Why should I use the ProTile™ shower system?
The ProTile™ shower system is a fully integrated family of components that form a fully watertight and 100% waterproof assembly for tiled showers. Unlike shower pan liners in conventional assemblies, ProTile™ shower trays and other shower components such as niches, seats, curbs and ramps are 100% waterproof. Shower trays are easy to install and are ready to tile in about 30 minutes. In addition, ProTile™ building panels protect wall cavities from vapor penetration. A ProTile™ shower system eliminates leaks and dramatically reduces the total installation time. Installing a ProTile™ shower is faster and more secure than traditional installation methods and is backed by a 10 year, transferable, limited warranty.
Can I modify a ProTile™ shower tray to fit my shower?
Yes. The ProTile™ shower tray has been certified by the International Code Council (ICC-ES) as a 100% waterproof, tileable shower system that can be cut to size on site to fit various applications using little more than a circular skill saw or table saw. Be sure to measure and cut carefully so that the drain flange remains centered over the waste pipe. The ProTile™ shower tray should be cut equally on at least two sides, then reestablish the 1/2″ x 1/2″ notch along the pan’s perimeter so that the 1/2″ ProTile™ building panels, ramps or curbs will property join the shower tray.
Note: ProTile™ curbs can be cut to size to fit various applications. In addition, multiple curbs (or cut sections of curb) can be placed consecutively to form longer runs, including angled designs.
What type of thinset mortar should I use when installing ceramic and stone tile over ProTile™ building panels and shower trays?
Use any modified or unmodified thinset mortar as recommended by your ceramic tile and stone supplier over ProTile™ components. Any unmodified thinset mortar meeting ANSI standards such as A118.1, or A118.3, A118.4, A118.8, A118.10 , A118.11 and ANSI A118.15 for modified thinsets typically used for ceramic tile (including porcelain,) glass and stone tile, should produce excellent results. Since ProTile™ building panels are 100% waterproof, be sure to observe the thinset manufacturers recommended cure times before grouting.
Exceptions: Certain moisture-sensitive stones, i.e., green marble, or resin-backed tiles may not be appropriate for use in wet areas or may require special setting materials. Please consult your stone supplier for more information. For an acid or solvent resistant covering, use an epoxy “thinset” adhesive and epoxy grout to set and finish your tile installation.
.
Can I use pre-mixed thinsets when setting tiles on a ProTile™ shower assembly?
We highly recommend that you do not use premixed thinset, the kind typically sold in buckets. Failure to adhere to this recommendation will likely result in a failed installation. Premixed thinsets do not perform well in areas where moisture is constantly present. Always read the manufacturer’s instructions before purchasing or using any tile setting material.
What are the ProTile™ shower trays, curbs, ramps, seats and building panels made of? Can they really support the tile assembly?
ProTile™ shower trays, curbs, ramps, seats and building panels are made of closed cell, extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam with higher compressive strength than typical expanded polystyrene (EPS) products. ProTile™ components provide a 100% waterproof, lightweight yet durable and stable substrate for tile and stone. After the tile is installed and grouted, a ProTile™ shower assembly will support all the loads typical of tiled shower systems. ProTile™ curbs and curb-overs will easily support the weight of glass doors or glass block walls.
What is a water test or flood test? How do I perform one on a ProTile™ shower system?
A water test or more commonly referred to a “flood test” is a quality inspection that can be performed on any shower installation before setting tile. It basically consists of plugging the waste line with a test plug and filling the base of the shower stall with water to check for leaks. If you are building a barrier-free shower, then you will need to provide a temporary dam at the shower entry threshold. You can quickly check the drain connection and test plug by filling the pipe and drain with water up to the top of the black ProTile™ integrated shower tray flange. If the pipe connection and drain pipe plug are watertight, then you can continue filling the assembly. The water level is noted and the assembly is left for a specified amount of time – 24 hours is customary in most communities that require flood tests. If there are no leaks, the shower passes the inspection and you can begin tiling; knowing that your assembly is watertight and secure.
Note: We recommend waiting a minimum of two hours after applying ProTile™ Sealant to begin water testing. This will allow the sealant to skin over and begin to cure. This will also ensure that no damage to the sealant will occur as it sits underwater during the test and that you get watertight performance at the seams under normal curing conditions (i.e., room temperature). If temperatures are lower (i.e., in the range of 50 or 60 degrees), then it is best to wait longer before starting your water test since cooler than standard temperatures will extend the curing time of the sealant.
Once I have installed my ProTile™ shower system, how long must I wait before setting the tiles?
In general, tiles may be installed over your ProTile™ shower assembly immediately.
I accidentally poked a hole through the ProTile™ shower tray or building panel while installing the system. Do I need to start over or can I simply repair the hole?
Holes that extend all the way through your backerboard or shower tray, along with depressions in the surface can typically be repaired by using ProTile™ sealant. Simply fill the hole or depression with ProTile™ sealant and strike any excess sealant flush with the undamaged surface using a putty knife.
Do I need to use epoxy thinset and grout when installing mosaic tile less than 2” square?
No, ProTile™ HD and ProTile™ HD1 shower trays are designed to accommodate the heavy point loads, typically found in tiled shower systems without requiring the use of expensive epoxy thinsets and grouts. Heavy point loads occur when wheelchairs or other physical assist equipment are rolled across small mosaic tiles and pebbles which can cause the tile or grout to crack. ProTile shower trays are designed to support these heavy point loads.
Can I install ProTile™ building panels in traditional pan liner and mud bed shower installations?
Yes, unlike some membrane covered foam type backerboards or cement backerboards that can wick moisture or water, ProTile™ building panels are wick resistant. You can actually install ProTile™ building panels to the bottom of pan liner, before you float the mud bed base up against them with no negative effect. Once you’ve waterproofed the mud bed, the result is a wick resistant – watertight installation that’s ready to receive your choice of tile or stone.
Can I create shower benches or seats out of ProTile™ 2” thick building panels and do I have to treat the unfinished foam edge prior to tiling?
Yes, benches and seats and other creative shower options can be built using 2” thick ProTile™ building panels without the need for a wooden or metal framework. ProTile™ building panels can be cut and fitted together using ProTile™ joint sealant. When a foam edge without a factory applied finish remains visible before setting tile, simply smooth thinset with the flat side of your trowel on to the unfinished foam edge, followed by standard tile installation methods.
How do I secure the drain cover and frame to the ProTile™ shower tray flange?
Just fit the square frame on the round drain flange and then insert the drain cover. The system will be grouted into place. The grout joint between frame and the adjacent tile may be filled with a flexible caulk as long as thinset mortar is underneath the caulking. Otherwise, the caulking could create a restriction that could keep moisture from weeping into the drain. This would cause the shower to dry out slower than normal. You can also use ProTile’s patent pending 2mm, interlocking spacers adjust the height of drain frame and cover without cutting. Thinset and grout the drain frame and cover in place for a fast and attractive installation.
I’m installing a heated floor warming system; can I use ProTile™ building panels on the floor?
Yes, because ProTile™ building panels have a rating of R-4 (hr·ft2·°F) / BTU so they provide the thermal break that many floor warming manufacturers recommend. ProTile™ building panels will help your floor warm up faster, produce a more even heat and help save you dollars in the long run as the heat from your system is directed up into your tile rather than being lost into the substrate.
ProTile™ building panels are one of few foam core backerboards that have passed the rigorous ASTM C627: “Standard Test Method for Evaluating Ceramic Floor Tile Installation Systems Using the Robinson-Type Floor Tester” as proscribed by the Tile Council of North America, earning ProTile™ building panels an EXTRA HEAVY duty rating. ProTile™ building panels are appropriate in demanding environments such as car dealerships, breweries and dairies as well as residential and other commercial wet or dry area applications.
Can ProTile™ building panels be used to build a steam shower or steam room?
Yes, ProTile™ Systems presently is the only XPS foam backerboard supplier who provides a vapor resistant building panel to the US market designed specifically for steam showers or steam rooms approved under the new ASTM E96, Test Method E standard that does not require the use of a liquid applied vapor retarder. Since VP1’s vapor retarder is integrated into the building panel, you have a faster installation and you don’t have to worry about an imperfect liquid vapor retarder application such as pinholes or damage to the vapor retarder barrier that can occur if the barrier is nicked with a trowel during tile installation. ProTile Systems recommends ½” VP1 for standard home steam rooms and steam showers and 2” VP1 building panels for commercial or full time steam showers. Because ProTile™ building panels have a rating of R-4 (hr·ft2·°F) / BTU they will also help reduce energy consumption by insulating the walls and ceilings to contain the warmth in steam rooms rather than letting it escape to the cooler air outside.
Can I use ProTile™ building panels with other manufacturers shower trays and pans?
Yes. Many shower tray/pan manufacturers leave it up to the installer to choose the type of backerboard to be used with their shower products. ProTile building panels provide an ideal, waterproof substrate for tile with this type of shower tray/pan installation. In addition, ProTile™ building panels are compatible with other field customizable foam systems as well as traditional mud bed installations. ProTile™ building panels can be used in place of waterproofed cement board or other foam based backerboards and may provide a faster more economical installation. If ProTile™ building panels are used with other foam based shower trays or shower pans, we recommend the use of ProTile™ waterproof sealing tape on the curb to tray and wall to shower tray transition for a more secure installation. For mud bed installations, ProTile™ building panels can be embedded in the floor mud. Use a liquid applied waterproofing membrane to waterproof the mud bed and extend the liquid waterproofing up on the the ProTile™ building panel 2” to 3” for a completely waterproof application. There is no need to apply liquid waterproofing to the rest of the shower walls when using ProTile building panels when they are installed according to our basic installation instructions since ProTile panel’s foam core is already 100% waterproof.
Some foam backerboard manufacturers don’t specify a particular sealant to use when installing their backerboards; do you require the use of a particular sealant?
Not all sealants are formulated to have the same physical properties with regards to flexibility, hardness, time to cure, shear strength, outgassing (a process that causes bubbles in the sealant), etc. so to ensure proven performance and to give ProTile Systems the ability to extend our 10 year limited warranty, we require the use of` ProTile™ sealant in a ProTile™ shower assembly. Using ProTile™ sealant will ensure years of trouble free use.
Are ProTile shower frames and drain covers available in any designer colors?
Yes, in addition to our standard brushed stainless steel drain frame and cover, ProTile™ drains are also available in three designer colors; Polished Stainless Steel, PVD Brushed Nickle and PVD Oil Rubbed Bronze. PVD (plasma vapor deposit) coatings are scratch resistant and are extremely durable surfaces, especially in wet area, that will provide years of beautiful, trouble free use. Designer finished drain frames and covers are available from your local ProTile™ dealer or distributor.
Are ProTile™ shower niches compatible with ½” cementitious and foam based backerboards?
Yes, ProTile™ niches are made from ½” ProTile™ building panels and can be easily mounted on any ½” backerboard shower system installed on 16 o.c. studs without any additional framing. ProTile™ shower niches are 100% waterproof and make a functional and attractive addition to any shower.