Plastic Shower Floor Vs. Tile Shower Floor

The differences between a plastic shower pan and a custom tile shower pan can be pretty dramatic. The costs to install it versus the value you get out of it are very different. The maintenance and longevity of the two products over time are very different. Your options when it comes to esthetics, design and installation constraints vary greatly between the two. Let's take a look at each of these things individually so you can make the most informed decision for your home.

Increase In Your Homes Value

The first thing to consider is the upfront cost. Just installation materials for a custom shower pan are going to be similar to the cost of all installation materials and a plastic pan combined. As well as the labor cost going into a custom pan is going to be significantly higher. While it is more expensive upfront, money spent on quality upgrades in a bathroom is not money spent in vane. The national average ROI on a bathroom is 72.7%. This means there is an average of $1.72 in resale value for every $1.00 put in to a bathroom.

Longevity/Maintenance

This is where the saying, “you get what you pay for,” does not hold water… …but a plastic shower pan will for a long time with little to no maintenance. A tile shower pan can last quite a long time, potentially even longer, but it will require a fair amount of maintenance to keep the water where you want it. A tile shower floor is going to need the grout resealed every six months to two years. This will depend on the usage, whether it is a guest bath or main bath. Also, the grout will need completely redone around every 10 years. With proper maintenance the lifespan of a tile shower floor could theoretically be 30 years! The lifespan of a plastic shower floor is going to last somewhere around 10 years as long as it only receives normal wear and tear and was properly installed in a mud bed. However, if either of these are installed incorrectly, they could potentially only last a few hours!

Atmosphere

The feeling of luxury you experience in a fully custom tile shower is hard to match. An evening shower is your time to truly relax, cut ties with your day and leave the days stress on the floor with your clothes. Being able to enjoy this alone time inside of a work of art really makes that time special. Most of us have so little time available for pampering and relaxation that you have to make the most of it while it lasts. The amount of self expression and uniqueness that a fully custom tile shower offers let's your soul know that you are right where you need to be and this is why this category is where the custom tile shower floor reigns supreme.

Installation/Design considerations

When deciding which direction to go between a plastic shower pan and a custom tile shower pan, you have to consider what design and installation constraints you might have. When trying to design a truly custom space, a unique shape may be something to consider. In this case, a custom floor is required. Color can be another deciding factor. If white just will not work with the design then custom tile is the way to go. If you are in a situation where time is one of the most important factors, a standard plastic pan may be a way to get the job done a little faster. Maybe there is a holiday or birthday party coming up that the project needs completed before. A custom floor gets installed in layers that each must dry overnight as opposed to a plastic floor that gets set in mortar and only takes one night to dry.

Both options have fairly strong arguments to be made for either side. Often times the decision becomes pretty easy since the pros and cons to either option are so polarizing. Based on the information in this comparison, after listing out your particular projects specifications, you should have a pretty clear picture of which way you should go. But even if you are still unclear of which way you want to go, GIVE US A CALL! We are happy to help you decide. With bathroom and kitchen renovations as our specialty, our project managers can help make each step of this journey easy as pie on the way to putting together an overall design that you will love for years to come!