How to Install Walk-In Shower Floor Pan – Step by Step Guide

Are you looking forward to changing your shower floor pan for whatever reason?

You might have gone through the 2 most basic terms when we talk about showers, i.e. shower base and shower pans. Many people also assume that they both are the same; however, in reality, they are not.

If you are also confused between both the terms or you want to place them but are not familiar with the significant difference, this guide will be helpful for you.

So now as you have decided to invest in your bathroom, you need to hire a professional or go for customer service to make the work done efficiently. Let’s get started.

 

Difference Between Shower Base and Pan

The basic working of both the products is to retain the water in the drain, but this is not all that you should know. There are some differences with which you should be familiar.

Coming to a shower pan, is a small piece of unit that is inserted into the shower alcove.

In simple words, shower pans are the shower floor where you walk in while on the other hand, the shower base is placed underneath the shower.

This is the clear and major difference between the shower base and shower floor pan that you should be familiar with.

It is quite easy to insert this small piece, while on the other hand, installation of the shower base is not as easy as it seems.

It takes time and effort to complete the task. If you want to locate them, you should never compromise on the material.

This article will cover both the products in the best possible way for everyone’s understanding. Let’s begin it.

What Are They Made Of?

Both the shower floor pan and shower bases comprise waterproof materials. Inevitably they both require a different procedure to be placed.

Various types of materials are available in the market among which you can select any as per your requirement.

How to Choose a Best Shower Base?

Let’s begin with the shower base, whose most important aspect is to choose the best and most suitable material. Various base materials are available in the market; all you have to do is go for the most appropriate one to make things easy.

Let’s look at the type of materials you can choose for your shower base.

Fibreglass Shower Base

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It has a gel coat finishing and is exceptionally lightweight. Besides this, it is quite budget-friendly and gives an attractive touch; however, they have quite a different color, so the scratches can be easily visible.

If you want to go for this material, keep all the factors in mind.

Acrylic Shower Base

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It is made of heat-fitting acrylic and lightweight, and easy to clean. Furthermore, this material is durable, and you can find a wide range of sizes and colors.

However, acrylic design shower bases are more expensive than others.

Solid Surface Shower Base

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You can consider one of the best shower bases as they are sturdier and give a luxurious appearance. They are also available in numerous sizes and shapes.

Tile Shower Base

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The tile shower base is inexpensive; however, you might find cleaning challenges. Similarly, there are many other shower bases materials, among which you can select according to your requirement.

Now, let’s move toward the installation procedure.

How to Install Shower Base?

Here we go with the primary step, which is the installation of these shower bases. The first step is to decide whether you want custom shower pans or you want to go for prefab shower pans.

Prefab shower pans are also known as preformed shower pans, which means your shower base is already fabricated before the installation.

On the other hand, custom shower pans are made of tiles, and you have to design them wholly; that’s why it takes much time to complete the process.

Prefab shower plans don’t take much time to be installed because they are already designed and only need to be installed. Once you decide which one to go for, you can proceed with the procedure.

Inserting the shower base is the most challenging process because you have to start the scratch, and the minor issue can lead to drainage or leakage problem.

Hence, you first need to insert the drain with extra care and effort to begin the process. If it is already located, skip this part. Once you are done with the drain installation, the next step is to put the shower base.

To install the shower baseliner, you first need to establish the mortar’s thin layer that should be wrapped with metal lath. Keep adding the mortar lines in this way.

These mortar layers are essential to stop the water from being blocked in the drain.

How to Install Walk-in Shower Floor Pan?

The next part is to install the shower floor pan with perfection. Though the process might be simple than shower bases it should also be done with extra care to avoid future issues.

It plays an important role as it can also spoil your shower if installed wrong.

The shower pan’s underlying surface contains 2 layers of sloped cement that gather all the remaining water. If the installation is not done right, it might lead to a leakage issue soon after installation.

The shower pan is a small piece of unit that you have to install in the shower, so it doesn’t require any complicated process, but it should be installed in the right direction.

If you are not a pro in it, better ask the professionals.

Choosing the Best Shower Pans

Here are a few easy tips that you should consider before choosing the shower pan.

• Ensure to get your hands on the high-quality shower pan unit so that the installation doesn’t go wrong,
• Be cautious about the style and size because it will improve the overall look of your bathroom.
• Which shower pan you should go for depends on the person who is going to use it. For instance, if they are elder, a barrier-free shower pan will be the best choice.
• If you are not going to hire anyone to clean a fibreglass shower floor or even a simple shower then it’s better to stay away from shower pans that require significant cleanliness and maintenance.

If you keep these things in mind, you will never go wrong with your shower pans. Now let’s move ahead and talk about the types of shower pans that you can consider buying for your bathroom. Here we go.

Types of Shower Pans

We have already discussed the type of material that you can choose for your showers, let’s now talk about the type of shower pans you can consider for your bathroom.

1. Tile Ready Shower Pans

   If you want a customized shower pan like customized shower bases, you can go for these pans. Tile shower pans require an easy installation than other pans.

   In these pans, the drain is already installed in a single piece of unit. All you have to do is install the piece inside the shower.

   Place the tile on the base top so that it won’t face leakage or breakage issues after some time. This procedure might be challenging for one who is not professional.

   However, this tile might be expensive, but they are durable and last longer.

2. Barrier Free Shower Pans / Walk-in Shower

   The next one is the barrier-free shower pan which is as unique as the tile-ready shower pan.

   When you shop for shower bases, you have to decide first that either you want barrier-free shower pans or not for your bathroom. They are more stylish and also easy to clean than other pans.

   Traditionally, shower pans used to have barriers to hold the water. They not only look appealing to the eyes but also carry a lot of benefits.

   One of the many features is they are also safe to use for wheelchair people. They are also known as walk-in shower bases and don’t require any tray due to slopped floor.

   Now the choice is yours whether you want to go for the tile ready shower pans or vote for walk in shower floor pans.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

Let’s talk about a few benefits or features of bathroom shower pans.

• Easy to Install

  It doesn’t require any hard rule to install these pans. All you need to do is floor preparation and later insert a small unit into the shower and afterward seal it.

  You are all done. Though you can do it yourself but better to ask for customer service.

• They are Budget-Friendly

  If you want something inexpensive for your bathroom shower, here you go with a shower pan because they are cheap compared to a shower tile.

  You can find a wide range of pan designs, styles, and shapes in the market easily.

• Easy Maintenance

  Save your time, effort, and money by installing shower pans because they are easy to maintain and don’t require any additional cost for maintenance.

  If we talk about shower tiles, they are a bit challenging to maintain.

• They are Durable

  Apart from being inexpensive, they are also durable and this is what we all need for our bathroom.

• Waterproofing

  Waterproofing is another major feature that they contain. If you installed them with proper care, they become waterproof.

  However, if you go for a shower tile, the water often stands on the subfloor. The choice is yours.

• They are Lightweight

  They are extremely lightweight as the material used in them is not heavy. Furthermore, they are easily inserted into the floor.

Disadvantages

Where there are advantages, you also should keep an eye on all the disadvantages. We have gathered a few cons of shower pans that you should know before purchasing them. Here we go.

• They are Not Flexible

  Unfortunately, they are not flexible as compared to shower tiles. The shower tile is highly flexible and can also easily be customized. This is the main disadvantage that you should be aware of.

• They are Not Eco-Friendly

  If we do a comparison, shower tiles are more eco-friendly as compared to shower pans. As they are composed of synthetic material, so they are less eco-friendly.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few frequently asked questions that people often ask regarding shower base and shower pans. Let’s talk about them for everyone’s understanding.

How Long Do Showers Pans Last?

They are more durable and last for many years if inserted properly.

What Is Walk-In Shower Floor Pan?

Walk in shower floor pan is one of the types of the shower pan and are also known as barrier free shower pans as mentioned above.

What Is a Shower Base Used For?

They are the substructure that is placed underneath the floor and is composed of a motor or cement. You need to place the shower base before inserting the shower pan.

What Do You Put Under the Shower Base?

A material named bedded mortar or cement is used to lay down the shower base. After laying the base, a shower pan is inserted.

Do Shower Pan Leaks?

If the pan is not placed properly then they surely start leaking after some time. However, if you have placed them properly, they won’t create issues.

Do You Need a Shower Pan and Shower Base?

If you have a tile floor in your bathroom, it is important to have shower pans to make the surface waterproof. They also protect your bathroom surface so they are crucial.

Conclusion

I hope this guide will accommodate you on every step of inserting showers pans in your bathroom. Add styles to your showers or bathroom and make the floor surface safe and protected by placing the shower pans.

The ideas mentioned in this guide have been personally experienced so you can blindly follow them. You can ask a contractor or a plumber for this service at home.

Choose the right base and shower floor pan and enjoy it for the rest of your life.