Replacing a shower pan in a hotel or multifamily property isn't a small job. Each replacement means: shut down the room, demolition, subfloor prep, new material, and reinstatement. That's 3-7 days of room downtime per unit.
Here's the straight truth on material choices for replacement:
Before choosing a material, make sure replacement is actually needed. These signs mean the pan has failed:
If you see any of these, don't patch. Patching a shower pan is like putting tape on a leaky pipe. It might hold for a week. It won't hold for a year. Replace it.
Best for: Properties planning to operate for 10+ years without another bathroom renovation.
Installing a cast marble pan during replacement is straightforward. The old pan comes out, the subfloor is leveled, and the new pan is set in a mortar bed. The one-piece construction means:
For replacement projects, the key advantage is the offset drain option. Most hotel tub-to-shower conversions need the drain to stay where the tub drain was — typically at one end. Cast marble pans can be made with the drain in that exact position, eliminating the need to move waste lines.
10-year cost for a 100-room property:
Cast marble pans: $60,000–$120,000 installed once
Best for: Properties with a 5-year renovation cycle or absolute budget constraints.
Fiberglass is the cheapest replacement option. The pan is lightweight, easy to carry up stairs, and installs quickly. But in a replacement scenario, fiberglass has a hidden cost:
You're committing to doing this again in 5-7 years. That means another round of room shutdowns, demolition, disposal fees, and installation labor. The second replacement effectively doubles your cost.
10-year cost for a 100-room property:
Fiberglass: $35,000–$90,000 installed, then another $35,000–$90,000 for the second replacement
Total: $70,000–$180,000
Best for: Projects where custom size is unavoidable and budget is not the primary constraint.
A tiled shower pan replacement is the most labor-intensive option. The old pan is demolished, a new mortar bed is built and sloped, a waterproof membrane is installed, tile is laid, and grout is applied. The process takes 3-5 days per shower.
The failure risk is higher in replacement work because the subfloor may have water damage from the previous pan. If the mortar bed isn't perfectly sloped, or the liner has a pinhole, the new pan will fail faster than the old one did.
10-year cost for a 100-room property:
Tile pans: $130,000–$310,000 installed, plus $15,000–$30,000 for regrouting at year 5
Total: $145,000–$340,000
One of the most common replacement scenarios in hotels is converting existing tubs to walk-in showers. This is driven by guest preference — especially in newer properties and renovated flags.
The critical factor in a tub-to-shower conversion is the drain location. A tub drain is typically at the left or right end of the tub. A standard shower pan has the drain in the center. Moving the drain means cutting into the concrete slab, rerouting plumbing — expensive and disruptive.
Cast marble renovation pans solve this. They're available with offset drain locations that match the existing tub drain position. The pan drops into the same footprint as the old tub. No plumbing relocation needed. This saves $300–$500 per room in plumbing costs alone.
Factor | Cast Marble | Fiberglass | Tile
Room downtime | 1 day | 1 day | 3-5 days
Subfloor prep | Leveling | Leveling | Mortar bed + liner
Special skills | None | None | Tile setter
Same-day use | Yes | Yes | No (cure time)
Cast marble and fiberglass are similar on installation time — both can be installed in a day. The difference is in longevity and total cost.
Yes, if the wall panels are in good condition and the waterproofing at the pan-to-wall joint is intact. The pan can be removed and replaced independently. But in most renovation scenarios, if the pan has failed, the walls have also been exposed to moisture damage.
Material installation: 4-6 hours for cast marble or fiberglass. Room turnaround (including demolition, subfloor prep, and cleanup): 1-2 days. Tile: 3-5 days minimum.
No. The pan itself is waterproof. No separate liner or membrane is required. The flange seals directly against the wall waterproofing.
Yes. A leveling compound or mortar bed is used to create a flat surface. The pan is set into the compound, which fills any gaps and provides full support.
Renovation pans have offset drain locations that match existing tub drain positions. They also match standard tub footprints (60" x 32" is most common), so no wall结构调整 is needed.
Copyright © Guangdong Wiselink Ltd. -- Privacy Policy
EN
