Love to hear the experts weigh in on this one. Shower curbs are a pain in every way.

Any shower, technically speaking, can be curbless. However, as this is a remodel, even a small curb is a good idea and will contain the water in the event of a slow drain down the road. Curbs don't need to be enormous. Your pan can be made of cultured marble, and in that case, the curbs aren't all that big. If you decide to do a curb in tile, it is bigger just by the process of how they build it, perhaps 4-1/2 w x 2"h. If you select a cultured marble pan, match it up with your tile. It'll look great, is durable, and has a trimmer curb. The idea of setting a track down at the floor level is dangerous and I cannot imagine this being done by any good installer. Water is going to escape a shower surround just by virtue of it's function. Basco has a semi-frameless style that works well and it has to sit on a curb. Trust your contractor and don't get too many involved as you may get confused as to who said what.

Doiron, thanks. I'm still interviewing contractors, which is why I'm hearing multiple opinions. Can you link a cultured marble pan? Not getting much on googling. Thanks!

BTW, the contractor who was most specific about curb was talking about a 4-5 inch high curb!

Hi. We're usually able to cut down our pre-made curbs so it will be shorter, but it's by request of the client. I would stick with the contractor you're using and see if they can do this. I don't think I really would like the look of the shower surround with track option. I do like the shower with no threshold/barrier idea and it is possible with correct sloping. Especially for aging in place where homeowners may need to have a no-barrier type, yet beautiful shower.

I am sure I have one of our baths that have a curb of cultured marble. Let me see if I can send one. I have to admit that the picture from rocketjcat is beautiful. I would have to think that the glass is the thicker spa glass. I think what might drive your decision may be cost. If you are trying to keep something around $2000, then using standard practice will be affordable and still look great. However, if you have a bit more and want the spa glass for the doors and the curbless style, you will be closer to the $3500-4000 range. Just some ballparks, but your budget will be key to pointing you in the direction you need to consider. Good luck!

The reason your contractors are suggesting a curb is because they are unfamiliar with building a curb-less shower. Is the shower on the first floor or the second floor? A curb-less can be installed on either a frame floor or concrete floor. For frame, the joists need to be modified to create a recess and for a concrete floor the concrete would be cut out and lowered. A recess is created so the slope can begin from the existing floor height. I've put some information about constructing a curb-less shower in a blog - www.homesforlife.tumblr.com/ - "ease of use idea #16 (scroll to the bottom) - In my experience (designing) a 36"x36" is relatively small and would not be considered "accessible". With a glass enclosure the water would stay in the shower if the door has a sweep at the bottom.

36"x36" is the problem. It's insufficiently sized to do curb less without doing the entire room as a wet room.