Shower Trays Explained

Materials

• Ready-to-install shower trays made out of fiberglass or acrylic resins are available from bath supply stores. Custom shower pans made from these materials are also available. Other people choose to build a custom shower base right in the house using a combination of mortars, concrete, plastic vapor and moisture barriers and then finish the pan with a layer of tile.

Drainage

• Every shower pan has a drain hole that connects to a sewer drain installed in the bathroom floor. On a square shower, this drain will usually be in the middle of the pan. In rectangular or pans of other shapes, it may be located anywhere. The entire pan should be angled slightly to provide drainage toward this hole. In a custom-built shower pan, it is critical to ensure that a slope exists that guides water toward the drain. Manufactured pans all include an effective drainage slope.

Membrane

• The membrane is what prevents water from leeching into the concrete foundation of the pan and into the floor itself. The membrane is made out of plastic and lines the sloped bed created in the initial stages of construction to guide all moisture toward the drain. The membrane must be waterproof and must not hold moisture. Otherwise, mold and mildew form under the pan. Special products are available from home renovation stores for this exact purpose. Membranes are also sometimes installed under prebought shower pans to provide an extra layer of moisture protection.

Installation

• Installing the shower tray is also all about preventing moisture from getting where it doesn't belong. It doesn't matter whether the shower tray is a solid stone slab or a formed fiberglass base; you need to seal it properly so that water doesn't seep or leak around the edges. Typically, the shower tray is the first piece put in place when installing a new shower in the home.