Contributing to Forum ??

[MaxPen]

Keystone requested that I contribute to the forum and I think MaxPen approved this post.
After a 2 week hiatus and 1 week failed negotiation with a professional I decided to try again.
The plan is back to building a Mud Pan.
Since I never done it before I am going to try to build a pre-slope first to give myself a little practice with the dry pack.
So below are a couple of pictures of my total hack job that I completed in about 10 hours of work.
I turned my garage into a woodshop creating plenty of sawdust with my Piece of Shit, Chink Power Tools.
I bought a 10 inch rough in toilet, just incase, since it looks like my waste pipe will be 11 inches from the finished wall.

I was going to pay an experienced renovator $50 per hour to help me but he flaked out.
I didn't like the way he wanted to build the pan and use permanent Shark-Bite Fittings behind the wall.
From my research I'm told the O-Rings can fail causing leaks.
They used Steel Crimp Rings when the house was built and I haven't seen any problems with those yet.
I'm still a bit undecided on if I should use copper or steel rings or perhaps the steel clamps.
I can't justify the cost of the specific tool to use Uponor fittings although I believe those are the best choice for PEX.

I bought 8 boxes of 12x24 Polished Porcelain Tile.
I also bought two inch Hexagon Tile Sheets for the floor but after rethinking I'm going to return those and get squares as I think they are easier to cut for the layout.
I bought Mapei 27 Silver FlexColor CQ Grout since I'm told that white will get more dirty and black will fade color fast.
I almost bought the KeraPoxy since it claims to be more waterproof but I'm told its harder to work with and if you have to bust it out its much more difficult.
Still learning so probably have to take things back for exchange anyways.

The next step is to decide on the PEX A or B, Fittings (Plastic or Bronze).
Buy the Clamp Tool, cut the PEX, install the elbows and such and secure the valve to the studs.
It's hard enough to figure out what style screws and sizes to use for me lol.
Trying to figure out the exact measurements of roughing in the shower valve and pipes is a bit of a nightmare.
I'm way out of my depth.
Should be a real kick when I have to actually run thinset, cut and place tile on the floor let alone the walls.
However first I get to deal with walling in some 3x6's and trying to build a shower bed and waterproof things while I build a front wall shower bench.
Can't wait for it all to leak and mold up so I have to spend 20 grand tearing it out and rebuilding it.
Fuck Youtube and the information age where they make you believe you can actually do this sort of thing.

I haven't done much either. Spent a day redoing stuff for a double sink, installing some recessed lights, replacement fan, relocating outlet and replacing switches, and patching stuff up.

Plan on getting into the waterproofing and tile setting soon. Should have a day coming up.

I used shark bites. They are approved for behind wall application and underground. They have been around a long time. Plus I was using the shutoffs anyway. I live in a condo. There is no individual unit shut off. I don't like dealing with association. So I just shut the building down for a minute or two and slap them bitches on without anyone being the wiser....lol
ppl