Clean, Modern & Easy

The Latest Design Trend in Bathroom Showers

By Steven J. Smith

Homeowners interested in bringing their bathroom showers into the 21st century might do well to consider showers featuring acrylic or stainless-steel enclosures and shower bases, rather than the typical tile-and-grout shower bases so pervasive in traditional American homes. oceania

John Smithman, owner of The Plumbing Place, a popular and upscale decorative plumbing and hardware showroom in Sarasota, said Europeans have embraced the acrylic/stainless steel shower base concept for years over tile and grout, which is porous and therefore considered to be inferior.

“Ninety-nine percent of the showers in this country have a floor on them just like the walls,” Smithman said. “This floor has ceramic tile with grout joints that complete the entire perimeter of the shower. You can put sealers on it and have silicon mixed in with it, but the fact is it’s always going to be porous, which means water can seep out.” oceania

Smithman added that shower flooring manufactured by such home spa companies as Canadian firm Oceania provide a safer, water-resistant and contemporary-styled solution over traditional tile and grout. “Oceania shower bases are typically white acrylic and are very clean, sanitary and modern looking,” he said. “They also allow for a much quicker construction job.” oceania

The Plumbing Place has been in business for 31 years and Smithman took it over 16 years ago. “What sets us apart from other plumbing-related businesses is the luxury element,” he said. “We specialize in decorative plumbing and hardware. That means the kind of quality and beautiful products you would want if you were building a really nice house or condominium.” oceania

Smithman added it was Europeans constantly coming into his store and asking for the acrylic/stainless steel shower base that finally won him over to the product. oceania

“For years they asked for it and I eventually saw the product and took the plunge and placed a display in my showroom,” he said. “It’s a base with the shower doors that all come as a kit. We have a lot of Europeans in this area and when they saw it they said, ‘That’s it! That’s what we want.’”  oceania

“Clearly the trend towards contemporary style with a clean, cutting-edge look has also helped its popularity a lot. You don’t have to seal the floor underneath. You don’t have to do anything exotic, because it’s just like sliding a bathtub in an alcove with three walls around the acrylic or stainless-steel base and you’ve got a bath/shower,” he added.

Costs for the units can vary a lot depending on size. A four-foot by five-foot shower, for example, can run $500- $600, but can range up to $2,000-$3,000 depending on the glass doors selected, as well as other features such as wheelchair accessibility. These costs do not include installation. oceania

“But the main reason people are buying these is the aesthetic,” Smithman said. “And it’s actually cheaper to install one of these bases than a tile shower, because a tiler can’t build a shower pan and tile the shower enclosure the same day. A shower pan first needs to be installed and then the masonry tile base is poured on top of that, which has to dry and cure before the tiler comes back to do the tile work. That adds several days to the job as opposed to throwing a base down and working on the walls five minutes later.”oceania

Smithman concluded the ultimate plus to an acrylic/stainless steel base shower is the ease with which it is maintained. oceania

“I ask people if they’re tired of getting on their hands and knees with a scrub brush and bleach trying to get mildew out of the bottom of their showers,” he said. “Because as good a job as you do on that grout, it’s going to be less than perfect. Whereas an acrylic surface is always going to look the way it looks brand new.”

To learn more about acrylic and stainless-steel base showers as well as the many configurations they come in, call The Plumbing Place at 941.378.5678 or visit the 6,000 square foot kitchen and bath designer showroom at 5678 Fruitville Road in Sarasota.

Steven J. Smith is a freelance journalist and professional actor. As a journalist, he contributes to numerous newspapers and magazines all around Florida. As an actor, he has appeared in scores of plays, films and television shows across the country and around the world for over 40 years.