A shower base, also referred to as a shower receptor or shower tray, is essentially the floor of your shower, but it is truly a lot more than that. It is a practical, waterproof and slip resistant base that allows you to take a shower with the ultimate peace of mind. It is also bright and fresh from a decorative standpoint, and is designed to work perfectly with the shower wall and tile configuration you prefer. Shower bases come in a wide range of sizes; choose the one that fits with your bathroom layout. You can also choose from a variety of shapes, including a rectangular, a square, and a corner shower base. Select whether you want the drain to be left, right or center, which must conform to the drain subfloor you have already installed or are planning to install. Then bear in mind the other key factors:
Material:
Acrylic shower bases are the most common ones on the market. Acrylic is the material that most bathtubs are made of. It’s practical, very lightweight and economical. Solid Surface shower bases are a step up in luxury and sleekness, and are thus in a higher price level. Solid surface material is composed of a unique mixture of stone and other natural material that molds to a desired shape, making for a very sleek, beautiful and great-to-touch material.
Threshold:
There are a number of layouts that you can have for your shower, and your shower base must conform to your desired layout. The most common layout is the single threshold shower base. This means that there are three sides that have an integrated tile flange, meant to be surrounded on the three sides with tiled wall for an alcove installation. The threshold, i.e. opening, on the one remaining side is filled by a shower door or shower curtain.
Double Threshold shower bases, or Dual Threshold shower bases, are meant to be installed in a corner installation manner, with two sides walled and two sides open. Multi Threshold shower bases offer you a multitude of options for how many sides, and which sides, you want walled and open. Browse the product specs for more details. One unique threshold option offered in the MTI tubs brand shower base collection is the Barrier Free option. Barrier Free shower bases essentially have thresholds on all four sides. You can then customize the wall/tiling options to your liking by purchasing your own tile flange kit.