stunning bathroom...this duraplan shower ...

13 years ago

is something I have been trying to research. It is exactly the look I want but...... is it practical...like does it have water going everywhere? And... was it a difficult install? I will be planning a new build on a concrete slab therefore would need to allow the thickness right out of the concrete floor when the foundation got poured.

Would really appreciate some info on it...it is the only one I can find on Houzz anywhere....

thank you.

Master Bathroom re-model · More Info

Featured Answer

jonesgav

13 years ago

Hi. Quick answers. 1) Does water go everywhere. Generally no, but it is really dependant on your size. My girlfriend is 100lbs and the water doesn't even splash outside the shower tray, I am 180lbs and I do get a little water falling outside the shower tray but not enough to cause a problem. The shower is open on both sides (walk-in, walk-out) so has on containment but this is the look I wanted. When the heated floor is on (winter) the water dries in minutes. 2) My contractor installed it and I have to say that in NY, it was hard to find someone that would tackle it purely because a) some people didn't understand what I was trying to do b) once they understood, they didn't want any part of it :)

In the end, it was not so complicated. We took the precaution of making most of this end of the bathroom waterproof (using a waterpoof membrane which you just lay in thin-set on the floor and curve up the walls to create a complete water proof barrier - similar to a swimming pool liner). We completed the bathroom in stages and at one stage, for 2 months, we were showering with just the waterpoof membrane in place. No issues. We then tiled over the top, up to and flush with the lip of the shower tray. The shower tray come with a recessed drain and we took the membrane right up to the edge of the drain under the shower tray so that if water did someone get under the tray, it would drain across the membrane to the drain. Probably over-kill. I have some construction pics which I will try and post which may help.

The has been in for 12 months now and we have had no issues. I am very pleased with the outcome and look.

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Comments (10)

PRO
User
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you so much! Wonderful feedback...kinda takes some of the worry out of it. I could possibly be installing it myself so want to learn as much as possible. If you have in floor heat then this is probably on a concrete floor? So would that mean you had your slab floor poured with approximatly a 2" pan left out for the shower base to fit into?
jonesgav
13 years ago
email me if you need any more info. Happy to help. Will be posting some more before/progress shots soon.
User thanked jonesgav
kathy
13 years ago
studio homes - look at John whipple's pages and ideabooks. He does a lot of tile showers and has ideabooks on curbless showers and what us required for them.

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/the-no-threshold-shower-accessibility-with-style-stsetivw-vs~741559
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/how-to-design-an-accessible-shower-stsetivw-vs~4492518

just for some ideas
evavaughan
12 years ago
What type of tile was used for the shower walls?
jonesgav
12 years ago
The wall tile is 'Fog' from the Takla range at builddirect.com. I have used 4 different tiles from this company and they have an extensive selection and great service for samples. I think the pricing is surprisingly good to. No affiliation at all, just appreciate firms doing things well.
PRO
WrightWorks, LLC
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
I've recently completed a project which featured the DuraPlan and my experience was not a pleasant one. I will say it's beautiful installed and finished--but getting there was a chore.

We regularly build open showers--and I've used just about every curbless system out there: from channel drains to zero threshold pans to products like the DuraPlan and Lacava Tatami. This was by far the worst experience I've had, both from an installation perspective and a service perspective from the manufacturer. In the planning stage, it was difficult to find anyone--from Duravit's reps to their engineers--who understood the product well enough to help me plan the installation.

Our first pan took twice the lead time we were promised--which wasn't short to begin with. On arrival, it was damaged--which caused a further wait. I would not attempt this without the help of someone who has a thorough understanding of surface waterproofing barriers for tile--and the advice above to waterproof the surrounding floor is dead on.

The drain system is completely inadequate for a high volume shower valve. The included trap cup should be disgarded and a proper P-Trap, sized for a shower, should be installed in its' place. The instructions and specifications are the most maddening I've seen--taking an IKEA-esque pictogram approach to a highly complex product.

I don't discount others good experience with the product at all--but as someone who builds high-end bathrooms for a living I would not use this product again, despite the form factor.
dcombe
12 years ago
is there one that works the best re install and functionality?
fishcan
9 years ago
Would you mind sharing the construction photos ? I am dealing with the same shower tray now.... thanks!
PRO
ProEdge Renovations
9 years ago
Whats the shower tray made out of and where did you purchase it please?