You’ll find them in every house in the country, but very few people even know what they are. Since a bathroom is usually already installed once you move into a house, shower pans may not be something that you’ve ever had to think about buying or installing. Still, they’re absolutely necessary in the presence of any shower.

If you don’t know what a shower pan is, don’t despair. It’s also known as a shower base, which may make some more sense to you. It’s the bottom of your shower and it’s what the tile and everything else sits on top of. The biggest purpose of it all is to control the flow of water through your drainage system.

Buying shower pans for the first time can be somewhat confusing if you don’t know what to look for. The most important thing that goes into a shower pan purchase is determining the measurements of what you’re buying. This will determine the look and feel of your shower.

There are a number of shapes that you can consider using as well. From the standard rectangle to more abstract forms like the pentagon, you’ll have plenty of options when it comes to shape.

Style is another consideration that you’ll want to keep in mind. Even though you won’t be able to see the shower pans themselves, certain materials make it easier to lay certain surfaces on top of them.

Shower pan liners are yet another add-on that you might want to consider. The liner is a layer that goes in between the base and the shower floor, and it acts as another form of insulation to protect your shower pan.

You’ll need to choose the composition of your shower pan too. Whether you decide to go with acrylic fiberglass or something more traditional like ceramic, this will largely dictate the price of your shower base, in addition to the expected life span of whatever you buy.

Setting up shower pans is likely the most difficult part of the overall process. While there are DIY guides online, you may want to consider hiring someone to install your shower base if you’ve never done something like this before. Get a few quotes before going with someone, as you’re likely to find a better price this way.

Learn more about shower pans and the fiberglass shower pan now.