Manufactured Shower Pan Problems
Plastic, fiberglass or acrylic shower pans are usually
easy to install, they can save you money and time during installation
and can last for years if they are installed properly. The biggest
problem is, which one do I buy and which one will actually last.
Let's focus in on the inexpensive shower pans, this will usually be your
biggest problem, if purchased. You normally get what you pay for and
trying not to ever forget that. The first thing that you're going to
look for is a solid acrylic or plastic shower pan.
I once installed a two-piece plastic shower pan in someone's home and
tiled the walls of the shower. Before I could even finish tiling the
shower walls, the shower pan was starting to squeak as the two pieces
had separated and were starting to rub together, as I was walking in and
out at the shower.
This wasn't good and I would never purchase another one again, but keep
this in mind, if a solid plastic or acrylic shower pan isn't installed
properly, you could find yourself dealing with cracks and once the
shower pans crack, they leak and once they start leaking, you've got big
problems.
I wouldn't recommend purchasing any pre-manufactured shower pan over the
Internet, unless you are familiar with the product. I would make sure
that you can pull this product out of the box and inspect it carefully.
Even setting it on the floor and standing on it, while you're moving
your body up and down, without jumping of course.
Make sure that you buy a solid well-built shower pan and follow the
directions precisely from the manufacturer. Don't forget that the
manufacturer could be responsible if you're shower pan was to fail. If
the shower pan wasn't installed correctly, you can forget about any
warranty from the manufacture.