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Original poster

Small shower - tray or no tray...?

15 replies

VelvetSpoon · 06/10/2015 01:04

In my bathroom there is a recessed area 742-745mm wide by 750 deep.

The original plan was that this area would be tiled out, including the floor, and that would be the shower. This was my Ex's plan, we split up before he finished it, although he'd tiled the rest of the bathroom.

I then had a couple of plumbers who were going to do the work. One said don't tile, fit a tray, he would get it and fit. He then couldn't do the work due to other commitments...next guy said tile it out, but again, he didn't end up doing the work.

So now I have plumber no 3, who has asked me to get all materials (long story).

I can't get a tray to fit. We looked at a 760 square tray - the walls of the recessed area are marine ply, so it could be possible to cut some back, but the trays are all solid/rigid, and neither BF nor I can see how it would fit.

I looked into a specially made one...Only ones I could find seemed to be £400 or more. And would take weeks to be ready, not ideal as he's starting next week. Plus I really haven't got £400 to spend on a tray.

So it seems only option is tiling it out...is this possible? BF thinks it's the best option, and any shower has a risk of leaking.

Just trying to see whether there's anything I haven't thought of, any other way round it. I don't have masses to spend so the cheaper option is preferable, but I don't want it to look terrible, and ideally would rather it didn't leak everywhere.

OP posts:
Original poster
VelvetSpoon · 06/10/2015 12:47

Anyone??....

OP posts:
wowfudge · 06/10/2015 13:09

Shower over the bath instead and put a cupboard in the space? We had 76x76cm shower cubicle and DP hated it because unless you are small, there's just no room in them. Have taps with a shower spray attached and a thing on the wall to hold it up.

OnePlanOnHouzz · 06/10/2015 13:56

I agree even 800mm is too small really ( we have one more or less that size ) it's destined to be made into a cupboard when I get around to it !

Original poster
VelvetSpoon · 06/10/2015 15:06

I can't do an over the bath shower, the bath has special taps/spout which I couldn't change without changing the (v expensive) bath. And the bath area is already tiled. And I already have shower/ tiles for the area, and all the plumbing is in place.

I'm not too worried about the shower being small as it will mainly be for my DC to use, there's a bigger shower in my en suite.

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Forestdreams · 06/10/2015 15:46

I'm no expert but I think you'd need to look at getting a wet room kit. Never done it myself but I thought it's more complicated than getting a shower tray or simply tiling. You need a membrane under the tiles or something.

We have fitted a bath into a slightly too short space by cutting into the wall. This was a DIY job and quite straightforward but I think you'd need to ask your plumber about whether he/she could do that in this case.

Original poster
VelvetSpoon · 06/10/2015 16:03

Plumber really wouldn't know, he'll just do what I decide.

The walls are boarded out with marine ply so I can cut into them, but the problem is the shower trays are too rigid, so even if we cut it I can't see it would fit, they're just not flexible.

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Oliversmumsarmy · 06/10/2015 16:09

Just put in a 700 x 800 shower with a bifold door. Not too bad a size. Whole thing including the shower head, valve, tray, waste and door cost about £250. It is a bit small but perfectly fine.

Forestdreams · 06/10/2015 16:11

Why does it need to be flexible?

Plumber has the advantage over us lot that he can actually see the space!

Original poster
VelvetSpoon · 06/10/2015 17:04

If it is completely rigid it won't fit the space even if we cut a hole.

OP posts:
Forestdreams · 06/10/2015 17:21

You've said that but you haven't explained why or how it wouldn't fit. If you don't explain why, it's hard for anyone to suggest a solution that might work. The point of cutting the channel is so that it has a bigger space to fit into, so it should resolve the problem.

Original poster
VelvetSpoon · 06/10/2015 17:31

Ok I'm obviously not being clear. Shower tray is not just a little ridge like the top of a bath, it's solid all the way down, so 80-100mm or however deep.

The area in my bathroom is a recess. Within the recess I can cut a hole in the walls, outside it I can't as the walls are tiled.

If the tray were as shallow as the top of a bath, it might be possible, but I can't see how it would at that depth.

My BF says the only way he thinks you could get the shower tray in given it's depth and rigidity is to cut it to fit, which would look awful hence why he agrees with tiling it out.

OP posts:
Forestdreams · 06/10/2015 18:06

Hmm, i think a deeper cut out should be fine, though yes it would require removing some of the tiles either side and making good after but that is doable isn't it? The 76x76 is very nearly the right size so it would only need a shallow channel. Or do it as a wet room with tiling.

I'll leave this now as I'm probably being a bit thick failing to understand!

AppleAndBlackberry · 06/10/2015 18:13

We bought a shower tray that was made of a kind of foam with a plastic moulded top. I think it was just from home base or B&QQ although it was about 8 years ago...

ICantFindAFreeNickName2 · 06/10/2015 18:32

I would fit a wet room floor. but it would not be a cheap option.

Original poster
VelvetSpoon · 12/10/2015 19:55

Well builder's been today and between him and my bf they seem to have agreed to tile the whole thing out.

Builder agrees there's no way to get a shower tray in the space, and a specially made one would be a waste of money.

He is planning to line in and then tile over the top.

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