Shower Trays

[rich_vw]

Morning all,

Hopefully purchase of my first property will be going through in the nest few weeks or so. It requires a good deal of updating so this may be the first of many questions so please bear with me.

The bathroom requires stripping out and replacing so have desided to go for a large shower in lieu of a bath. Had a look round all the local DIY's and found this http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servle... that we both liked (probably not to everyone's taste but give you an idea of what we're looking for)

Now I know acrylic is not the best material for trays but is it going to be ok? Are there any reasonably priced alternatives for a similar style shower?

As always budget is a big issue here.

Thanks,

Rich

[staceyb]

Is it a solid acrylic or a sheet of acrylic with nothing supporting it? If the latter stay well clear, we have one that the previous owner put in and it has been crap and eventually split.

[rich_vw]

staceyb said:

Is it a solid acrylic or a sheet of acrylic with nothing supporting it? If the latter stay well clear, we have one that the previous owner put in and it has been crap and eventually split.

I haven't a clue I'm afraid, didn't pay that much attention when in the store.

Presume that if it's 'solid' then there should be no issues?

[monthefish]

staceyb said:

Is it a solid acrylic or a sheet of acrylic with nothing supporting it? If the latter stay well clear, we have one that the previous owner put in and it has been crap and eventually split.

I would go further as to be wary of all acrylic trays.

The hollow ones are terrible, as they will split quite eraly into their working life. The solid ones are often warped/convex on the bottom, and will not sit flat.

Stone ones are more robust, but are very heavy.

[rich_vw]

would be the best route to go down for a similar sized shower??

[thinfourth2]

Do be aware women will not buy a house without a bath

Even if they never use it the house must have a bath

[FlossyThePig]

If you are getting rid of the bath why not get rid of the tray as well. Wet room treatment on the floor and a big sheet of glass to separate the shower. If taking this option think about where the water will splash.

The picture in the link appears to be a small walk in shower on a big tray. Get a shower to use rather than one that looks pretty in the catalogue.

[m4ckg]

FlossyThePig said:

If you are getting rid of the bath why not get rid of the tray as well. Wet room treatment on the floor and a big sheet of glass to separate the shower. If taking this option think about where the water will splash.

The picture in the link appears to be a small walk in shower on a big tray. Get a shower to use rather than one that looks pretty in the catalogue.

I wouldn't recomend the wet (with a tight budget ) room but like said, have a larger shower and not wasted space

[rich_vw]

basically not bother with the 'split' format?

[cg360]

We got an Aqualux 1200 x 900 quadrant with ceramic base and glass from here. Good quality, amazing prices, decent service. Worth a look. Ours was under £100 on offer (£600 rrp, but discontinued).

http://www.qssupplies.co.uk/Bathrooms/Bathrooms/Sh...

[marctwo]

I got a steel one which is great. It's bath sized and I just stuck a fixed glass screen down part of one side and had a walk in shower...

http://www.kaldewei.com/products/shower-trays/avan...

[B17NNS]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

This.

A solid resin/stone one is what you want. Plenty on eBay for the same money as a bit of tat from Homebase.

[markmakak]

Another vote for "don't replace a bath with just a shower". I did this in an old house. It was fine for me, but when my girlfriend moved in she really missed baths. We've moved on now, but I rent it out, and it's significantly more difficult to rent due to the lack of bath (and so I presume the same for when you eventually sell it on, as in reality are you likely to re-fit the bathroom just so you can sell it?)

[monthefish]

B17NNS said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

This.

A solid resin/stone one is what you want. Plenty on eBay for the same money as a bit of tat from Homebase.

...but make sure the resin one has a perfectly flat base.

[Dupont666]

thinfourth2 said:

Do be aware women will not buy a house without a bath

Even if they never use it the house must have a bath

If you are buying a house for an investment they yes follow this, if not and you are going to live in it for X years then buy what you want.

I hate baths and I hate shower trays, so I got a custom wetzone put in and in a 10mm toughened glass (most of the bathsotre type places only use 8mm) and tiled and tanked by the professionals.

Think adding up it all it cost £1k (custom glass, expensive tiles, drainage and solid metal shower head and values) the quality is a lot better than from those show rooms for not really that much more money.

Valve and head = £300
Glass = £200
wet zone = £ in labour price of fitting
tiles = £400 just for the shower area.

If you want I can dig out the photos?

[rich_vw]

I know just a shower isn't to everyone's taste but but the likelyhood is I will be living in the place for a good number of years (at least 5) so would rather just put a nice shower in and worry later (or when coming to sell) about a bath.

[Dupont666]

rich_vw said:

I know just a shower isn't to everyone's taste but but the likelyhood is I will be living in the place for a good number of years (at least 5) so would rather just put a nice shower in and worry later (or when coming to sell) about a bath.

This is what I have done, plus I didnt go for the cheap stuff, cause if I have to look at it every day then I want it to be nice and spending a little extra is good in my books.

[m4ckg]

why don't you have a ' P ' shaped shower bath and have the best of both worlds ?

[W66OCH]

Dupont666 said:

thinfourth2 said:

Do be aware women will not buy a house without a bath

Even if they never use it the house must have a bath

If you are buying a house for an investment they yes follow this, if not and you are going to live in it for X years then buy what you want.

I hate baths and I hate shower trays, so I got a custom wetzone put in and in a 10mm toughened glass (most of the bathsotre type places only use 8mm) and tiled and tanked by the professionals.

Think adding up it all it cost £1k (custom glass, expensive tiles, drainage and solid metal shower head and values) the quality is a lot better than from those show rooms for not really that much more money.

Valve and head = £300
Glass = £200
wet zone = £ in labour price of fitting
tiles = £400 just for the shower area.

If you want I can dig out the photos?

Apologies for the hijack, but can you dig out the photos Dupont?.... i am in a similar position having turned the downstairs utility room into a bathroom and the upstairs bathroom will have a double-shower with the bath being junked. I want to put in a large shower "tray" that can be tiled over, once I get this roght I am happy doing all the other plumbing etc,

[samrr]

marctwo said:

I got a steel one which is great. It's bath sized and I just stuck a fixed glass screen down part of one side and had a walk in shower...

http://www.kaldewei.com/products/shower-trays/avan...

What did it cost if you don't mind me asking?