You have come to the right place if you are thinking of using a black shower tray in your bathroom design.
The vast majority of shower trays used in the UK are made in white but there are shower manufacturers who offer their products in a range of colours. And black is a popular choice.
So what kind of things should you be looking out for when choosing a shower tray? We will have a look in more detail further in the article. In the meantime, here are some examples available from Amazon. As an associate, we receive a small commission on any qualifying purchases.
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Shower Tray Features To Look Out For
There are a large number of different variables that need to be taken into consideration when buying a shower tray.
You could end up with installation problems if you do not make the right choices.
Some of the design features might seem irrelevant but they can make a big difference when it comes to fitting the tray. Things that need to be taken into consideration include:
- is the tray being fitted flat on the floor?
- at what position is the shower waste?
- are there legs available?
- what depth is the dish part of the tray?
All of these factors will have a bearing on which black shower tray you select. So let’s have a look at them in more detail.
Is The Shower Tray Being Fitted On The Floor?
This is probably the most important question because it affects many aspects of the design required.
On a masonry floor, the pipes will have to be run in channels cut into the surface. It makes sense to choose a shower tray with a waste position that matches up with what is already there if these are in place to start with. You do not want the fuss, hassle and dust of chasing out new channels in the concrete.
The pipes will need to be run between joists if you are fitting the tray flat on a wooden floor. You need to ensure the waste position does not straddle any of the joists because this will prevent the pipework from being run correctly. It is not really feasible to notch out the joists because the amount of material needed to be cut away will weaken them too much.
It is always preferable to fit the tray on the floor for two reasons:
- the shower tray will be much less likely to move
- access into and out of the shower cubicle will be much easier
But this is not always possible. In which case you will need to raise the tray up and run the waste pipes above the floor.
Does The Shower Tray Come With Legs?
Some shower trays are supplied with legs. These are either screwed directly into the tray material or fixed to a baseboard under the tray. This depends on the design of the tray and the material it is made from.
The legs are adjustable to enable you to install it at the right height to suit your pipework. Try to fit the tray as low as your pipework will allow, for the same reasons as given above. It will be more stable and will be easier to access.
You will need to create your own platform onto which the black shower tray can be fitted if the manufacturer does not offer a leg option then.
This is constructed from timber and marine ply. You might be required to bed the tray on a cement base by the manufacturer. Check the instructions as if you do not fit it in accordance with their recommendations you could invalidate your guarantee.
Waste Size
The size of the waste is also important as well as its position.
Modern, pumped power showers can output a lot of water. This water has to be ducted out and away from the tray or it will start to fill up with water and could overflow.
There are wastes designed specifically to cope with large amounts of water so check that your tray has the aperture to be able to mount one. These wastes are not always circular in design and can look more like a grid. The tray manufacturer will usually provide a waste if it is non-standard.
It is essential that any waste has a “top clean” option. This means you can access the waste to unblock it should it become clogged with hair etc.
Upstands
Upstands are thin. moulded fillets that slot up behind the tiles or wall panels.
Trays can have them on one, two or three sides depending on the type of shower being installed.
These upstands ensure that no water can escape from the joint between the shower tray and the wall. This is a real weak spot especially if the tray is raised up. There can be differential movement between the tray and the wall. This can result in silicone seals losing adhesion and letting water escape from the cubicle.
It is unfortunate that upstands are not more common because there are large numbers of households who are affected by this leaking problem. Some housebuilders are even away from shower cubicles altogether and fitting shower pods to ensure that the new property experiences no leaks.
By using a shower tray with upstands and using shower wall panels instead of tiles you are effectively emulating a shower pod but at a much-reduced cost.
Non-Slip Surface
The non-slip surface of a shower tray is provided in one of two ways. It is either created by raised patterns or dimples moulded into the tray. Or the surface will have a rough texture to provide grip in the wet.
The raised patterns are easier to clean with a white tray but this is less of an issue with a black shower tray. A textured finish probably offers a better level of grip as there are no gaps in the non-slip surface.
Black Shower Tray Materials
Black shower trays can be made from a number of different materials. Each of the materials has its pros and cons – so no one can be said to be the best. The most common ones would include:
- Acrylic
- Stone Resin
- Fibreglass
- Enamelled Steel
Black trays are not as common as white ones so they will nearly always be one of the first two options listed here.
Acrylic shower trays are made from an acrylic sheet that is reinforced with fibreglass and a wooden baseboard. They usually have legs that are screwed to the baseboard. This allows pipework to be run underneath the tray if required.
Stone resin is a more solid material but does not always have legs available so would need to be raised up on a wooden platform if it cannot be installed flat on the floor.
We have more details on shower tray materials here.