By Kerry Hale

Shower Tray Buying & Fitting Guide

  • Friday 20 September 2024
  • 6 minute read

The shower tray is a vitally important part of the shower. It’s essential to pick one that is well-built and will last over time. However, with so many shower trays to choose from in various shapes, sizes, materials and colours, where do you possibly begin?

To make things easier, we’ve put together this buying guide to help you choose the best type of shower tray for your bathroom. Read on to find out what to consider when choosing a shower tray, followed by a breakdown of the different shapes and sizes available and step-by-step installation guides.

What is a shower tray?

A shower tray is the base of a shower that collects water and directs it into the drain. It sits on top of the existing floor, eliminating the need for additional floor covering.

Your shower enclosure

The shape and size of your chosen shower tray need to perfectly match those of your shower enclosure so that there are no gaps for water to escape.

Space and size

The size of your bathroom will determine the shape and size of your shower enclosure and tray. Smaller bathrooms are better suited to space-saving styles like a square or quadrant enclosure, while big bathrooms are well-suited to larger rectangular shower trays.

Colour

Most shower trays are white, which makes for a simple and pared-back aesthetic, but slate-coloured shower trays are becoming more and more popular, providing a more natural look and feel.

Pipework

If your pipework is set into the floor, you can choose between a flat and raised shower tray, whereas if your pipework is raised, you’ll need a raised one to make space for this plumbing.

Safety

Safety is incredibly important when it comes to showering. Surfaces can inevitably get slippery when wet, but all Mira shower trays feature an anti-slip coating to make showering safer for all the family. Our Mira Flight Safe range takes things one step further with an exclusive coating and anti-slip technology that exceeds industry standards.

How to choose the right shower tray

There are several factors to consider when choosing the right shower tray for your bathroom, including shape, material and type.

Types of shower trays

There are two types of shower trays you can choose from:

Low-profile trays

Low-profile shower trays are designed to sit as low to the floor as possible. If you want a step-free shower that you enter at ground level, then you’ll need a low-profile shower tray. You can also refer to these types of shower trays if you want to know how to install a wet room shower tray.

Adjustable height shower trays

Adjustable height shower trays stand on adjustable legs and can be lowered or raised to your desired height. They also allow easy access to the pipes underneath in case of leaks or if anything needs replacing.

We always advise fitting the shower tray before tiling the walls or installing wall panels, as this ensures a more watertight seal around the sides of the tray.

Shower tray shapes

At Mira, we offer four shower tray shapes, each designed to fit seamlessly into different bathroom layouts. Here’s a breakdown of the available shapes:

  • Square: The square shower tray is a classic choice and incredibly versatile, fitting into most bathroom layouts. They’re a great option for small bathrooms, especially when paired with bi-fold doors. Our square shower trays come in various sizes, ranging from 760x760mm to 1000x1000mm.

  • Rectangle: If you have a spacious bathroom and fancy a roomier shower experience, consider the rectangle shower tray. It provides more space than the square option and is particularly popular for bigger bathrooms. That said, when paired with sliding doors, they can still work in smaller bathrooms, too. We offer rectangular shower trays ranging from 1000x760mm to 1700x900mm/1800x800mm.

  • Pentagon: With a five-sided design, pentagon shower trays fit snugly into the corner of a bathroom. They’re usually paired with bi-fold or pivot doors and are perfect for compact bathrooms where every inch matters. Our pentagon shower trays range from 900x900mm to 1200x900mm.

  • Quarter Round (Quadrant): These shower trays combine the benefits of a pentagon shape with a gentle curve. They’ll save you space with a touch of elegance, fitting neatly into a corner. They’re paired with either sliding or hinged doors. At Mira, our quadrant shower trays range from 800x800mm to 1200x900mm.

Shower tray materials

Shower trays are typically made from either acrylic or acrylic-capped stone resin. Acrylic is a popular choice as it's durable, easy to clean, lightweight and naturally non-slip when wet.

Acrylic-capped stone resin is becoming an increasingly popular choice for shower trays. It has all the same benefits as acrylic, but due to the stone resin at the core, it won't bend or warp in the same way a standard acrylic shower tray might, making it more durable and less likely to break. It also provides a more sophisticated finishing touch to your bathroom.

All Mira shower trays are made from strong acrylic-capped resin stone, which has been rigorously tested to help prevent scratches, chips and discolouration. Our Mira Flight Safe range also features anti-slip technology embedded within the tray to make showering safer for all the family.

White continues to be the most popular choice for shower trays, offering a clean and simple finish, but slate is increasing in popularity. All our shower trays are available in white, and our Mira Flight Level trays also come in a stunning slate effect, helping create a wet room look and feel.

How to fit a shower tray

The quality of your shower tray will count for little if it’s poorly installed. Fitting a shower tray correctly can be the difference between a smoothly running, watertight bathroom and costly leaks. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered with in-depth guides on how to fit a shower tray.

What you’ll need to install a shower tray

Before you start installing your shower tray, below is a list of things you will need:

  • A pencil

  • A spirit level

  • A drill

  • A jug or kettle

  • A hacksaw/jigsaw

  • Silicone sealant

  • Sealant gun

     

Additional things you’ll need for fitting a low-profile shower tray:

  • Cement

  • Building sand

  • Mortar trowel

How to fit an adjustable height shower tray

Follow the steps below to fit an adjustable height shower tray:

  • Step 1: Position the shower tray where you want it to be installed and ensure it fits into the space with no clearance issues. Screw the legs into position and adjust the height until the tray is at the desired level. Attach the tray’s waste outlet to make sure that everything lines up properly.

  • Step 2: Ensure the riser legs are adjusted to allow an adequate fall for the waste to drain away, typically a 50mm fall per metre length of pipework. Initially, it may be easier to level the tray by adjusting the key corner legs first. And don’t forget to fit the centre leg.

  • Step 3: Work out the best route to the waste pipe from the waste trap in the tray. If your outlet pipe is already in place, connect this to the trap.

  • Step 4: Place the tray, having pre-fitted the bottom part of the waste to the pipework.

  • Step 5: Use a spirit level to ensure that the tray is completely level the whole way around. This is one of the most important steps in installing a shower tray, as a tray that isn’t level will cause issues with drainage, and water could gather on one side of the tray and potentially overflow. Trays are designed so that the water runs towards the waste outlet, so there’s no need to tilt the tray.

  • Step 6: Check all the legs are engaged and that the lock nuts are tightened up and touching the flange.

  • Step 7: Get a kettle or jug of water and pour it down the shower drain to check that it flows smoothly without any drips or leaks.

  • Step 8: Cover up the gaps around the sides of the tray using either skirting boards or shower tray side panels.

  • Step 9: Run a bead of sealant behind the tray – between the wall and tray – to cushion it and provide a primary seal against leaks. Then, apply a bead of sealant along the top edge and wall.

  • Step 10: Fit the tiles, leaving a gap (approx. 3mm) between the tray and tiles. Run a bead of sealant between the bottom of the tile and the tray, ensuring it penetrates the gap. This secondary seal is important.

  • Step 11: Cut the side panels to length. Before offering up the panel, fix the leg clamps in place on the legs. You can also fix battens on the floor to secure the panel.

How to fit a low-profile shower tray

Follow the steps below to fit a low-profile shower tray:

  • Step 1: The floor beneath your tray must be completely secure, so position the shower tray where you want it to go and test that the floor is solid enough to support it without movement. If it's not, remove the floorboards from this area and replace them with marine plywood that is more than 20mm thick.

  • Step 2: Cut an access hatch in your floorboards next to the shower tray so that you can easily access the underneath of the shower tray for pipe maintenance.

  • Step 3: A low-profile shower tray doesn't have space for pipework between its base and the floor. Therefore, to create this space, part of the floorboards must be removed.

  • Step 4: Mix building sand and cement to create a mortar. Spread a thin layer carefully over the area where the shower tray will go. Position the shower tray on top of this and use a spirit level to ensure that everything is completely level. Allow to dry for around 24 hours.

  • Step 5: Use the access hatch to connect the waste trap to the outlet pipe and the outlet pipe to the waste pipe underneath the tray.

  • Step 6: Use silicone sealant to ensure a secure, watertight seal the whole way around the tray.

Maintaining a shower tray after installation

Regular cleaning can help you maintain your shower tray after you've installed it, preventing a buildup of soap scum or limescale. White wine vinegar and baking soda are a quick fix for rust marks. To prevent mildew in your shower enclosure, regularly using mould cleaning spray can stop it from appearing in your shower tray sealant.


If you need further help and support, please always refer to our shower trays page to browse all of our Mira products.

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