How To Fit A Shower Tray

12/09/2024

Fitting a shower tray can be a crucial step in creating a stylish and functional bathroom, especially when you're installing a wet room. Wetrooms offer a minimalist, open-plan design that maximises space and enhances accessibility, making them an ideal choice for contemporary living. In this guide, we'll focus on how to fit a tileable shower tray, ideal for that sleek, modern finish.

What Is A Shower Tray or Former?

When shopping for shower and wetroom materials, you’ll want to consider a wetroom shower tray A tileable shower tray (also known as a shower tray former) is designed to be tiled over, blending seamlessly with your bathroom floor. This type of shower tray is particularly popular in wet rooms, where a level, barrier-free floor is desired. It provides a waterproof base and eliminates the need for separate shower trays that might disrupt the design continuity of your space. These trays are perfect for those looking to maintain a clean, minimalist look.

Which Shower Tray Should I Choose?

Our wetroom shower trays and formers are engineered to provide a seamless, watertight base, ensuring both functionality and style. At Pro Tiler Tools you will be able to find industry-wide favourites such as the Jackoboard shower tray in a variety of formats, such as the Jackoboard Aqua Line and Jackoboard Sabo. Moreover, a popular choice is an Impey shower tray, specifically the Impey Aqua Dec Easy Fit. A Schluter shower tray such as the Schluter Kerdi Shower LTS or a Wedi Shower Tray, such as the wedi Fundo Ligno and wedi Fundo Primo, are also great choices.

See a comparison of the brands of tileable shower trays that we stock, giving key general benefits of the brand’s range, and some specific products within the range below:

Impey Wet Room Shower Tray	Jackoboard Shower Elements	Schluter KERDI Shower Trays	Tilemaster Delta Shower Trays	Wedi Fundo Shower Trays
Example Choices: Impey Aqua Dec Easy Fit	Example Choices: Jackoboard Aqua Line	Example Choices: Schluter Kerdi Shower LTS Schluter KERDI-SHOWER-TS Sloped Tray	Example Choices: Tilemaster Delta Tray Thames Tilemaster Delta Tray Trent Linear Drain	Example Choices: wedi Fundo Ligno wedi Fundo Primo
Available in a wide range of tray sizes.	Available in a wide range of tray sizes.	Available in a wide range of tray sizes.	Available in a wide range of tray sizes.	Available in a wide range of tray sizes.
This floor former can be used with a variety of drain types to suit all applications, and a range of Drain Tops to add individual style to every wetroom.	Options of a horizontal drain, a vertical drain, linear drain, centre of off-centre drain.	Options of a horizontal drain, a vertical drain, linear drain, centre of off-centre drain.	Requires a Thames Drain Kit, also giving the options of a horizontal drain, a vertical drain, or a shallow horizontal drain.	Choice of drain offset.
Easy to trim with a standard hand saw.	The trays can be cut to size with a utility knife, using the pre-marked cutting grooves on the underside of the tray, taking care to maintain a uniform gradient on all sides.	Where necessary the trays can be cut to size with a utility knife, using the pre-marked cutting grooves on the underside of the tray, taking care to maintain a uniform gradient on all sides.
Requires No Underboarding, Provides Flow Rates Up To 36L /min.	JACKOBOARD Aqua shower elements provide an ideal solution for every space. They can also easily be constructed into a complete shower with the JACKOBOARD® construction boards. All Aqua shower elements can be covered immediately with tiles and have an incorporated fall.	Sloped tray made of compression-resistant polystyrene with pre-adhered Schlüter-KERDI waterproofing.	Uses a drain body with a drainage capacity of 42 litres per minute.	Just 23mm Thick, and can be installed on almost any surface as a directly tileable, flush-to-floor shower system. Developed especially for use in old and new buildings with suspended timber floors.
Specific Uses: The Aqua-Dec EasyFit Wetroom Floor Former is an extremely strong 22mm thick GRP floorboard replacement with 4 pre-formed drainage gradients to provide a level access wetroom floor suitable for tiling. It’s suitable For New Concrete & Timber Floors, with 4 pre-formed drainage gradients to provide a level access wetroom floor suitable for tiling.	Specific Uses: JACKOBOARD Aqua Flat is a walk-in shower element which is particularly well suited for use on wooden beam ceilings.	Specific Uses: Schlüter-KERDI-SHOWER-T is a sloped tray made of compression-resistant polystyrene with pre-adhered Schlüter-KERDI waterproofing. In showers, it creates a sufficient slope to a centre-installed point drain. It is designed to accommodate the Schlüter- KERDI-DRAIN options and waste.	Specific Uses: This premium Delta Tray Trent shower tray is able to drain at a rate of 36 litres per minute. This tray is suitable for large formed tiles and mosaic tiles, and comes with either a drain at the end or the side to suit different design requirements. A tile into grate is also supplied allowing a clean finish hiding the shower drain.	Specific Uses: wedi Fundo shower elements can be installed on almost any surface as a directly tileable, flush-to-floor shower system. Due to its special design, the Fundo Ligno Plus is especially suitable for installation on wooden floors. Also suitable for both domestic construction and publicly accessible buildings and workplaces.

How To Fit A Shower Tray

Knowing how to fit your tileable shower try effectively is important to ensure your project runs smoothly, and you’re happy with the end result.

Prepare the Area

Start by preparing the installation area. Ensure the floor is clean, dry, and level. It's crucial to address any dips or uneven spots, as they can compromise the integrity of the shower tray installation. Use a spirit level to check the floor's flatness. If you're installing a wet room shower tray, make sure the shower drainage system is in place and properly aligned. If the tray is being installed over joists some supports may be required, ensure the manufacturers installation guidelines are followed to ensure the structural integrity of the tray.
Positioning the Shower Tray

Place the tileable shower tray in the desired position. Double-check that it aligns with the shower drain and that it's level. If you're fitting a shower tray in a wet room, ensure that the gradient leads towards the drain to prevent water pooling.
Tile Adhesive Application

Apply a flexible tile adhesive to the floor where the shower tray will sit. Spread the adhesive evenly using a notched trowel to ensure a strong bond. Carefully lower the shower tray onto the adhesive, making sure it's securely in place and level. It's essential to follow the manufacturer's instructions for drying times before proceeding to the next step.
Sealing the Shower Tray

Knowing how to seal a shower tray properly is key to preventing leaks. After the tile adhesive has set, apply a waterproof sealant around the edges of the tray where it meets the walls and floor. Kerakoll Aquastop Fix is an eco-friendly, popular, and ready-to-use sealant. This step is crucial for wet room shower trays, as any gaps can lead to water damage over time. Use a high-quality waterproofing tape, such as Schluter KERDI-FLEX, which can be installed with tile adhesive.
Tiling the Shower Tray

Once the sealant has dried, you can start tiling the shower tray. Use the same tile adhesive you used earlier, and carefully place the tiles, ensuring they are level and well-aligned. For a wet room shower tray, it's essential to maintain the tray's slope towards the drain to ensure proper water drainage.
Grouting and Finishing

After the tiles are in place and the adhesive has dried, apply tile grout between the tiles, an epoxy grout such as Kerakoll Fugalite Bio would be recommended as you would be applying it in a wet area. This will provide a strong, water-resistant finish. Once the grout has set, wipe away any excess and give the area a final clean.
Tiling the Shower Tray
Read more:

Fitting a Shower Tray: Tips and Tricks

Here are four top tips and tricks when you install a shower tray:

Plan Ahead: Ensure you have all the necessary tiling tools and materials before starting the installation process. This includes the tileable shower tray, flexible tile adhesive, sealant, tiles, and tiling tools.
Check for Leaks: After installation, test the shower tray by running water through the system. Check for any leaks around the edges and address them immediately.
Consider Wetroom Kits: For a more straightforward installation, you can opt for wet room shower tray kits that come with all the necessary components to waterproof your wetroom. The Schluter KERDI-SHOWER waterproofing kit is a prime example.
Additional Wetroom Accessories: Look at other shower and wetroom accessories for a more aesthetic overall finish. For example, shower niches, shower shelves, and wetroom seats and benches. Don’t forget to consider other areas of the wetroom, such as your sink and vanity unit. The Schluter KERDI-BOARD-W Customisable Washbasin / Vanity Unit is a recommended choice.

How to Seal a Shower Tray

By understanding how to install a shower tray correctly and knowing how to seal and reseal it when needed, you'll extend the life of your shower area and prevent costly water damage. This is because, over time, the seal around your shower tray may deteriorate, leading to leaks. Knowing how to reseal a shower tray is essential for maintaining your bathroom's waterproof integrity.

Remove Old Silicone: Scrape off the old sealant, being careful not to damage the tiles or shower tray. The FILA ZEROSIL Professional Silicone Remover is a great product.
Clean the Area: Ensure the area is clean and dry before applying the new silicone sealant.
Apply New Sealant: Using a sealant gun, apply a fresh bead of silicone sealant around the edges of the shower tray. Smooth it out with a silicone finishing tool.
Let It Dry: Allow the sealant to dry fully before using the shower. This typically takes around 24 hours.

How Do I Fit A Shower Tray?

Fitting a shower tray, especially a tileable one, can transform your bathroom into a sleek, modern space. So, following the above guide on how to fit a shower tray should help you with your tileable shower tray installation project!

If you need any assistance with your order, don’t hesitate to contact our team of experts, via email at [email protected] or give us a call at 01604 859800.