Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - Shower re-tile but old mortar on shower pan

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ykfix
11-02-08, 07:29 AM
I am retiling a shower and have tried to remove the old tile from the shower pan. The pan is now quite rough/bumpy with old mortar. Would people recommend 1) appling the new tile over the bumpy surface with a thicker mortar bed. 2) trying to ship away/grind down the mortar and then retile or 3) apply a new thin mortar bed over it to smooth it out before laying the tile.

HeresJohnny
11-02-08, 07:43 AM
If the mud bed is cracked, and crumbling, it has to go. If its still hard and intact, you can smooth it out by filling the low spots with thinset and grinding down the high spots.

How old is this shower? Keep in mind that the waterproofing for this shower pan is under the mud bed. If its old and reaching the end of its usefull life, you may want to replace it if you have already gone this far.
ykfix
11-02-08, 11:45 AM
The shower pan is older 20 years maybe but is solid and intact. I will try grinding and filling. Thanks.