Shower Pan Replacement Costs

Removal of Shower Coverings

• Removing the original shower coverings should prove the least expensive part of replacing a shower pan, though you do need tools. Most tools needed to remove shower coverings are basic tools that you may already have around the house. Removal of tile or stone that lines a shower pan, for instance, requires a hammer, a flathead screwdriver or chisel, and a sturdy putty knife. Removal of a fiberglass shower pan covering, on the other hand, generally requires only a screwdriver. If you already have these tools, removing the shower coverings costs nothing.

Replacement of Shower Pan Liner

• When you replace a shower pan, you should always replace the shower pan liner. This ensures the waterproof nature of a shower pan and prevents damage to the subfloor that lies below the shower pan. Quality vinyl shower pan liners range in cost from $20 to $30. To install the shower pan liner, you must have a few additional items, including liner adhesive and waterproof sealant for use around the drain area. Both vinyl adhesive and waterproof sealant can be found in small tubs for under $10.

Repair of Shower Pan

• If the base of the shower pan that lies beneath the shower floor has deteriorated due to water damage, you may need to repair the floor itself before installing the shower pan liner. This involves leveling or building up the shower pan with a mixture of cement, sand and water. A bag of Portland cement runs around $10 in price, while a bag of masonry sand to mix in with the cement costs about the same. Tap water provides a sufficient liquid to add to the mix.

Covering of Shower Pan Liner

• Once you replace the shower pan and shower pan liner, you must recover the shower pan, which may make up the majority of your shower pan replacement costs. If the shower pan was originally covered with a fiberglass covering, this same covering can be slipped back into place over the repaired shower pan. Other coverings, however, require new components. A tile floor, for instance, requires new mortar to hold tiles in place, new grout between tiles and new caulk around the edges, and may require the replacement of some tiles, so the costs to replace a tile floor may exceed $100.