So, although choosing a shower pan will NOT be most fun selection in your bathroom remodel, I’d argue it IS the most important.
This is why this article will identify 13 critical features smart buyers pay attention to when selecting a shower pan. These features will keep you out of ‘hot water’ (and yes, this bad shower pun was intended) and allow you to have a shower which is built to last. At the end of this article pose any questions you have and/or share any ‘shower pan horror’ stories you’d like others to NOT have to endure in the comments section.
Now, let’s check out 13 features smart buyers look for when buying a shower pan.
Critical shower pan feature #1 – What’s the right shower pan material?
Depending on your budget, shower pan size, drain location, and need for durability, the right shower pan material can – and will – vary.
For example, if you need the lowest cost pan in a standard size for a fix and flip rental property in a lower value area of town, then a big-box store fiberglass pan can be adequate.
If you’re looking for a better quality pan in standard sizes with for an updated look (at a reasonable price) then a contemporary acrylic pan or stone shower pan is a sound choice.
If you’re looking for a custom shower pan in an uncommon size or shape, which is built to last, and low maintenance, then a cultured granite shower pan will be right up your alley.
And if you’re looking for an exotic – one of a kind shower floor design for your pan, then tile is a leading choice (assuming you’re OK with the maintenance which’ll go with it, or you can afford to hire others to keep grout joints mold and mildew free for you).
Critical shower pan feature #2 – Can you buy the right size from stock, or will you need to build the shower pan on site or place a special order to get it?
Shower pans – like people – come in all shapes and sizes. Common sizes including 48” x 36”, 60” x 30”, 60” x 32”, or 60” x 36” are available from stock.
But if you need a custom size/shape – be prepared to wait for it and to (often) pay custom shower pan prices for it (and yes, that’ll mean ‘mo money from your budget!)
So, if you suspect you need a custom size, make sure your schedule includes longer lead times in mind (and you have the budget to afford the rest of the job).
Critical shower pan feature #3 – Will the shower pan work if you’re looking to ‘age in place’ or need an ‘accessible shower?’
If you – or a loved one – can’t safely step over the shower pan threshold (or existing tub)– the wall surrounds, niches, and doors you installed could become ……WORTHLESS!
So, if you (and/or a loved one) wants to age in place, or know a health condition could get worse and will effect mobility, make sure your shower pan will not only work now – but also work in the future.
Critical shower pan feature #4 – Will the shower pan be easy to clean and/or prone to (or guaranteed against) leaking?
While tile shower pans look wonderful when installed, without constant upkeep the grout joints can become nasty and moldy. This is NOT the look anyone wants.
So – if low maintenance is a must for you consider fiberglass, acrylic, or solid surface shower pans which eliminate evil grout joints.
And if you want to guarantee against leaks but still would like a tile shower floor, have your contractor (or supplier) explain how your shower pan will be waterproofed or at least water resistant and any guarantees you’ll get if there is a problem. One of the crazy things (at least to me) is how few people have any idea about the guarantees of tile shower pans yet spend a lot of money to get them.
Critical shower pan feature #5 – What’s the weight of the shower pan?
If you’re doing this shower pan installation yourself – and the 6 pack abs you once sported in high school have regressed into one heck of a beer belly – your ability to ‘leap tall buildings, or lift heavy objects at a single bound,’ may not be what it used to be (sorry about this depressing reality, but keepin’ it real).
So, if you’re DIYing this job know the weight of the shower pan before you buy. Because -generally – the better quality pans weigh more. And if you’re using a solid surface pan it can weigh from 100 to 150 pounds for a standard 60” x 36” pan (or more if you need an oversized shower base). Installing heavy pans is NOT a one person job!
Failure to consider shower pan weight – and where the bathroom is located – can turn into a back-breaking experience. For example, if you’re remodeling a second floor bathroom which is only accessible through a narrow (or worse yet spiral) staircase – and you need to maneuver materials around tight hallways – this will NOT be a fun experience getting your pan into the room if it weighs a lot.
Critical shower pan feature #6 – Where is the shower drain located, and would it be a pain to move it…. if required?
Odd drain locations can be a killer on your budget, may require a qualified plumber to move the drain, and could make it impossible to buy a lesser cost standard shower pan.
Before buying any shower base make sure you write down (and/or approximate) where the drain is located and if you’ll be able to move it, if required.
Odd drain locations can literally flush your budget down the drain (yes, another bad pun, sorry I can’t help myself!).
And while you may not need to give much thought to your shower threshold design for a common tub to shower conversion in a 60” x 30” alcove – if you want to create more room with a curved shower pan (and sliding glass door system) to ‘find’ the elbow room in this same 60” x 30” space, the door and base MUST be designed to work together.
Critical shower pan feature #8 – Will the pan or tile floor be slippery?
I recently stayed in a downtown Pittsburgh hotel for a reunion with my Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers at Carnegie-Mellon University (and NO, no one got arrested, thank you very much…. we’re a ‘bit’ calmer now in our ‘advanced age’), and the hotel had a nice looking low profile tile shower pan.
However, when the water hit the tiles on this shower pan floor it was like an ice-skating rink. I thought to myself, I sure hope my 93 year old mom (whose mobility isn’t the greatest) NEVER stays here. If she did she could end up on her butt, or worse yet, breaking something.
Slipperiness is an important factor when selecting a shower pan, especially if your balance ain’t what it used to be. You must understand what the ‘slip coefficient of friction’ (a fancy term the industry uses for how slippery a base is) before buying.
Critical shower pan feature #9 – Will the pan be easy to install? Will it come with integral flanges to ensure water doesn’t get under the pan, or is the pan pre-sloped to prevent water from pooling?
If you – or your contractor is attempting to create a site-built tile shower pan using the old ‘mud set’ shower pan approach, the materials for the pan won’t cost a lot. That’s the good news. However the bad news is, the time to build the pan will be long, and it’s waterproofing can be suspect if you don’t know what you’re doing.
If you want a simpler tile – or grout free shower pan – buy a premade base. It can be set directly on the subfloor (and in many cases without self-leveling cement) and comes with flanges (to ensure water doesn’t get under the pan).
Also make sure the pan is pre-slopped, so water won’t pool.
Critical shower pan feature #10 – Can you add colors or designs to your shower pan? And consider contrasting the color of your shower pan with the bathroom floor if it’s for an age in place or accessible shower.
Most standard shower pans are white. And while white is cost-effective and goes with everything, this may not be the look you’re after.
Shower pans – especially tile and solid surface pans – can be purchased (or built) in a wide array of designs and colors. You don’t have to live in a ‘white on white’ shower pan world anymore.
In addition, another thing to consider (which few people do) if you’re building an age in place or accessible shower is to think about contrasting the color of the shower pan with the bathroom floor. Contrasting colors make it simpler to see where the pan begins and the floor ends and can minimize falls, since the number one place falls occur in homes is in the bathroom. This makes sense, because by its nature showers (and bathrooms) are wet and slippery places.
Critical shower pan feature #11 – What’s the warranty of the shower pan?
Perhaps you’ve vowed you’re remodeling this bathroom for the last time. And it’s your intention to stay in this home until they have to ‘roll you out.’ If so, you’ll want to make sure you get a shower pan which is not only built to last but also GUARANTEED to last!
And the thing which amazes me is how few people who choose tile shower pans don’t realize their contractor is either giving them no warranty – or a very short warranty on materials and labor for their expensive tile shower.
It’s for this reason – if you want a longer warranty I’d look at sturdier grout free pans like the solid surface unit you’ll see below. This pan has 2 tons of weight capacity. This means you could get 6 people who’ve starred on My 600 Pound Life to stand on this base – if they’d fit at the same time – and it’d still hold up!
Critical shower pan feature #12 – Can you afford the pan?
If you’re not independently wealthy and haven’t hit those Powerball numbers…. or at least not yet, cost will matter to you.
And I’d argue when looking at the price of the shower pan don’t only look at initial purchase price– but also factor in the cost of the installation – and plumbing work – which’d go with your top choice.
Shower pans – especially custom shower pans – can be expensive, but then again if it fails you’ll have much bigger problems (including removing and/or replacing wall surrounds and glass doors above it).
Critical shower pan feature #13 – Can you trust the shower pan supplier and/or installer?
The best warranty in the business isn’t worth JACK if the company behind it goes out of business before you need you need your contractor or supplier to honor their warranty.
It’s for this reason you need to thoroughly check out the company (or companies) you’re working with. Does the supplier and contractor have a good reputation? If the proverbial ‘crap hits the fan’ how have they handled problems? Reviews are a great way to get a feeling about how honorable the company and their customer service is.
So, did this article help you determine what you need in a shower pan? Do you need help making a selection, or finding a contractor to do the job for you?
While it’s educational to read these 13 features at the ‘end of the day’ (and at the ‘beginning of the day’ I might add), the only thing which matters is if you make the right selection for you and your family and DO NOT end up with the cost of ‘re-remodeling’ (Ok, it’s not a word, but it does happen) because you made a poor choice.
If you need help choosing the best pan (wall surrounds, glass doors, or accessories), need a contractor to do the job, or a wholesale supplier to buy the right unit, here’s where you can get help.
Lastly, if you’re a remodeler or builder and want advice or a stocking supplier for remodeling products, or want to learn about industry trends, or marketing and sales tips to grow your business (and cut day to day hassles), read Innovate Builders Blog. It’s packed with ideas you can use now to make money in your business.
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
