I want to redo my bathroom I am gutting down to the to by fors. I want to have a ceramic shower. Does anybody have input on this is there special grout to use so things do leak.
Is this a "ceramic shower" from the ground up or is this a "ceramic shower" from a bathtub up?
Let's clear some misnomers right up front:
Tile-grout IS NOT waterproof and it will have the ability to wick moisture. This is why cement boards are used for the walls. Cement boards also ARE NOT waterproof but they also are not bothered by moisture. There is no need to have the shower totally waterproofed (per se) but this can easily be done if desired. All showers and tub surrounds do however require a moisture barrier ON THE STUDS.
If not in a tub arrangement then YES the shower floor (receptor) must be waterproofed.
Todays pan receptor liners are mostly vinyl though in some areas lead is still used but very outdated and suseptible to failing. Copper shouldn't even be considered these days as the seams must be sealed with lead which is a problem.
The "pre-slope" goes BELOW the pan-liner and not above it. It goes: moisture barrier, metal lath (if desired) sloping cement pre-slope, vinyl pan liner with "special" floor drain", sloping top cement floor sloping not less than 1/4" per foot, tile, grout.
YES there are books available and I would suggest you also research this subject until you are exhausted before attempting this. Be sure the information you are getting is from qaulified sources as you have already been given some iffy advice right here.
