Installing a Shower Threshold

A shower threshold is as important a part of your bathroom as the shower stall or shower fittings. It prevents water from spilling off from your shower area onto the surrounding places, thus helping to prevent any damage to the floor. A shower threshold is the finishing step after installing a shower pan and can cost quite a bit when made by contractors. Instead, you could save a lot if you build the threshold at home using few basic materials.

Step 1 - Choose the Waterproofing Material

There are two possible materials to make a waterproof shower threshold. You could choose either a rubber membrane or cloth/fabric covering membrane. Here we shall guide you to use a membrane of rubber. However, a fabric membrane would not require any changes in the installation process.

Step 2 - Measuring the Area

Measure the dimensions of the shower pan surface and purchase a shower membrane of the same dimensions. Buy a threshold frame of waterproof wood or fiber from a retailer of shower fittings. Drill in holes on the walls and floor of the shower stall in the places where you see the pre-drilled holes align up, on placing the frame to the wall and floor. The threshold frame must be screwed in place using drywall screws.

Step 3 - Concreting

Mix some ready mortar mix that you can purchase from any hardware shop. This is easy as you just need to follow the instructions on the pack. Make sure that the mix is neither too lumpy nor too flowy. Take a trowel and spread it evenly on the shower pan surface and the frame. Leave it to dry. Now take the membrane piece and set it over this concreted place. If any spaces are left uncovered, then place smaller membrane pieces over them.

Step 4 - Sealing the Threshold

Take some Sealfolex or other sealing agent and put it at the sides of the membrane where it meets the shower floor. Sealing waterproof tape too can be used. Take wire mesh and cover the threshold entirely with it. The ends of the mesh must be sealed up using caulk.

Step 5 - Easy Alternative

Alternatively, you could purchase a wooden board of the same measure as the threshold of your door. Now see if it fits at the shower pan place. If not, use a saw to cut off the extra inches from the corners. Now drill in holes at the corners and secure it firmly using drywall screws. Over this structure, you can apply a concrete layer and repeat the above steps for waterproofing.

Step 6 - Final steps

After this is built, fill up the pan area with water to the height of the threshold. Leave for an entire day. Check if the water level has dropped or seeped under the threshold. If not, then congratulate yourself on having built an effective, waterproof shower threshold!