Shower Trays - Installation Tips

Shower trays are not easy to install, they need to be done correctly or you could risk major problems.

If you're considering investing in new shower trays, you need to consider installation. Fitting shower trays is something you can do yourself but it's highly recommended that you use a plumber or bathroom fitting specialist. If anything goes wrong with the shower trays or you fit them poorly, you are opening yourself up to major flooding risks. If your showers aren't draining properly because of miss-fitting shower trays you are opening yourself up to a potential minefield – just make sure your house insurance policy is up-to-date!

Fitting Shower Trays

It's crucial that the waterproof seal around the edges of the shower trays is done with the utmost care. In most cases, you won't need shower trays that need a base – but if you want to increase ease of access because of mobility problems, you will have to raise the shower tray with a base. You can make a base yourself simply using plywood with cuts made specifically to allow waste to be channelled through. You can also buy special waste traps to accompany shower trays that allow you to keep the tray as low to the floor as possible. Obviously you'll need to opt for the right shape shower tray to suit your shower enclosure, the right colour or material to suit your bathroom's overall design, and always choose shower trays of high quality so you can rely on it for durability and strength.

Installing Shower Trays

Installing shower trays however isn't as simple as you may think. You need to ensure the waste pipe and the plug align, that its completely and securely sealed, and that the shower tray is suitably level (the bottom of shower trays are designed to slope to assist proper drainage). As well as connecting the pipework, shower trays ideally need to sit on sealant or concrete or cemented floors so they don't move or become unsafe, although the waste trap and pipes should also be accessible in case of plumbing problems later down the line (such as a collapsed or deteriorated pipe). Using an easily removable skirting board is a common solution. If you are unsure about your DIY skills, it's highly recommended that you use a professional plumber or heating engineer to install shower trays.

Looking for Shower Trays? Speak to HeatandPlumb.com

HeatandPlumb.com is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of plumbing goods for homes and businesses. Offering a range of leading supplies for bathrooms, kitchens and businesses at fantastic prices, HeatandPlumb.com has a sales team with over 60 years of collective experience. If you need expert advice or to find out more about the range of showers, plumbing and heating accessories on offer from HeatandPlumb, just call 0871 272 22 22 or fill in our online enquiry form.