curb:

1. No pre-slope for liner. (Actually, 6 of 7 tilers I interviewed for the job said they didn't usually build a pre-slope but I built one myself before I let them lay the liner).

2. Packed mortar down around the drain without putting down some kind of material to keep the weep holes open.

3. Built the curb out of cement board rather than mortar thus piercing the liner with screws to attach the CBU on top of the curb and inside the shower.

I am just sick about this as it took me months to do the construction on this remodel and unfortunately a lot more money then I thought it would--but I tried to do everything "by the book" and waited another 2 1/2 months until he showed up.

Any ideas as to how to fix this or at least try to minimize what would seem to be some pretty big risks?

My plumber suggested coating the curb with a topical membrane like Redguard and to try to open the weep holes from within the drain with a hanger? Assuming this would work--how do I find the weepholes? I opened the drain and I can see where the liner comes in but can't seem to find the weepholes. Suggestions?

I suggested to the tiler that we break up the mortar around the drain, put something down to keep the weepholes clear, and repack with new mortar. He is unwilling to do this saying it will compromise the mortar bed where new and old mortar meet. He keeps saying I'm worrying about nothing and that no water will get down there having to go through tile, epoxy grout, thinset, mortar, etc. From what I read it seems inevitable and that is the purpose of the liner and weep holes in the first place!

Also, if this was, in fact, constructed incorrectly, are there any codes, or published industry standards that I can show him as a point of reference and to use as leverage so I can negotiate not having to pay for a substandard job?

Any advice anybody can give me will be greatly appreciated. I'm thinking of just breaking up the entire pan, taking off the CBU, patching the liner, and starting from scratch---it has already been seven months into this project--2 1/2 waiting for the tiler, but I want it right and don't want to take short cuts now. Or am I worried about nothing?

Hi Vetra,

Your post is pretty typical of the kind of work that is being done by some all around the US and Canada alike.

1. Wow, you interviewed at least 7 tilers for this job? What if you needed an operation, how many doctors would you have to.............? OK, no pre-slope. Did the tilers install the drain and the membrane? Most of the time the plumber is supposed to do that, and so the reason why no pre-slope under alot of membranes. Plumbers very often break the code for the need of the pre-slope. Building inspectors in many areas are clueless as to the exsistence of that code too.

2. Packing mortar around the drain and possibly blocking the weep holes is another common mistake. However, if there is no pre-slope, no point of doing this step correctly since the mud-bed could soon become a swamp with no way to drain anyway.

3. Another thing that is done wrong. I guess they figure that once it is tiled you can't see the problem.....and so it doesn't exsist. If that was the only problem you could do what your plumber suggested and apply several coats Redguard or a similiar product.

It's very likely that there may be other boo-boos.

Some things to read about the right way. http://www.keentile.com/content/TileCounsilofAmericaHandbook.asp Click on the "TCA Handbook" at the bottom. Then find how shower are built on page 52-54. Pay attention to method B415 on pg. 52-53.

In addition to that, our own Harry Dunbar has spent alot of time showing steps to do just about any tiling project there is. Yes right here on this site. Check it out.

Jaz

Hi Vetra
Sorry to hear about your situation.
Never is a long time .... will he put that in writing?

A homeowner shouldn't be required to tell a tradesperson how to do their job .... it should already be established they're going to do the job right in the first place. Tell him to check out the photos on this site of the mold and water damage caused by his procedure.

Jaz made a good point about not worrying about the weep holes if the liner is laying flat. It'll serve no real purpose because the weep holes are always at least 3/8" higher than the lowest point on the liner .... sometimes even higher. This will keep the mortar bed saturated causing the backerboard to eventually "wick" water.

For directions for installing a liner properly .... simply look at the packaged liners they sell at Home Depot. They come with clear instructions for building a slope under the liner.

What to do now .... probably a waterproof membrane over top the slab, over the curb, a couple of feet up the wall and incorporated into the drain system with as much imagination possible to create a solid system.

nice thread as it probably is more common then we'd like to believe. issue is well described, the advice is sound and detailed.

i'm not a professional so don't take my advice.. but.. if i were in your shoes this is what i would do.
1) absolutely agree with Harry, if he says it will NEVER be a problem ask him to put that in writing. when he says "no", proceed to step 2.

2) stop payment to tile guy & start lawsuit (that will make them think twice)

3) chip through the mortar bed and do the drain right. i'd put a layer of redgard on the old mortar. then, when pour the new mortar then redgard over the cracks when it dries.

4) redgard the curb and walls

5) then i'd ask on the message board if i should go the extra stop of using the kerdi the shower system.

good luck!!!