Choosing between acrylic and fiberglass shower bases is one of the many decisions homeowners must make when updating their bathrooms. Make the wrong choice, and it can impact your return on the investment (ROI).
Bathroom remodels, when done the right way, yield the biggest returns by boosting your home’s resale value. Simple cosmetic changes produce a $1.71 increase in home value for every dollar spent. Big-ticket items like bathtub-to-shower conversions and luxury bathroom installations push the ROI even higher.
To help homeowners make the right decisions, this blog explores:
Shower bases, sometimes called shower pans, are the pre-formed trays that make up the bottom of a shower enclosure. They’re designed to catch and drain the water from your shower so it doesn’t end up on your bathroom floor.
A secondary purpose of shower bases is to serve as the foundation for your shower walls. They can be made from acrylic, fiberglass, or porcelain. Without the right shower base, you can experience improper drainage and water leakage issues.
Shower bases come in different sizes to accommodate your bathroom renovation project. Traditional shower bases consist of a 30-inch by 30-inch square. Neo-angle pans for corner showers are triangular-shaped.
Customers who choose bathtub-to-shower conversions may have longer, rectangular shower bases if they wish to keep the size of their new shower consistent with that of the previous bathtub.
Your bathroom remodeling contractors can help you choose the best fit for your bathroom space.
Acrylic and fiberglass shower pans are the most popular choices among homeowners updating their bathrooms. Which one you choose depends on your budget and personal preferences. Most homeowners decide based on cost differences, customization options, and durability factors.
Affordability plays a big part in whether customers choose acrylic over fiberglass shower bases. Knowing the cost before installation is a priority for most homeowners when upgrading their bathrooms.
While both are among the most affordable options for bathroom remodeling projects, acrylic shower pans cost slightly more than their fiberglass counterparts. However, the caveat of getting what you pay for holds true with acrylic vs. fiberglass shower bases.
We’ll explore further why acrylic is the smarter choice in the customization and durability sections.
If customization is important for your bathroom remodeling project, then acrylic shower bases are the best option. Acrylic is a more durable material, but it also has greater flexibility than fiberglass. You can mold it into a variety of shapes and sizes to suit your bathroom conversion goals.
Besides the ability to manipulate their size and shape, acrylic shower pans come in several colors and finishes to further enhance your customization options.
Fiberglass shower base manufacturers provide some options for colors and finishes, but not to the extent you can get with acrylic.
Acrylic shower pans are made of solid surface material reinforced with fiberglass. Alternatively, fiberglass shower pans consist of layers of 100% fiberglass material. Their construction influences their durability factor.
Acrylic generally is considered more durable than fiberglass because of its solid surface. It’s more resistant to impact and cracking because of the added strength. Acrylic also is less porous than fiberglass, so it’s less likely to absorb liquids that can cause discoloration, staining, and eventual deterioration of the material.
If you’re going to spend money on bathroom updates, make sure they last to get the most return on your investment.
Beyond the differences in cost, customization, and durability, there are other benefits to acrylic shower pans that you can’t get with fiberglass. One such perk of acrylic is it provides seamless shower connections and wainscotting.
“It has a natural beauty and a clean and polished look,” said Art Kivivali, owner of Just Bath. “Plus, it doesn’t add too much weight to the shower system, so it won’t damage your subflooring or foundation.”
The acrylic shower bases Just Bath uses in all its bathroom conversion projects are made from natural stone with 8,000 pixels of laminate printed on them to create unique designs for customization.
Beyond their flexibility for customization, acrylic shower pans are low-maintenance and easy to keep clean. Unlike some other materials, acrylic doesn’t require frequent grout cleaning or resealing. You can simply wipe it down with a mild cleanser and soft cloth to keep it looking new.
Acrylic shower pans are lightweight, which makes them easy to install. Some of the things that can affect installation time include the shape and size of the shower base and the skill level of the installer.
Most bathroom renovation projects—including bathtub-to-shower conversions—take about a day to complete. The installation process includes several steps:
Depending on the scope of your project, a plumber may need to adjust the drains and plumbing or cut the shower base to fit specific dimensions.
Make sure you work with a professional installer that can provide a cost and time estimate for your shower base installation for the best experience.
Just Bath has more than 30 years of combined experience on its installation team. We use our industry expertise for luxury bath remodeling, bathtub-to-shower conversions, and other bathroom-in-one-day projects.
Have additional questions about acrylic vs. fiberglass shower bases? Give us a call today at 724-400-2284. We’re happy to assist!
Just had my shower re-done and I’m in looooove!! We had it done in an AMAZING color (Alaskan Ivory) and it is absolutely gorgeous! Also, it’s very easy to clean.
We had our bathroom remodeled with Sentrel, we chose to go with the Abalone Travertine and we couldn’t be happier it looks amazing and I and my husband get compliments on our shower all the time. We would recommend them to anyone.
Loved the service, professionalism, but most importantly, the end result. Nicely done.
The difference between the before and after is so drastic that we can hardly believe it is the same bathroom. What a difference! We love it! We are so pleased with our remodeled bathroom and would recommend Sentrel Bath Systems to anyone.
When you gave us the “Dream Bathroom” you promised we were thrilled! We are proud to show our beautiful new bathroom to our friends and relatives. We highly recommend your company to anyone who appreciates quality workmanship done with concern for the customers’ wishes and needs.
My bathroom was a mess and it needed a redo, but I was worried about the expense. I couldn’t be happier with the result. The final cost remained within my budget and my bathroom is finally usable and it looks great.
Just Bath was amazing! Gave us many options and loved what we choose! Install was painless and they left everything clean! The guys did a great job!!
Just Bath was great, they did what they promised to do. Very professional and very polite. I would absolutely recommend them and Just Bath. Thank you all again. Great job guys…
