I just read an entire 2012 thread on this site about using cultured marble shower pans. It was very encouraging. We used Acrylic ones (one of them a Jacuzzi brand, and one Ameritech from Lowes), in a B&B for 18 years and they performed beautifully as did one in my personal space. One guest shoer had an acrylic pan and cultured marble walls--loved it. NOW, I'm considering a cultured marble or cultured granite one for my hme because THAT TYPE PAN DOES NOT LEAK. The house we just bought has a tiled shower and I can see the caulk pulling away, feel the tile not level and see some damage on the floor in the room next door. There is NO upside to a tiled shower over the long haul. They may leak and some tiles are hard to clean. The weakest point is always where grout or caulk lines. The ONLY grout I have ever been happy with probably isn't still on the market--it was a sanded epoxy grout from Lowes. (Pretty much just mixed colored sand and gooey epoxy together.) The darn stuff was the biggest bear in the world to install (especially when the bathroom does not yet have running water so you can wash up as you go--and quickly), but, it never fell out, never leaked and never molded. Since that doesn't seem to be around "any more," the next best thing is to have as few joints as possible. I'm going to rip out the current tile shower and use a custom "cultured" pan and cultured walls (or Corian, Silestone or whatever). You could also have one fabricated from Corian just like a custom sink--but go direct to the fabricator because the mark up from big box stores is killer. Please search for the conversion elsewhere on houzz.com--all were homeowners, not salesman. PS concerning cracks: our all-in-one Kohler acrylic shower only cracked after about 19 years of daily use (and we were able to assess the damage from a closet so know exactly what went wrong). The pans in the B&B are all intact after 18+ years. But, we KNEW to put a bed of sheetrock mud under each one. Acrylic pans are fine; throw away your Comet cleanser, SoftScrub and Scotchbrite pads!!!! The most abrasive thing allowed near them should be Magic Erasers--and then only on an infrequent basis. Use a sponge and Tilex produces or nylon woven pad. We also always used soap bars that were either "beauty bars" or glycerine soap--not regular ol' soap (which forms more scum by its formulation). Or, just use vingear!

One option could be to look for a square size tub shower combo...similar to the ones featured in these links squaretubshowercomboeasierinandout or squaretubshowercombo Not sure how your bathroom is set up and if something like this makes sense but it may still be doable for small children but not too overwhelming for your space. Based on the design of the tub, it seems like some are easier to get in and out of. Hope this helps :)

I see posts like this and I honestly feel horrible for you. My orig comments in regards to the tile was to determine what kind of tile before making the assumption they were laid wrong. let's forget about the tiles and even their installation. One look at that job site an the $50 saw and you can tell these are no pro tile layers. They are hired dirt cheap and that is why they lack the training and tools to do a proper job. Hate to say it but people keep fighting for these illegal day laborers not seeing the other side of what happens. Yes they might be hard workers but they don't have the training or even the ability to read instructions. You can clearly tell this by how they are using the products that were probably supplied to them. Look at how they used the waterproofing or how they did that curb and corners or the pan membrane. Someone charged you for the right products and the correct labor but then drove past the local HD and let 4 guys jump into their van and handed them Co shirts and dropped them off at your house. People don't understand the liability involved in doing business like this. As for the sealer they were talking about grout release as epoxy or urethane grout haze can be difficult to remove especially if you can't read the instructions to know it isn't applied like standard grout. You will do more damage to your house if you use that shower. Hire a professional witness that specializes in tiling and take them to court. There is zero trying to fix what you have here this isn't a couple of misaligned tiles. How is that toilet? No flange installed to the substrate? DO NOT LET THEM TRY AND FIX THEY ARE NOT CAPABLE END OF STORY. Actually legally you have to allow them one attempt. Don't pay a penny and just let them go through the motions then throw them out and go to your atty's office. You will damage your home especially if this is on a 2nd floor. Go on John Bridge and find an educated Licensed Pro in your area that shows up with his or her crew to do the work.

sounds wonderful. and expensive. You've increased your budget, right? have you even priced any of your materials? That teak skirt and floor would be great. what are you going to put under it? the water has to go somewhere. the teak has to sit on top of something. what waterproof material will that be? how will it dry? you can't just have pools of water sitting underneath. it will all have to be sloped to a drain and be lined w/something. a quality tile setter (and you want a pro tile setter, not a GC who tiles 'on the side') who waterproofs and does all the labor, should be in the 4-6K neighborhood. (that doesn't include tile cost) and doesn't include demo of what''s there now. your plumbing will be 1-2 more. Have you even looked to see how much those tubs cost? You will be doing a window. have you priced that piece? w/install? 1500-3K. Shower doors, another 1K, if not more. And the fireplace, I have no idea what those cost. Do you see how this adds up quickly? Don't mean to be a buzzkill here, but 10K is no where near enough for what you want.