What is a Shower Base?

A shower base, sometimes known as a shower pan or shower tray, makes up the bottom part of a shower enclosure. The purpose of a shower base is to provide a firm base to stand, and to collect water for drainage inside of a shower stall. Normally they are made of acrylic or fiberglass, but high-end shower bases can be made of composite molded materials resembling marble or stone. It is safer to have a shower base made of materials that create a non-slip surface when water and soap scum collects in the tray.

Replacing a shower base can get very costly; as it is cheaper to replace than to repair. For self-installation always remember to pay attention to the joints between wall tiling and the shower pan to avoid water leakage. However, professional installation is highly recommended.

Three top shower base suppliers listed by Abacus Construction Index are Lasco, Americh, and Royal Stone.

Lasco is headquartered in Anaheim, California. They are the largest maker of bathroom fixtures in the United States. Lasco shower pans are available in acrylic, fiberglass and SMC (sheet molding compound).

Americh, another top manufacturer of bath tubs and shower trays, is based in Charlotte, North Carolina and Hollywood, California. They supply a wide variety of sizes, shapes and colors of acrylic shower pans.

Royal Stone, based in Phoenix, Arizona, constructs their shower trays from a composite material resembling stone. This material is made of a solid, non-porous blend of polyester-acrylic resin; with polyester-acrylic and natural minerals acting as fillers. They are widely installed in commercial buildings such as Marriott and Holiday Inn hotels, hospitals, military housing and universities. Royal Stone is used in both new construction and renovation projects to provide more of a contemporary decor. The stone-like materials come in 48 different colors. Each color resembles gray, pink, or brown marble and stone.