To prevent water from spilling out of the shower and onto the floor during a bathroom remodel, a rim or curb should be installed around the perimeter of the shower. So, how high should a shower curb be?
The minimum acceptable height for a shower curb in the United States is 2 inches, which is the same as the height of the drain. This necessitates a fall of at least 2 inches from the location of the drain to the point at which one steps in. The curb height itself is not required to be 2 inches in height by US building codes.
I’ll explain why you might need a shower curb, whether or not it needs to be watertight, and whether you should buy a prefabricated curb or build your own (with instructions on how to do so)
Do you need a curb in your shower?
Without a curb, it is easier to get in and out of the shower, especially for elderly or disabled people who may have trouble negotiating a standard shower curb. But before you rush in, there are a few things to think about. To guarantee that constructing a curbless shower is safe, you should consult a building inspector.
If you have the green light to install a curbless shower, the next item to think about is the shower floor, which requires a drop so that water doesn’t splash all over the bathroom. A shower’s slope should be gradual so that it doesn’t become treacherous while wet.
An explanation of the function of a shower curb
The purpose of a shower curb is to contain water and prevent it from leaking outside of the shower and flooding the floor. If the drain is clogged or the plughole gets plugged, the water in the shower might potentially flood the bathroom without a shower curb. If you have a shower door, you can use it to secure the hinges.
A shower curb needs to be at least two inches high, but it can be higher. If the drain is three feet from the curb and the shower floor slopes downward at a rate of a quarter inch per foot, the floor is already 3/4 of an inch lower, thus the height of the curb only has to be 1.25 inches.
Can we skip the waterproofing of the shower curb?
It is not necessary to waterproof a prefabricated shower before installation because that feature was included during production. In any case, yes, you should definitely go ahead and waterproof your shower curb.
You will need to construct a watertight shower curb if you are tiling and installing a shower in your home yourself. A watertight barrier, such as a PVC sheet, can help with this. In addition to using a liquid barrier, you could also coat the wood with cement and then paint it.
How are shower curbs constructed, and from what materials?
Wood that has been pressure treated is commonly used for shower curbs because it is durable and resistant to water damage. To create a shower curb, you can use either regular wood or wood that has been coated with cement.
Whatever the approach, a barrier must be put in place to keep the wood dry and free of moisture that could cause rot.
Shower curbs available in stores are often constructed from rubber or kerdi-board. These shower curbs are manufactured to be watertight before installation, allowing tile to be placed directly on top; sealing is only required on the corners and joints.
Setting up a shower curb (15 steps)
To begin, locate some 2 by 4 lumber and have it trimmed to fit the width and depth of your shower’s entry. The next step is to secure them to the ground using corrosion-resistant screws.
Wrap the shower curb with a waterproof sheet or pan liner, ensuring sure it extends past the floor and up the walls by about seven inches in all directions. Care must be taken to avoid tearing the sheet in any way while performing this task.
To install the curb liner, unscrew the top of the drain cover and place it on the liner.
Create a drain opening by cutting a round hole in the liner. The drain flange’s bottom bolts are the only ones that need to be reached, therefore the hole shouldn’t be too huge.
It’s time to remove the drain’s bolts and silicone the bottom half of the drain’s curb liner. Be cautious not to get any in the bolt holes when you do this.
Carefully screw the drain flange back into place after firmly pressing the liner down against the silicone.
Line the inside of the room by pushing the liner up the walls and into the corners. Secure it in place using tape.
To prevent water from leaking through, overlap the curb liner’s corners in areas where the shower curb isn’t there.
Step two involves returning to the point where the shower curb meets the wall in order to make a vertical cut in the liner and then laying the flap over so that the liner completely envelops the shower curb.
Put some tape on a metal lathe so you don’t puncture the curb liner by accident, then lay it over the curb so it covers it.
To properly install a shower curb, cover it with mortar or cement to a depth of one inch, then rest a straightedge on top and press down on it to ensure a secure fit.
Apply a coat of cement to the outside of the curb about half an inch thick, and smooth off any excess with a trowel.
Once you’ve finished the inside of the curb, you should wait an hour before moving on.
One hour later, measure the height between the shower door and the curb with a flat trowel and adjust as necessary. Also, check to see that the curb is level and parallel on both sides.
You can now begin tiling the shower, beginning with the walls and moving on to the curb.
Excellent Manufactured Shower Seats
While it’s possible to construct your own shower curb, purchasing one already made and having it custom-fit into your shower is the best (and easiest) option.
Purchasing a prefabricated shower curb saves you the trouble of constructing your own, and it also guarantees that your new shower curb will function as a reliable water and moisture barrier.
The best shower curbs to search for are constructed from waterproof rubber, and you can find many of these on online retailers like Amazon. The rubber can be moulded into any configuration to meet your specific shower. It’s also helpful for curbless showers, which allow water to spill out onto the floor. Value-wise, it’s excellent, and its strength, durability, and ease of application make it a top pick.
