Cast iron shower trays: the pros and cons of the material

A few decades ago, shower trays made of cast iron were mainly used in public showers. Such pallets did not have an interesting design and shape, but they were able to withstand the load in the form of a large number of people. Nowadays, cast iron bowls are increasingly being installed in city apartments and country houses. This is not surprising, because the material itself has positive technical characteristics, and the modern production process allows you to create pallets of different shapes and depths.

The wide popularity of cast iron pallets is primarily due to their long service life. Sometimes such pallets can serve for 20 or more years, and both the cast-iron base and the top coating have high strength. As a topcoat, a special enamel is used, which is resistant to mechanical damage. It retains its original appearance for a long time: it does not wear out, does not become covered with cracks and chips.

This increased strength effect is achieved through a sophisticated coating technology: in addition to a laborious process, it includes exposure to high temperatures. The ingredients used to make the enamel finish can vary. As a result, different pallet models can have different shades and degrees of resistance to damage.

Cast iron is a heavy material, so pallets made of cast iron are not suitable for all types of flooring. However, due to the large mass, the cast iron bowls are very stable, they can be used without fear even by people with a large body weight. In addition, the material retains heat well, so a tray heated with warm water does not cool down for a long time, and water procedures in it will become comfortable.

Undoubtedly, cast iron shower trays have many advantages over similar products made from other materials.

• Long service life. Over time, damage can appear on the top surface, but the pallets themselves practically do not wear out, so they can be used for many years, only from time to time renewing the top layer.
• Security. Given that the material has a fairly large weight, there is practically no chance that the pallet will overturn. In addition, during installation, there is no need to carry out work to increase stability, which will significantly reduce operating time and money.
• Noise isolation. Due to the peculiarities of cast iron, there is practically no noise from pouring water while taking a shower, which favorably distinguishes this type of pallets from plastic and steel ones. This quality is important for apartments in multi-storey buildings, where there is often very poor sound insulation in the bathrooms. In a private house where several people live, this will also be a big plus, since you can take a shower at any time of the day without fear of disturbing anyone.
• Temperature support. The large mass of cast iron pallets allows for good temperature retention, making them especially comfortable to use in cool rooms.

Despite the large number of positive aspects, cast iron shower equipment also has some disadvantages.

• Small assortment of models. The production of such pallets is a rather difficult and time-consuming job, so the choice of such products on the plumbing market is small. Much more attention in the manufacture of pallets is paid to the appearance of the legs on which they rest.
• Great weight. Considering that the mass of cast iron pallets sometimes reaches 40 kg, a rather large load is placed on the floor covering. To prevent the floor from being pressed through by the legs, it is necessary to choose materials of increased strength for the coating, resistant to mechanical stress.
• High price. Cast iron significantly exceeds the price of plastic and other materials for pallets, so such a purchase will not be cheap. However, such a pallet pays off with a longer service life than models from other materials.

Cast iron is a rather difficult material to process, so the range of pallets from it is limited to four simple forms, namely:

• semicircular;
• square;
• rectangular;
• with beveled corners.

The parameters of shower trays usually vary between 70-100 cm. This size is the most optimal for standard bathrooms, however, for more spacious rooms, large trays can be found on sale. The latter option is suitable for bathrooms in country houses with a non-standard layout.

Pallets come in different depths, they are divided into shallow, medium and deep. The shallow bowl of the pallet usually has a depth of 5 to 35 mm, the middle one is from 40 mm to 1 cm, and the deep one is 1-2.5 cm. The ease of use of the equipment and ease of access to the space under the bowl for repair work depends on these parameters. Therefore, the most comfortable depth for placement on a finished pedestal is medium or shallow.

The drain holes in pallets made of this material are also different.

The following dimensions of these structures can be distinguished:

• 80x80 cm;
• 90x90 cm;
• 120x80 cm;
• 70x70 cm, etc.

Despite the fact that the range of cast iron shower trays in Russia is not too wide, the choice of the most suitable model should be taken seriously. There are a number of basic things to consider when purchasing new equipment.

• Bathroom parameters. For a comfortable use of the shower stall, it is necessary to take into account the correspondence between the size of the room and the pallet. For a small bathroom, it is best to choose the most compact model, in addition, there should be a small free space near the shower in stock. Thus, the minimum size of free space for placing a shower tray in the corner of the room is at least 80 cm long and 80 cm wide.
• Floor covering type. Cast iron, which is heavy enough, will put pressure on the floor, so dents and cracks may appear in the area of ​​the pallet feet. Soft materials (eg linoleum and laminate) are not suitable. Therefore, such plumbing is suitable for rooms with a very durable floor covering that can withstand heavy loads.

• Base of the floor. In addition to finishing the floor, you should also take into account how much pressure the beams can withstand. For example, wooden beams are an unsuccessful option for installing a cast-iron bowl, since over time the material will begin to deform and sag under heavy weight. As a result, not only the beams themselves will suffer, but also the finishing floor covering.The most suitable surface for this type of pallet is a concrete floor or screed.
• Features of networks of engineering and technical support. Before buying a pallet, you must carefully study the communication system: measure the diameter of the pipes of the sewer system, calculate the distance of the outlets to the drain hole. It is also worth looking at how the water pipes are located, at what distance from the surface of the walls and floor they are. The process of installing the pallet will directly depend on all of the above factors.

In order for the shower tray to serve for a long time, it is necessary not only to choose high-quality equipment, but also to take care of its correct installation. The most important step in preparing for the installation of the bowl is waterproofing work.

They are performed in the following sequence:

• the base of the floor and walls are primed with a suitable compound;
• then the well-mixed waterproofing mixture is applied to the dried primer in one layer;
• the tape for waterproofing is glued in such a way that no folds or irregularities remain anywhere, carefully leveled;
• mastic is applied to the glued tape using a roller, and first the vertical surface is processed, and then the floor;
• when the first layer of mastic is completely dry, it is necessary to apply another layer.

After the waterproofing is completely dry, you can start laying the floor tiles. Considering that cleanliness and safety are especially important in the bathroom, it is better to use a mixture with an antibacterial effect for grouting the joints between tiles. This will provide protection against the growth of pathogenic microbes in the seams and greatly simplify the process of cleaning the room.

The most common option for placing a shower in a bathroom is against the wall. Before installing the shower tray in this way, you should align the corner and the walls of the room, using a square and a level for accuracy. It is important to carefully observe all measurements during alignment, since even a slight deviation can negatively affect the installation of the bowl.

The kit for the pallet should contain detailed instructions for its installation, and a list of all components should be indicated on the package.

After checking the contents of the package, you should proceed to study the instructions. Here, a very important step is to determine the purpose of each part and the sequence of installation. If an error occurs during assembly, it may be necessary to dismantle the entire structure, and this may result in equipment damage and additional costs for their repair.

Uneven walls must be leveled in a specific sequence.

• With the help of a construction hammer, all protruding surface areas are removed. If during the work on the wall potholes are drunk, later they can be closed with adhesive mixture for tiles.
• After that, it is advisable to immediately remove construction debris from the floor, as it will significantly interfere during operation. In addition, debris can impair the adhesion of the surface to the adhesive.
• It is necessary to carefully check the position of the pallet in the place of its future installation. To do this, place the bowl against the surface and mark any remaining irregularities.

• The next step is to test the bowl setting, during which you check its position using a level. Before proceeding to this stage of work, you need to apply glue to those sections of the walls that are in contact with the sides of the pallet. Thus, you can track its location.
• The glue remaining on the walls should be removed, after which the protruding plaster is leveled with a perforator. Then you need to remove the resulting debris from the floor.

It is not worthwhile to install the pallet and grounding yourself; it is best to involve at least one more assistant. Otherwise, there is a risk of serious injury or damage to the bowl and flooring.

Installation of tiles must be started from the corner, this will ensure the accuracy of its observance. The tiles are laid sequentially: first in a row along one wall, and then along the neighboring one. The very first fragment of the tile covering must be laid from the corner, while adjusting it using a square. All subsequent fragments are mounted with a level or straight rail to check evenness.

It is even worse if low-quality work is found after installing the pallet or in the process of using it. Then dismantling and re-installation will take not only a lot of additional time, but also entail large unforeseen expenses of money.

For information on how to build a homemade shower tray, see the next video.