Creating A Curbless Shower Mud Bed Pan With A Flo FX Drain

In this video I share how I set up the drain flange height for the proper pitch and create a shower pan with mud bed mix that will accommodate Ditra heat uncoupling membrane.
items used in the video are:
Drain Flange: flofx.com/prod...
Thin Set Mortar: www.floorandde...
Mud Bed Mix: www.floorandde...
15# Roof Underlayment: www.homedepot....
Galvanized Lathe: www.homedepot....

[@stevenlaake9975]

Nice job. Thanks for sharing. Hope all your dreams come true.

[@richofalltrades1]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@frankcatrini4816]

i can tell your very detail orientated , so well done for sure. everything looks spot one . one thing i might have done at the end is to make a 1/4 inch notch in a stick, that notch would go around drain and would have been perfect for the ditra membrane. in the end its just as good using the 1/4 inch wood you have but having it built in to the end of a stick might be slightly better.

[@richofalltrades1]

That's a great idea.

[@mckeedesigns71]

Thanks for the video 🤘😎

[@richofalltrades1]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad you liked it.

[@nonamuss9991]

It’s helpful that it helps keep wood from soaking up moisture out of the mortar bed … but it’s a cleavage membrane to create an unbonded mudbed required by TCNA standards over wooden subfloor.

[@nonamuss9991]

…but good job. My guys didn’t use anything and now it’s having to be redone. Ugh!

[@richofalltrades1]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@-justin-4077]

Could you have run the ditra mat over top of the flange? Then used the spacers to build up the drain grate?

[@richofalltrades1]

Thanks for the question, the quick answer is no because the flo FX drain doesn't provide enough spacers in the kit to do so. I suppose if necessary, you could contact Flo FX and ask for a few more spacers. Although, I preferred to have the waterproofing sheet membrane adhered directly to the drain flange rather than than to the uncoupling membrane.

[@jtltet]

I have a couple questions. I am getting ready to do this for the first time and I have a 4'x7' shower, so it's a pretty decent size for a newbie.
Question 1: How much working time do I have with the dry pack mortar to get it level around the perimeter and sloped to the drain, tamped and smoothed?
Question 2: Is there a reason why you couldn't do the mix w/ a little more water (but not runny) to make it easier to spread and work with?
Thanks!!

[@richofalltrades1]

Thanks for the questions. It sounds like a pretty good size shower you are considering. For the mud bed mix, Mapei states that you have approximately 90 minutes of working time. The manufacturer has specific instructions for the mix. I would refer you to their technical data sheet on the product. I wouldn't recommend deviating from their instructions. I have seen others use a mortar mix where it is made to be mixed at a wetter consistency. But the dry mix wasn't too difficult to work with and is formulated for shower construction specifically.

[@kingfishstacy]

Dont do it!