Installing a Shower Tray: Features of Selection and Installation Technology

What types of trays are available

Photo 1 — ultra-thin shower tray

In terms of construction, all trays can be divided by thickness into:

• ultra-thin (6-10 cm);
• flat (10-18 cm);
• deep (25-35 cm).

Photo 2 — flat shower tray

Regarding the shape of trays, they come in various forms, for example:

• round;
• multi-sided;
• custom shapes.

The majority of trays are universal — round and quarter-circle (when a corner shower unit is required). Materials used to manufacture trays are limited:

• acrylic;
• cast iron;
• ceramic.

IMPORTANT! In every case, shower trays are coated with anti-slip surface treatment

As for color options, trays usually match the shower panel they come with and can be any color. Installing a shower tray (video in this case is an overview) begins with connecting the drainage pipes and securing their outlet.

Installing a Shower Tray: VIDEO

Installing a Shower Tray in a Shower Cabin

As can be seen from the video provided above, installing a shower tray in a shower cabin is not inherently difficult. Some challenges may arise from joining plumbing fixtures, floor and walls: uneven floors, outdated plumbing, etc. Partially, this can be attributed to the material from which the tray is made, but in most cases it's related to site preparation. Given that trays vary in depth, the need for natural water drainage, frequent floor and wall irregularities, it becomes clear what problems may await those who want to install a shower tray themselves.

If the tray installation height is limited by ceiling height, additional floor excavation for drain installation may be required.

Photo 3 — Deep Shower Tray, Bottom View

From the perspective of tray quality, one could talk at length about how acrylic trays are much more comfortable than ceramic or cast iron ones: the latter can be uncomfortably cold in the morning; however, hygiene and durability of trays of all three types are equally undeniable. Therefore, installing a shower cabin with any of the listed tray types is technically identical, although acrylic trays cost more.

Photo 4 — Acrylic Shower Tray, Bottom View

New Materials and Systems Without Trays

The market, as well as technology, is not standing still, and not long ago consumers were offered a new material — quaril — a mixture of quartz sand and liquid acrylic.

IMPORTANT! Although slightly less heat-conductive, this material is several times stronger than acrylic and nearly impossible to scratch; but precisely because of that, it's harder to restore.

Also unlike acrylic which is rolled from sheets, quaril is a casting. This property of quaril is widely used for decorative purposes not only in the shower but also where hygiene showers with concealed installation or similar systems are usually installed.

For special aesthetes and generally custom-made, trays can be made from marble or sandstone. Besides aesthetic satisfaction, people who prefer cabins with such trays or concealed shower systems enjoy their ability to retain heat and absorb sound.

A distinctive feature of all trays of this type is the presence of adjustable feet, which significantly simplifies their use: installing a hygiene shower or a shower stall does not require additional leveling work.

Shower Trap and Channel: Everything Can Be Simpler

Photo 5 — Shower Trap and Its Channel

An alternative to a tray is installing a shower trap. In this configuration, the tray becomes redundant since drainage and water flow occur through a fundamentally new technology. Moreover, modern combinations of shower channels or drain traps can prove to be the best solutions in specific conditions — traps can come in any shape.

Thus, a regular showerhead and drain trap can literally create a space for taking a shower on a level surface, both in an existing bathroom and in places where a shower system is being installed for the first time.

Specific metal or steel drain traps, which serve as additions to the overhead shower, such as I-DRAIN, can become an indispensable solution in places where tray installation is impossible — they take up only 54 mm of floor depth.

Since these are ready-made units, their installation instructions are relatively simple and not very costly, so their installation visually appears much simpler than tray mounting.

Cost of Work and Tray Prices

It would be appropriate to recall how much trays cost and mentally add the cost of installation, then return to alternatives with channels and traps. So, prices for standard brand shower trays (RAVAK, CERSANIT, KOLO, APPOLLO, TIMO) for comparison:

• in Kyiv, from 1000 UAH,
• in Moscow — from 9000 RUB.

Conclusion

Not obviously advantageous is the ability to replace trays, a more comfortable appearance and higher hygiene. Although there are several models of trays with ribbed surfaces, cleaning and maintenance of the tray area is still more favorable than, for example, cleaning the entire floor area near a hygiene shower.

Besides, trays are made with special surfaces to prevent slipping, falls and, as a result, possible injuries.