Do I replace the shower pan if I am retiling a shower?

12 years ago

I just bought a 15 year old house and am redoing a bathroom. The contractor thinks we can tile over exisitng tile. Dont I have to replace the shower pan? I dont know if there were any leaks.

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PRO

Brickwood Builders, Inc.

12 years ago

I would never even consider putting new tile over existing tile. If you are in the midst of a remodel, now is the time to take it back to the studs and start again. It can be done now easily with a little more cost. If you don't do it right now and it fails in the future, you have an expensive mess on your hands and you can't match products.

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Comments (12)

elivelund
12 years ago
I would.... I mean 15 years of water running I'm sure it would need a replacement - better than retiling and then finding out it needs replaced
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sandra
12 years ago
My tiled shower pan in my 54 yr old house is leaking. Can I put an insert shower over my tile?
PRO
Dytecture
12 years ago
It's better to do it 'right' the first time to minimize problems later.
dcconstruct
12 years ago
No, if it is the original pan it is made of lead and must be replaced entirely down to studs. Are you certain it is not the existing 54 year old tile that has lost its glazed finish? If so, it could be the walls that are absorbing water and taking the path of least resistance.
dcconstruct
12 years ago
My response was for Sandra
sandra
12 years ago
I have a 1960s Florida house with plastered walls. The water has shown up on the newer base boards and no marks on the plaster. Does that sound like the leak is coming from the pan or walls?
dcconstruct
12 years ago
Sandra,
Is the house a slab on grade? If so, it could be the pan. Is the shower valve on the same side as the leak?
sandra
12 years ago
The house is on a slab and the leak is coming out on all 3 walls that back onto the shower.
PRO
By Any Design Ltd.
12 years ago
Sounds like a liner failure. Time to do a "Do Over" - You may be able to salvage the original pre-slope layer if this was well done.

However you said moisture loss on three walls and that would lead me to think the pre-slope is not there to begin with.
lewmett
12 years ago
Anybody replacing tile in their shower should take it down to the subfloor and at least the dry wall, better to the studs. While your at it replace the shower valve. An acrilyc base is the easiest to install. Can be a DYI project, but you need to know what your doing.
PRO
Better Living Design (BLD)
12 years ago
I agree that taking out old (even if not leaking) tile or pans back to the studs and flooring is the best plan. Then install all new, modern, plumbing, fixtures, etc. No way to cheap out on that without risking problems.