There are four general options when it comes to a freestanding shower. Let’s explore the four main shower base options when you choose this over a bathtub.
When it comes time to replace the major features of your bathroom, your biggest expense could be the tub or shower. In many homes, owners are opting to remove tubs and replace them with just showers. Alternatively, some roomy bathrooms may end up with both a bathtub and a separate shower. In either of these cases, the task of figuring out the shower basin (the floor of the shower) is an important one. When the shower simply falls into the tub, you don’t need to worry about it, but in a freestanding shower, you typically have four options. Let’s explore the four main shower base options.
Tile Floors
Tile floors are the classic choice for most showers. They have a luxurious and high-end look, but it is a look you have to pay for (this is one of the most expensive options). Tiles can be installed over a tile system or over concrete. In a shower, you want to use textured tiles so that you don’t create a slippery situation.
Molded Stone Bases
Molded stone shower pans are a great choice for a high-end shower that doesn’t require a ton of work to maintain. While tile grout needs to be cleaned and maintained, molded stone does not. Tile also has additional costs to install and each tile has to be individually placed, the stone pans do not. This high-end natural material is great for coordinating hardware and fixtures.
Acrylic Pans
An acrylic shower base is a middle-of-the-road option in terms of price. It is not the cheapest but also not hugely expensive. If your shower space is non-standard and you’re going to have to custom order, acrylic is the cheapest option available in most areas. Acrylic pans come as a single piece (and sometimes include features like built-in seating) that are easy to clean and maintain. Acrylic is also less likely to crack than other materials such as tile.
Fiberglass Pans
Fiberglass pans are going to be one of the most common options because they are so easy to come by. In fact, you can likely walk into almost any home improvement store and find one in a box that will meet your size specifications. A fiberglass shower base is a cheap option but it also has its serious downsides. For starters, it stains easily and minerals build up fairly quickly. If you are very careful about how you care for your shower, you can make these trays last but in the end, they won’t last as long as other, more expensive, shower base options. Finally, if your size is non-standard, fiberglass is a poor choice, since the cost to get it custom-made isn’t justified by the downsides of the material.
Choose Your Home Hardware From WalterWorks
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