Mortar pan vs foam pan

LINERLEDGE was developed by installers, most long term trade professionals are going to be building mud pans. If you have ever done any home renovations you will most likely have torn out an old mortar bed. If installed correctly, they probably have never leaked, even after some 50 plus years. Which is why the old schools are still going to be building mud beds, especially if they stand by their work.

As installers and renovators, we have torn out foam pans in brand new homes that have already caused very costly structure damage. Why? I mean, I would not even buy a foam cooler, because they break and fall apart very easily. So why would I build an expensive shower on top of a foam pan? I guess you’d have to tear out several to know why. Foam has very little flex, but just enough flexing that over time the grout begins to crack, and once it cracks, water begins to get through to the structure, causing major damage. 

We are seeing home builders beginning to stop using foam pans, because they do not even last through the builders one year warranty. Not to mention, that with current trends, people are using penny tiles, which are not recommended for use with foam pans, because they don’t distribute out enough weight to prevent failure. 

The bottom line is that yes, they may be a little easier to install for someone not skilled enough to float out a traditional mud pan, but they aren’t as strong long term for holding up to heavy weight in a shower or any flexing. Now with people wanting wet rooms, you definitely can not have a tub filled with water on top of a foam pan. Also, when it comes to many custom sizes, a mud pan is your best choice. 

Mud pans are a solid surface, and if you ever need to replace a tile or re-grout, you can more easily do so without having to replace the pan. Unlike foam pans, if damage occurs, most likely you are going to have to replace the whole pan.

Almost everyone likes a modern, sleek design, and definitely likes a faster, easier install, and for that reason we developed LINERLEDGE. It is designed especially for mud pans and can be used with a pan liner, or a topical waterproofing membrane. It gets rid of the raised curb leaving what we call a semi-curb less design that installs much faster, and tiles incredibly faster than the raised curb. Leaving behind a beautiful modern sleek design that can be enjoyed for years to come!