Shower trays are usually installed on the floor or they can be recessed in the screed thus allowing a thin border or they can be totally flushed. Flush fitting shower trays are really nice but they can incur in flooding if the drain slope isn’t made carefully. However, this kind of shower is the one to go for in case of people with disabilities.
The standard height of a tray goes from 8 cm to 11 cm while extra flat shower trays have a 4,5 cm height. Since the border is so thin the drain has to be larger (?90 mm) to allow a rapid discharge of water.
Which materials? Ceramic shower trays are the most common and unexpensive: they resist to abrasions and to the vast majority of detergents but can be heavy and fragile and uncomfortable from a thermal point of view. The market offers dirt and lime repellent enamel trays that are easier to clean and preserve their shine in time. Their height varies between 11 and 6 cm and they can be installed on floor or screed recessed. Acrylic shower trays are cut out of acrylic sheets, heated up and pressed in specific moulds where they are left to cool down. Once cooled down, the piece is reinforced with a mixture of acrylic, wood and fiberglass. Acrylic shower trays are light, resistant to mechanical strain, to UV rays and to detergents. They can be smoothened and buffed if they get scratched. Compared to the ceramic ones, the acrylic ones are not cold to touch and they are generally anti-slip thanks to the grip effect given by their composition. More, they can be made thinner and cut on site thanks to their flexibility. Enameled stainless steel is the most used material for the ultra-slim models. They offer high performance in relation to their thinness. Corian? shower trays which are very trendy, put together mechanical strain, acid resistance and hygiene thanks to their non-porous material and super smooth surface. Corian? is made of natural minerals and extremely pure acrylic polymers. Corian? is cherished so much by many designers around the world because of its versatility, beauty and surface smoothness to become the leading material in the bathroom.
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