How to select a shower tray when building or renovating
A Sonas stone-resin anti-slip rectangular slate tray from €476 in a choice of colours.
If you don’t have a clue about choosing a shower tray, keep this in mind. The shower, tray and waste outlet make up the elements of a complete water-wicking system. Water comes out of the shower head, hitting the tray and any areas of the deflecting shower wall or glazing.
We’re setting out to get all of this water down the drain as efficiently as possible. Every element must sing with the others. Slight pooling on the tray is not a problem, but if the amount of water hitting the tray isn’t draining away fast enough, a low-level tray (especially one with a smaller surface) can overflow or deliver a paddling pool over a spa experience.
If the tray isn’t levelled correctly, water can also sit on the tray or tile in a lingering puddle. Add some soap and hard water, and this can mark up a dark composite tray as it slowly dries out.
As we shower, most of the water will be directed at the tray, the tile, and across the flexible upstand seal behind the last row of tiles on the edge of the tray (a modern miracle). That upstand seal is sitting up 10mm-30mm behind the tiling or wall panelling and stuck firmly to the shower tray itself.
If there is any escaping water (it only takes a regular, discreet drip), moisture can gather on the sub-floor, leading to mould at best, and damage to timber sub-floors at worst.
Liquid “tanking” and tape applied before the aqua-board and/or tiling installation form the final defence for the walls and floor (a DIY doddle from a bucket kit). So, it’s water in, water out. That’s what we want.
Choosing the tray, we need to match the tray in size and the height of its edge to the amount of water coming through the shower head, and the discharge rate of the drain. The discharge rate is expressed in litres per minute (32l/min-50l/min would be standard). Rapid-flow wastes in typical plugs or linear drains can ingest a lot of water very quickly. The discharge rate is crucial in a low-profile shower tray with little or no edge, relying solely on a very slight rake.
Any reputable bathroom supplier will work this all out for you. The specifications for every tray, shower-head and waste should be double-checked by your plumber well before the second-fix. If you are determined on a power shower with up to 18l per minute with horizontal body jets in a bruising deluge rather than a contemporary regulated 5l per minute shower (enjoyable even in an overhead rain-shower), the water must be sluiced off adequately.
Size wise 700mm is the minimum comfortable width for a shower tray, and if you’re a larger or more expressive person, 800mm will deliver more manoeuvrability. A step back in a rectangular shape means you’re not forced under the water, and it is possible to site controls out of the water’s fall. A longer tray can catch water, removing the need for a second panel or door in some instances.
The height of the tray edge? Most of us want this to be as low and sleek as possible, with an imperceptible fall in level contained within the profile of the tray. If the plumbing is raised even slightly above floor level, you may have to choose a riser or “easy-plumb” tray with an upstand of a few centimetres and optional adjustable legs.
The depth of a tray can vary anywhere from 25mm to 90mm. If there are existing plumbing positions, you can honour those, but it is possible to take this right to the wall or the edge of the tray with linear choices. Talk to your supplier, and keep in mind that moving plumbing positions adds expense.
Beyond aesthetics, low-rise or flush trays are more accessible if you have any sort of physical challenge. Adapting a shower for an older parent? Explore the Housing Adaptation Grants for older and disabled people (which covers level-access shower trays).
Fully accessible enclosures/shower-rooms will require more finessing again. Having renovated my father’s house (a fit 91-year-old), we pruned out every threshold we could. Pre-formed wet-room trays in GRP or EPS rigid foam trays are intended to be tiled over and should be handled by a professional. There are shower boards designed for wet rooms and walk-in showers in properties with suspended timber floors using marine-grade ply (tiled-in). Look into the Jackoboard Aqua Flat (from €199, with waste kits from €89).
So, what about shape? Squares, corners, offset quadrants and rectangles?
The space you have available may offer a couple of orientation choices.
Take a sketch with rough measurements to your supplier, including suggested positions of the entire suite and, crucially the position and swing of the room’s door.
For quadrant or offset quadrant trays, every cm of the curve radius will count in a tiny bathroom.
The tray-to-enclosure match cannot be off.
Check this detailing neurotically with your supplier, who will steer you towards single branding to hit sizing and ensure a water-resistant edge (for example, something deep enough for the small wheels included in easy-clean panels that drop inward from the runners).
If you are taking the shower into a niche at one end of a space, fitting the niche perfectly to the tray size is ideal.
An excess of even a rogue 20cm plus is often bumped out in stud wall and tiling inside the shower area — an area notorious for leaks. Investigate trending half-high “pony” walls.
Tray materials include stone/mineral resin, acrylic/fibreglass and ABS-capped acrylic.
Stone resin is the top of the tree. It’s not only solid and exceptionally durable (it can be lightly repaired) but it has good structural integrity across the tray with no flexing underfoot once bedded properly.
It’s a heavier tray, so ensure your sub-floor is up to the additional weight once loaded with you gyrating to your Spotify list.
Acrylic trays are affordable and light, but have more flex to them. Again, the sub-floor should be perfectly prepared.
When cleaning acrylic, don’t use rough abrasives, as this can dull the surface, leaving visible scratches that catch soap scum.
ABS-capped acrylic is sturdier and more resistant to impact damage — so a good compromise between stone resin and traditional acrylic, which can crack with abuse.
ABS will stand up better to rough cleaning and use, maintaining a glossy finish for longer.
The weight will be given for each tray, so compare like-for-like and talk to your builder about the best choice for that sub-floor if you’re not bedding the tray onto concrete.
Colour? Expect your choices to be weighted towards white, with some stoney grey to black choices in low-level stone resin trays.
As with flooring or kitchen counters, dark colours are a little harder to keep clean.
All showers should include some form of anti-slip coating, with at least one grab (two for the elderly user).
The Mira Flight Safe range of trays, made in Ireland, features an exclusive coating and anti-slip technology that exceeds industry standards, from €226 for a 760cm x 760cm tray in white.
Keep in mind that the most sensational tray still relies on excellent installation.
Don’t skimp on preparation, time, materials or role out your shaky newbie skills, especially when it comes to plumbing.
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