Who wants cheap, ugly, white, plasticky shower wall panels or shower pans? ‘Er that’d be NO ONE!
And, on the other hand, who wants an expensive, intricate, tile shower surround or shower pan which USED TO look wonderful, but today is brown, moldy, and disgusting to clean? Once again, that’d be NO ONE!
And if you’re someone who wants no part of either of these options you’ve come to the right article.
Below I’ll show you how a high style (and simple to maintain) shower surround and shower pan DOES NOT have to carry a super high price tag to look super-cool. Yes, I know this sounds crazy but it’s not.
Read examples of grout free shower pans and shower surround panels which WILL NOT be boring – yet will allow you to retire your ugly tile scrub brush which has been your frequent ‘companion’ for waaaay tooooo many years!
First we’ll look at examples of stylish, sturdy, and simple to maintain grout free shower pans you’ll be surprised actually add flair to a bathroom remodel.
Then we’ll look at shower surround panels where you’ll swear (but don’t let your mom hear you) are the ‘real thing’ (with designs resembling tile/stone/glass or even concrete). However, they won’t come with the cost or maintenance hassles of their ‘look-a-like’ materials. Let’s dig in.
Section 1 – Grout free shower pans which are stylish, sturdy, and simple to maintain
The #1 reason most people want a grout free shower pan is …. (and listen to this A-MAZ-ING logic) because they HATE grout! However, in most cases the desire to dump grout comes with the cost of sacrificing style.
However, I’m here to tell you don’t have to make this tradeoff. No grout does not have to equal no style. No, you can achieve style (with a grout free shower pan) through shape (which is harder – and more expensive to do with a custom tile pan), up-to-date colors and patterns, and improved function (now, that’s a Ripley’s Believe it Or Not idea). Here’s how:
How to use a shaped grout free shower pan to add style
The vast majority of grout free shower pans on the ‘shelves’ in home center stores DO NOT have much pizzazz. Most are rectangular, square or have a NEO angle design. Basically, home center stores are in business to stock and sell popular shapes which move the quickest.
However, the problem with these ‘standard’ pans is in many cases they don’t maximize your space, and they’re flat out BOR-ING!
Here’s examples of shaped grout free shower pans which will make you take a second look and some even add elbow room:
Example #1 – The ‘bowfront’ grout free shower pan – This pan is ingenious for tub to shower conversions because it ‘bows out’ in the middle to ‘expand’ a 60” x 30” tub/shower alcove and transform it with 6” more elbow room in the middle of the shower. Now that’s not only a cool shape – but it’s a better living shower! And the curved sliding glass shower door which comes with them is also a fun look.
Example #2 –The shower pan with a ‘curved curb’ – Now this IS NOT a pan you’ll see EVER (say this in a Valley Girl style voice) stocked in Home Depot, Lowes, or Menards! This custom solid surface shower pan was designed to fit a glass block shower wall. It’s stylish, simple to clean, and eliminates the cost of a shower door!
Example #3 –The custom offset shower pan – Some people love, love, love a walk in shower – but don’t realize you can also get a grout free shower pan so you DO NOT have the hassle of tile grout joints which usually come with custom tile bases. Check out the example below.
How to use a colored or patterned grout free shower pan to add style
While white rectangular shower pans match with everything – they wouldn’t be considered to be a ‘show-stopper.’ However, it’s nice to know you can you add color, texture (to make sure it’s not slippery) and style so your rectangular shower isn’t so ‘Plain-Jane’ (and for EVERYONE named Jane out there, I apologize right NOW!). Here’s how:
Example #1 – Use a matte black shower pan – Matte black bathroom colors and finishes are as hot as Beyoncé and Taylor Swift (OK – I AM exaggerating just a smidge here!). However, when it comes to bathroom trends matte black is today what polished gold hardware was when mullets were in fashion. Check out this sleek matte black shower pan. And it can be fun to contrast a dark colored shower pan with bright/white wall surrounds.
Example #2 –Use marble patterns – Marble patterns are classic – but often the thought of a real, smooth marble base will make most people worry they’ll end up on their ‘keester’ in no time (not to mention marble is out of most people’s budgets). If you like marble consider this solid stone shower pan which looks like real marble yet is priced reasonably and has a textured top, so you won’t land on your butt.
Example #3 –A wood look shower pan – Yes – real wood on a shower floor is likely not the best solution (unless it’s teak, but that’s another story). However, if you’re a wood lover check out this Driftwood pattern shower pan made out of solid surface. It’s got the look of wood and the durability of stone.
How to add improved function (with style) in a grout free shower pan
Yes – the #1 purpose for a shower pan is to move water to the drain (and NOT onto, or worse yet, under the bathroom floor). However, a well-designed grout free shower pan can do more than that. How, you might ask? Here’s 3 ideas:
Idea #1 add a removable ramp in a stylish grout free accessible shower pan – Instead of worrying if your shower pan will become obsolete (or worse yet need to be removed) if a family member needs a wheelchair, consider buying a low profile (this one has a 1 1/6” curb height) pan with a removable shower ramp kit. With this kit – you can silicone the stone ramp kit to the base when you need it and pull the ramp kit off when you don’t (for example, when you want to sell your home and don’t want your resale to be negatively impacted because people don’t want a ‘handicap shower pan.)’
Idea #2 add a ‘hidden’ linear or square drain in your stylish grout free shower pan – Round drains are so 1980’s! A round shower strainer cover detracts from the look of the pan. Get rid of this problem with a hidden square drain – or if you have a bigger budget – and want water to drain quicker, linear drains in grout free pans are cool.
Idea #3 use a one level wet room shower base former – If you love the look of the one level bathroom – but grout IS NOT your ‘little ‘fre’ (as Tony Montana from the movie Scarface would say) then this one level shower base former can be the way to go.
Section 2 – Grout free shower wall surrounds which are stylish, sturdy, and simple to maintain
While I started this article with the shower pans (which are literally the ‘foundation’ of the shower), in reality if I was asked where you’ll get more ‘style points’ for your buck, I’d invest more money in the shower surround panels than in the shower pan (because it makes more visual impact).
And, the question then becomes how can you get the cool looks of tile, stone, glass, or even organic materials like concrete, yet do it cost-effectively with easy-to-maintain grout free wall panels? Read on to find out.
How to create the ‘style’ of tile and stone WITHOUT the grout
I’ll be honest– most grout free shower wall panels look fake. And to prove my point go to your nearest home center and peruse the molded acrylic and fiberglass panels which are ubiquitous (this is a fancy word I threw in which means ‘everywhere’ to make you think I’m smart. Is it working?) in their store.
I don’t know about you – but cheap, white, plasticky wall panels ARE NOT the look my wife is ready to live with no matter how simple they are to maintain (and you KNOW who is calling the shots in my house…. hint, it’s NOT me!). The challenge is how can you get a ‘real tile or stone’ look without the grout?
Idea #1 – Faux tile joint shower wall panels made with a laminate front (for residential or multi-unit projects) – These panels use a click lock technology so you can’t tell they’re seamed together, and the ‘faux grout’ joints are created when a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine removes the upper layers of laminate to reveal a lower layer of a different colored laminate. This creates a grout joint look with 3 dimensional realism. They look far more realistic than acrylic, fiberglass, FRP, or cultured stone panels. You can also get these faux joint panels in tile and stone looks.
Idea #2 –Gritty ‘faux grout’ joints you’ll think is a tile joint (for multi-unit projects)– I know the first time I saw this ‘gritty’ faux grout joint cultured marble shower wall panel in a Hampton Inn I kept touching it wondering if it was a wall panel or real tile (and this is saying something because I’ve been in the wall panel business for a looooong time). These shower panels are perfect for hotels and apartment complexes because they’re cost-effective when bought in bulk, simple to clean (a housekeeping staff will love this) and stylish.
How to create the ‘style’ of glass shower walls WITHOUT worrying about cutting glass – or having the glass cut YOU!
Do you love the sleek look of back painted glass, but it’s cost AND your concern about the glass breaking is stopping you from considering it for a shower? If so – I can ‘feel you’ dog (Ok, not literally).
Given this I’m happy to tell you there’s a new ‘sheriff’ (‘er product) in town which is little known – yet is as stylish as back painted glass, simpler to install (and cut on site), and more-cost effective. And if you’re wondering what this material is, it’s high gloss acrylic shower wall panels. They’re sleek, come in vibrant colors, and their high gloss design brightens a bathroom (even a bathroom with no windows).
How to create the ‘style’ of organic materials (like wood and concrete) WITHOUT the concern they’ll disintegrate before your very eyes.
Have you seen an uber-modern downtown loft apartment with concrete walls and thought, “Is there any way I could create this look in my suburban (production built) shower?”
Or do you love the Scandi-look of lighter colored contemporary wood kitchen cabinets and thought – how could I replicate this interior design vibe and create a spa-inspired bathroom and shower?
If you have no ‘frickin’ idea how to make this happen, I’m happy to report its waaaay simpler than you may think with grout free shower surround panels.
First – for the modern loft-esque look of concrete, use click-lock shower wall panels. They come in 24” and 40” wide sizes and are close to 8’ tall. They’ll install in a jiffy and give you a maintenance free concrete style shower surround which you’ll NEVER have to worry about maintaining the (faux) concrete!
And if you want the relaxed Scandi bathroom decor, choose light wood shower wall panels using the same click-lock technology. They’ve got the texture of real wood – without the worry of cracking or deterioration.
So, are you now ‘sold’ you can get a grout free shower pan or shower surround which actually looks cool? Can our team assist with questions, wholesale pricing, or installation details?
Ok – so have I effectively prosecuted my case (just like the politicos talk about these days when trying to get your vote) for stylish grout free shower pans and wall surround panels, or are you saying, “I’m not sure what Mike’s been smokin’, but he might be a little (or a lot) out of his mind!”
If you’re intrigued by grout free shower products but are uncertain how to put the materials together, where to buy them, or who the heck you’re going to get to install them, here’s where to get help.
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
