Some pans do not require mortar.
Pans can be paired up withtiledwalls for more design possibilities.
For homeowners, single-pieceshower pansare easier to clean than tiled shower floors.
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Yet for all of their advantages, shower pans do have a few downsides.
Sometimes, severe flexing can stress the drain fittings and may cause a leak around theshower drain.
In serious cases, a shower pan may even develop cracks in its floor surface.
Normal Amount of Flex
Few prefabricated shower pans will feel as rock-solid as a tiled shower base.
If you are accustomed to atiled showerbase, you will immediately sense the difference.
Shower pans hollowness can be perceived as weakness, and this is not necessarily the case.
Some small amount of flexing is expected.
This is not a problem as long as no water leakage has developed.
Some prefabricated shower pans will have a thinner floor or less substantial support ribs beneath it.
This results in a base that still is operable but is more susceptible to flexing.
Any insubstantial shower pan that rests directly on the subfloor is likely to flex underfoot.
Heavy Usage
Shower pans have weight limits.
Consult the manufacturer’s instructions for information on weight limits for the shower pan.
Do not exceed safe weight recommendations.
Very heavy usage might contribute to cracking and pulverization of the mortar bed, leading to structural failure.
Improper Cleaning or Usage
Improperly cleaning theshowerpan over time may deteriorate its structural quality.
When usingdrain cleaner, always rinse the pan immediately and thoroughly with water.
The pan will move and flex when someone showers.
The condition will worsen over time.
They are designed to support the shower pan as a whole.
Wood shims will rot and collapse.
Poorer quality shower pans may not have enough support fins to adequately reinforce the pan.
The flexing may be completely within the expected performance of the shower pan.
This can be a difficult thing to do after the pan is already installed.
It may be possible to reach the bottom of the shower pan from a room below the shower.
check that that you use plastic shims to avoid the possibility of wood rot.
The fitting is designed to accommodate the bending and flexing that occurs in prefabricated pans.
Replacing a shower pan is a major project.
