A shower tray needs replacing when it is cracked through, when it flexes underfoot and keeps breaking its seal, or when water is escaping under it and damaging the floor. The tray itself is rarely the root cause. Most trays fail because they were not fully supported when fitted, so the job is not just swapping the tray but putting the base right underneath it. Here is how to recognise the signs, what the work involves, and what to check so the new one does not go the same way.
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Signs your tray is failing
- A hairline crack, often starting near the waste or in a corner.
- Creaking or a slight dip when you step in.
- Silicone that splits along the tray edge soon after it is redone.
- Staining on the ceiling below, or a soft floor outside the shower. Our leak through the ceiling guide helps trace where water is coming from.
- A musty smell that comes back however often the shower is cleaned.
Safe checks you can do first
Not every leak around a shower is the tray. Run the shower head straight down into the waste without touching the walls or screen for a few minutes. If the ceiling stays dry, the tray and waste are probably fine and the problem is higher up, at the screen seal or through the tiles. Then pour water along the tray edge only. If that produces a leak, the edge seal has failed. If water escapes only when you stand in the tray, movement is the likely cause.
Why trays crack and flex
Stone resin trays are rigid and need continuous support across their whole base, usually a full bed of mortar or a dedicated riser kit adjusted to touch everywhere. Dabs of adhesive or a few blobs of silicone leave hollow spots, and the tray bends over them until it cracks. On timber floors, joists that move or boards that have softened from earlier leaks make things worse. Acrylic capped trays flex more by design and depend even more on the base.
What replacement involves
The screen comes off, the old silicone is cut out, and the bottom row of tiles is often removed to free the tray edge. The old tray is lifted and the waste disconnected. The floor is then checked properly: any wet or soft boards are replaced, and joists are inspected. The new tray is bedded fully and levelled so water runs to the waste, the waste is connected and tested, and the wall is made good with the tiles or a trim tucked over the tray upstand. The screen goes back, and the joints are sealed. We normally ask you to leave it for 24 hours before using it.
Choosing the new tray
The simplest route is the same size and waste position, which keeps the screen and most tiles in place. Changing size gives you a chance to improve the shower, perhaps going larger or lower for easier access, but it brings the screen, waste and tiling into the job. For level access or a walk in layout, see our walk in shower options.
When a tray becomes a bigger job
If the leak has gone on for months, the damage can reach past the tray into floor joists, the wall behind the tiles, or the ceiling below. In that case it may make more sense to rebuild the shower area completely or combine it with a refresh of the room.
Getting help
Shower tray and screen replacement is part of our bathroom repairs service. Our own team handles the plumbing and tiling, and the work carries our written workmanship guarantee. Describe your tray problem or call 01782 901390.
Common questions
Can a cracked shower tray be repaired?
Small surface chips can sometimes be filled cosmetically, but a crack that goes through the tray will leak and usually means the tray was not properly supported. Replacement, with the base put right, is the lasting fix.
Why does my shower tray move when I stand on it?
The tray is not fully bedded or the floor beneath it is weak. Movement breaks the silicone seal every time someone steps in, and water then gets under the tray and into the floor.
Can the screen and tiles stay when the tray is replaced?
Sometimes. A tray of exactly the same size can occasionally be swapped with the screen refitted, but the bottom row of tiles is often damaged coming out. It is sensible to plan for some tile repair.
Can I change to a bigger or lower tray?
Yes, but the waste position, the screen and the tiling all change with it. A low profile tray also needs enough fall for the waste, which can mean raising it on a riser kit or working into the floor.