I’ll bet when you started researching a tub to shower conversion for your elderly parents, or when you were thinking about materials for a shower for your new home, the first product you looked into WAS NOT the shower pan!
And while the ‘structure’ of your shower is the shower base (or shower pan as it’s also called), it’s NOT the sexiest part of the project (and therefore isn’t one most people enjoy researching).
It’s mundane. It’s something you (literally) step on day after day.
However, you’ll ignore your shower base at your own risk. And here’s a short list of some of the ‘pains’ you could feel IF you ignore this all-important shower component:
If the shower pan fails, you’ll have to replace everything above it.
If the shower pan is expensive to install (because the drain was in the wrong location or the pan was too big), you’ll be paying a plumber or carpenter more than you had to.
If the curb on the shower pan is too tall if one of your family member’s mobility deteriorates, you could be forced into tearing the entire system out (pan, walls, glass doors, niches, you name it) so they’re able to walk in or roll in.
And this is a just a ‘short list’ of problems a shower pan can cause.
So, how can you make sure these (and other problems) don’t happen to you?
Well, the secret is educate yourself BEFORE you become a victim of shower pan problems. It’s to know shower pans like the back of your hand (and yes, I’m sure this is JUST the excitement you were looking for in your life…..sarcasm intended!).
And in this article, my goal is to help you do just that. I’ll provide 10 secrets nobody tells you about factory built shower pans, so you won’t make ‘rookie mistakes.’ In addition, I’ll give you a graduate level tips to make the right selection for your project.
So now, let’s check out the 10 secrets nobody tells you about factory built shower pans. And I’ll also ‘throw in’ (as a ‘bonus’) an 11th secret at no extra charge! Now, that sounds like I’m hawking Ginsu knives.
Secret #1 – Factory built shower pans can be trimmable (and this can save your butt if you don’t know the exact size you need!)
If you’re doing a shower to shower conversion, or a bathtub-to-shower conversion, and you (or your contractor) is estimating the size you need before you demo the old system, this can cause you a big problem (especially if the base you buy is too big).
Trying to make an alcove shower larger to fit a shower pan isn’t a simple ‘operation.’
To eliminate this issue, ask if the shower pan is trimmable. What few people realize is there are pans (like the stone shower pan below) that can be cut (up to 6” side to side). This can save you a ton of money vs. needing to reframe your walls to make the ‘standard-sized’ shower pan you bought fit.
Secret #2 – You can find bases which’ll literally ‘stand up’ to anyone AND not squeak!
Don’t you hate plastic shower pans which ‘move under your feet?’ It may remind you (if you’re old enough) of the song ‘I can feel the earth move under my feet, with the sky tumbling down, tumbling down.’ But I digress.
Cheap (and thin) plastic shower pans are prone to cracking, squeaking and not giving you a ‘warm all over’ feeling they’ll last! So, how can you eliminate this problem?
Start with a pan with a ‘solid’ foundation. Here’s a list of the better pans (although I’ll tell you they’re more expensive than the cheap, plastic stuff you’ll find at your local home center).
A cultured granite shower pan. Even though the designs are pretty straightforward, they’re sturdy and built to last.
A contemporary reinforced acrylic shower pan. This pan will be the least expensive on this list, and it’s got an easy to clean acrylic (NOT fiberglass) top. It uses an MDF (Multi Density Fiberboard) beneath the surface to give it strength.
Secret #3 – Shower pan failure IS NOT an option you’ll want to pay for!
Since your shower wall surrounds, glass doors, and accessories are built above the shower pan (and the pan is your shower’s foundation), if the shower base fails you’ll likely need to replace EVERYTHING above it.
Shower pans which fail are a BIG problem. And replacing your shower pan will be about as much ‘fun’ as it was for my wife and I when we had to replace our ‘leech bed’ (yes, that’s the place your poop goes if you don’t have city sanitation) as 26 year old first-time homeowners… 3 months after we bought our first home. And yes our older neighbors did feel bad for us, but nobody chipped in to pick up the tab!
So, don’t cheap out on the flimsiest base you can find because it’s not the most exciting part of your shower, then it fails. This is not a problem you want to have.
Get a sturdy shower pan (and see #2 for options)!
Secret #4 – Shower pans can help you minimize gray hairs and aggravation (IF you choose the right one).
As a guy whose still ‘in a war’ with my gray hair (although I AM thankful I still HAVE hair at my ripe ‘young’ age of 64, I’d like to do anything (including buying $9.99 cent bottles of hair coloring) to minimize gray hair. And I also like to do anything which makes life simpler and helps me to keep my head above water.
And quality shower pans – although no barber or beautician will tell you get rid of gray hairs – can help to lessen them when you’re NOT dealing with (or the victim of) the maintenance or leaking problems which can come with a bad shower pan purchase!
To get the worries, time-commitment, and maintenance hassles of a shower pan behind you ditch the tile shower pan and choose a grout free shower pan instead.
They’re easier to clean. They’re less prone to leaking. It’ll be one less thing to give you more gray hairs (and yes, I’m ASSUMING you still have hair!).
Secret #5 – Drains in factory built shower pans can be cool and actually add style!
I’ll admit the ugliest part of a shower pan is often the round pitted drain cover which is part and parcel of most standard shower pans.
These round drain covers – while ultra-common – are downright ugly…IMHO.
And while ‘most people’ are stuck with their ugly round drain because their remodeler or builder ‘chose’ it for them, you don’t have to be one of them.
No – if you’re still longing (after all these years) to be the ‘cool kid on the block’ you can win friends and influence people (a la Steven Covey) when you show off your hidden square strainer cover or stylish linear drain.
And who knew – you only needed a fun shower drain for you to become the envy of your neighborhood! Ok, I might be exaggerating a bit here!
Secret #6 – Seats built into shower pans are a B-A-D idea!
It may be tempting to buy an ‘all-in-one’ shower pan and bench seat ‘solution,’ but I’ll tell you not to touch this option with 10’ pole. And you might ask, “Why do you say this Mike?”
I say this for several reasons.
First, these ‘combo units’ are generally made of fiberglass which can be hard to clean and yellow (I’ll bet there’s more than a few of you nodding your heads right now in agreement!).
Second, is this ‘fixed’ (and molded) bench seat takes up too much room. And if you’re like most people, you already don’t have enough room in your shower.
And lastly, when you buy a base with a bench seat you’re stuck with the height and position of the seat. For example, if you’re ‘vertically challenged’ and would like the bench seat to be closer to the floor of the shower pan, you can’t do it. Or if you’d like to put the bench seat in another location, you’re S.O.L.
A smarter approach is to use a fold down seat. With fold down seats, you can place them where you like. In addition, you can use a better quality shower pan (like those made of solid surface).
Secret #7 – You can buy a factory built shower pan which can adjust to your mobility circumstances
It’s sad when someone who installed a shower a few years ago is dealing with a family member with declining mobility, or an accident, and the shower pan (or tile shower floor) they installed stops this person from using their new shower.
In most cases this is a problem which CANNOT be solved without removing the old shower base AND the materials (shower wall surrounds, glass doors etc.) above it. And that’s a big problem (and big cost).
However, what most people don’t realize is you CAN buy a shower pan which can ‘transform itself’ into a roll in shower pan if mobility becomes a challenge.
One option is a pan with an ‘add-on’ ramp kit. This ramped component (which is placed in front of the pan) can save a lot of money – and allows a low profile stone shower pan to be converted into a roll in shower (WITHOUT spending a lot of money).
It’s nice to know there are factory built shower pans which can flex with your mobility circumstances, even if your flexibility ain’t what it used to be!
Secret #8 – Factory built (and grout free) pans can be designed to fit nearly any shaped glass (or glass block) walls
Perhaps you’d like a glass block walk in shower – or you really want to go ‘high-brow’ with curved and bent shower glass. Then you ASSUMED you’d have to use a custom-built tile shower pan (and get all the ‘fun’ – sarcasm intended – maintenance which comes with it). Well – I’m here to tell you this is not the case!
Secret #9 – Not all factory built shower pans are squeaky and require a mortar bed underneath them.
When you buy cheaper shower pans, they’ll usually require a mortar bed underneath for support. And this is extra cost – and messy to install.
A way around this hassle is to get a sturdier shower pan made of solid surface or one built with a beefier reinforcing systems under the surface. You’ll get a better quality pan AND save on installation labor.
Secret #10 – Buying a shower pan WITHOUT considering the glass you’ll use above it, can be a major faux paux.
I thought it was wonderful the assisted living facility we were moving my Aunt into was installing a new bathroom with a round corner shower pan. And when I saw their maintenance crew installed the round pan I said to my wife, “I hope the company who made this shower pan also sells a glass door system to go with it!”
And as luck (WOULDN’T) have it, this manufacturer didn’t have glass enclosures to go with their shower pans (or the assisted living facility didn’t know where to get them). So, in the end they installed glass which didn’t fit correctly on the shower curb and ‘stole’ space from the already very tiny (it’s 32” x 32”) corner shower stall.
So, given the problem we had with my aunt’s shower, make sure you can get a glass shower door system which is made specifically for your base (especially if the shower pan has a round, bowed, or NEO angle design). And make sure those glass shower doors ARE NOT a pile of junk you’re stuck buying because they’re the only one which is shaped to fit this pan.
Factory built and ugly can be mutually exclusive…that’s IF you don’t grab the first pan off the shelf of your local home center store!
So, do you understand more about factory built shower pans and how to make a smart purchase? Can me (and my team) help you sift through options?
I know there’s more to understanding shower pans than meets the eye. However, I hope this article has helped you to gain more insights on the best shower pan for your job.
President of Innovate Building Solutions a nationwide supplier and regional (Cleveland and Columbus) remodeling contractors. Some of our product lines include glass counters, floors, backsplashes, glass blocks and grout free shower and tub wall panels
Bob – thanks for your question. All shower pans (or tub/shower combo units) do have a sloped pan – otherwise water wouldn’t be directed to the drain. The key is for the slope to not be too dramatic – Mike
Bob
Mike,
I am planning on a tub to shower conversion. When I look at the stone shower base pictured under Secret #1, I have concerns about the sloped angles on the sides leading to the drain. While I understand that water must be directed to the drain, my concern is with stepping into or out of a wet shower with that sloped angle.
Otis – what type of base did they use for this shower pan (and/or what materials did they use outside the shower floor)? The key to any shower is obviously proper waterproofing – and if you have a walk in shower – it’s also important to think about the bathroom floor right outside the opening of the shower as well – Mike
Toh- thanks for your question. I’m not specifically aware of the bases available in Singapore – but I could put you in contact with our shower pan suppliers to see if they could help you – Mike
toh
is there such a solution available in Singapore?
Otis Golston III
I had a walk in shower installed an now I’m leaking water in my basement ?
Mike Foti
Bob – thanks for your question. All shower pans (or tub/shower combo units) do have a sloped pan – otherwise water wouldn’t be directed to the drain. The key is for the slope to not be too dramatic – Mike
Bob
Mike,
I am planning on a tub to shower conversion. When I look at the stone shower base pictured under Secret #1, I have concerns about the sloped angles on the sides leading to the drain. While I understand that water must be directed to the drain, my concern is with stepping into or out of a wet shower with that sloped angle.
Mike Foti
Otis – what type of base did they use for this shower pan (and/or what materials did they use outside the shower floor)? The key to any shower is obviously proper waterproofing – and if you have a walk in shower – it’s also important to think about the bathroom floor right outside the opening of the shower as well – Mike
Mike Foti
Toh- thanks for your question. I’m not specifically aware of the bases available in Singapore – but I could put you in contact with our shower pan suppliers to see if they could help you – Mike
toh
is there such a solution available in Singapore?
Otis Golston III
I had a walk in shower installed an now I’m leaking water in my basement ?