Why Shower Bases are Better Than Tiling | Coburn’s (2024)

Why Shower Bases are Better Than Tiling | Coburn’s (1)

Showers bear the brunt of watery wear and tear in a bathroom. They get soaked down multiple times a day, require regular and frequent cleanings, and can take hours to dry between uses. Yet, we still want them to look fresh and clean, inviting and stylish. One of the big decisions in shower design is whether to tile the shower floor or install a shower base.

Tiled Floor Versus Shower Base

Waterproofing is the most important element of a shower floor. In a shower, the surface beneath our feet must be impervious to water and send it safely down the drain. Both tiled floors and shower bases do that, but they do it differently.

  • For tiled shower floors, the bathroom floor must be waterproofed before it is tiled. This usually involves ensuring sturdy underlayers are installed to the proper height and slope and installing waterproof membranes or liners that will catch any water that makes its way through the tile, grout and thin-set cement. All corners and joints associated with the shower floor area must be sealed to prevent leaks. Once the floor area is prepared, the tile can be laid in thin-set cement, grouted and sealed.
  • Shower bases are single, all-in-one formed shower components that serve as both the shower floor and the waterproofing. They can be installed directly on the subfloor and typically incorporate all the requirements for slope, a drain, side walls and a threshold in one preformed piece.

While the tiled floor that you see is just the top layer of a complex series of layers that work together to form a waterproof surface, shower bases represent the compression of all of those layers and processes into a single shower floor component.

Benefits of a Shower Base

The simplicity of a shower base offers a number of benefits over a tile shower floor for homeowners.

  1. The use of a shower base does not preclude the use of tile for the rest of the bathroom floor or the shower walls. Simply install the shower base first. Then, lay the surrounding or adjacent tile around the shower base.
  2. Installing a shower base can actually be a do-it-yourself project that is geared for success. Unfortunately, many DIY attempts to lay shower tile—especially for shower floors—fail due to anything from misalignments in height and slope to thin-set and grout consistency issues.
  3. Even if you decide to have it professionally installed, a shower base will be considerably less cost- and time-intensive than a tile floor. Even if the rest of the bathroom is tiled, the shower base can be a cost-effective and time-saving measure.
  4. A shower base is easier to maintain than a tile-and-grout shower floor. Shower bases eliminate the issues of grout and having to keep grout lines clean, stain-free, mold-free and crack-free. Instead, you have a smooth surface that is usually designed to repel dirt, stains, mold and mildew.
  5. Shower bases offer a clean, modern style that can work beautifully with many other decorative materials to give you a look you’ll love. Pair it with custom tilework on bathroom walls and floors, or opt for a matching surround that completes a sleek, streamlined look. Use the base to match, contrast or complement other colors or textures.

The right shower base can offer a stylish, durable solution to the high-stakes issues of a shower floor—waterproofing, cost, time and durability—while still allowing all of the options for the rest of the shower or bathroom.

MTI Cosmopolitan Shower Bases

MTI is a manufacturer of high-quality hand-crafted tubs, shower bases, sinks, counters and vanity sinks. Its Cosmopolitan Collection features mineral composite freestanding tubs, sinks and shower bases designed to let you have a beautiful, clean bathroom you can enjoy.

Like the rest of the collection, MTI Cosmopolitan shower bases are made of a mineral composite—a combination of “ground natural elements and high-grade binding agents, with a tough, state-of-the-art chemically-bonded luxe finish specially formulated for MTI.” The cast-engineered stone results in a polished, nonporous waterproof base that remains beautiful use after use while offering lots of advantages.

  • Cosmopolitan shower bases come in a variety of styles, sizes, colors and natural stone textures. The Centrar offers a covered center drain, the Lado has a covered end drain, and the Artesa features a hidden trough end drain.
  • Solid one-piece construction means there’s no grout to apply or seal. The base is like one giant tile or slab. Simply measure the space, level the floor, and fasten the base into place. The factory-installed flange makes waterproofing simple.
  • Because the Cosmopolitan base is a solid slab tile, it offers an equally solid, secure feel beneath your feet while showering.
  • All Cosmopolitan bases are “multiple-threshold.” If you want to use a glass enclosure, simply specify on your order whether the base will be accommodating glass on one, two or three sides.
  • Since Cosmopolitan shower bases are low-profile, the base can be recessed into the floor for a seamless zero-barrier installation.
  • MTI’s nonporous mineral composite surface is impact-, ultraviolet-, mold-, mildew- and stain-resistant. It’s a surface that will retain its inherently glossy appearance with minimal care.

MTI’s Cosmopolitan line of shower bases gives a shower a sleek, clean, upscale look while also making entering and exiting your shower easier. With the option to add matching vessel sinks or a freestanding tub from the same line, what isn’t there to love about MTI’s Cosmopolitan Collection?

If you’d like to explore your options for a shower or bathroom that you’ll love, it’s time to visit your nearest . Let one of our professional design consultants show you just how beautiful and versatile MTI’s Cosmopolitan Collection of shower bases, tubs and sinks really is.

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Why Shower Bases are Better Than Tiling | Coburn’s (2024)

FAQs

Why Shower Bases are Better Than Tiling | Coburn’s? ›

Shower bases eliminate the issues of grout and having to keep grout lines clean, stain-free, mold-free and crack-free. Instead, you have a smooth surface that is usually designed to repel dirt, stains, mold and mildew.

Is a shower base better than tiles? ›

There's no right answer on whether an acrylic shower pan or tile base is best. In general, shower pans are much more affordable, but this also means that they're less customizable. They generally just come in one standard material and color option.

How long will an acrylic shower base last? ›

Acrylic is more expensive than fiberglass. Be careful which cleaners you use, as some can permanently damage the surface. You can expect your acrylic shower pan to last for about 10 years. A solid-surface shower pan is sturdier than an acrylic or fiberglass one and is more resistant to stains from cleansers.

Can you put a shower base over tiles? ›

Installing a shower pan over an existing tile floor is a great way to refresh your bathroom, but proper waterproofing is crucial to prevent future water damage. Learn how to effectively waterproof between cement board and your shower pan to ensure a durable, leak-free shower.

Are shower pans worth it? ›

Proper installation of a shower pan is crucial for your shower long and lasting service. Improper installation leads to leaks and worse than that flooding of your bathroom, which can eventually result in a very expensive damage. Shower pan can either enhance or spoil a shower.

What are the disadvantages of acrylic showers? ›

Con: Acrylics are softer than glass, so they're prone to scratches that will ultimately draw mildew. They'll resist degradation best if you clean them gently and avoid abrasives. A soft cloth is all you'll ever need. Higher-grade acrylics will resist mechanical damage best.

What type of shower lasts the longest? ›

Acrylic showers typically have a glossy coating covering the entire surface that helps make them more durable and longer-lasting. This type of shower will typically last for anywhere from 15 to possibly 20 years. One of the biggest benefits of acrylic and fiberglass showers is how easy they are to replace and install.

What is the difference between a shower base and a shower pan? ›

The key difference between the shower pan and shower base is the location. The pan is the actual floor of the shower, while the shower base is beneath the pan and is part of the bath substructure. A shower base is usually made of waterproof cement mortar.

Do you tile before or after shower base? ›

Once your shower base has been waterproofed, it's time to lay the tiles. The most important thing is to maintain the fall of the floor, so the water drains away.

Do you put anything under a shower base? ›

The majority of shower pan manufacturers recommend installing a bed of mortar under your shower pan. Besides providing a satisfyingly hard floor for your shower, a mortar base will also protect your subfloor from water damage, mold and even rot.

Can you replace a shower base without removing tile? ›

The technical answer to this question is Yes, you can remove the shower pan only without replacing ALL the tile.

What are the disadvantages of shower trays? ›

Drawbacks of inset shower trays

It must be positioned inside the bathroom floor before laying the tiles. The inclination of the screed must be calculated immediately to avoid flooding in the bathroom. - The placement of a floor-level shower tray cannot be improvised.

Do plumbers put in shower pans? ›

Do plumbers replace shower pans? Plumbers replace shower pans, shower liners, drains, and drain traps. But if you want to tile over your pan, you'll need to call in a tiler after the plumber installers the pan.

Is an acrylic shower base better than tile? ›

When investing in a shower remodel, durability is a top priority. Acrylic shower pans outshine tile bases in terms of longevity. Acrylic is a non-porous material, meaning it resists mold, mildew, and stains better than grouted tile surfaces.

What are the cons of tile shower floor? ›

There are some disadvantages in regards to tiled showers. As they are more difficult to install than most acrylic shower bases, they are also more difficult to remove. To remove or renovate the shower, the entire floor and walls must be ripped up and discarded.

What is better a tile shower or an insert? ›

Although tiled shower walls can be incredible works of art, there are a lot of reasons that a prefabricated insert may be a better choice for you. From being easier to keep clean to a variety of stunning color and texture options to choose from, prefabricated inserts rival tile walls in more ways than one.

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