Urban intensification, such as townhouses and apartments, has been planned to relive pressure on the market and reduce city sprawl. With smaller dwellings involved in this strategy, Allproof has noted a trend in the popularity of open-concept bathrooms.
By removing a boxed shower unit, a designer can dramatically open up space. A fully tiled shower provides a seamless wet area with minimal impact on the space available, which is becoming more important as space comes at a premium.
A traditional tiled shower uses a waterproof membrane system bonded to a leak control flange, creating a "tanked" area. This system is an excellent option, however it has become apparent that there is demand for a tiled waterproof system that provides the same level of assurance as a shower tray.
A stainless steel shower tray creates an impermeable barrier below the tiles that is highly resistant to any movement within the structure. This can become an important factor to consider when creating timber framed multi-level dwellings with bathrooms above ground level, or any development with intertenancy levels. One scenario that highlights this decision-making process is Cordis Hotel in Auckland; even as a steel and concrete structure the designer decided the initial cost of putting tile-over trays in each of the 235 bathrooms outweighed the cost associated with the risk of a failure.
Specifying a tile-over stainless shower tray provides the assurance of performance and compliance with relevant AS/NZ Standards. A tile-over stainless shower tray would be considered a “Preformed Shower Base” (AS 3740-2010; 3.6) needing to be sufficiently recessed into the wall and floor, allowing waterproof membranes to be dressed onto the flange surface areas (textured to maximize bonding). Allproof have designed the tray to exceed the minimum fall outlined for Type 1 showers (AS 3740-2010; 3.13.5) by utilizing an engineered base. The tile-over stainless tray provides options of a 1:80 (recommended for hob entry) or 1:50 (recommended for level entry). The tray has a channel drain built into the system, with tile bar options designed to suit varying tile depths and weepage holes, allowing subsurface moisture trapped by the stainless tray to track into the waste outlet.
Allproof stainless steel tile-over trays have been developed so that they can be custom-made to each project while reducing the work and impact on the installer. Each tiled shower tray caters to the unique variables of the project, including overall size, shape, entrances/wall upstands, tile depths and grate options. Simply fill out a form supplying dimensions – Allproof then provide a shop drawing for sign-off before production.
The tray is supplied as a complete unit with the engineered base attached. By using a system with built-in fall, it removes the need for screeding on site, saving time and costs. The tray is fixed into place and tiles are directly applied following the installation guide.
