CRF Services Ltd

Shower tray fitting and replacement for cracked or leaking trays

A cracked or leaking shower tray rarely fixes itself, and water escaping round a tray is one of the commonest causes of stained ceilings below. Replacing the tray is a smaller job than a full shower room, but it still needs the base, the waste and the seal to the wall done properly, or the new tray goes the same way as the old one. Danny fits and replaces shower trays for homes across Rochester and Medway, keeping as much of the existing room as possible.

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Signs your shower tray needs attention

Some faults are obvious: a hairline crack across an acrylic tray, a tray that creaks or dips when you step on it, or water sitting at one corner instead of reaching the waste. Others show up elsewhere, such as a brown patch on the ceiling below, loose tiles at the bottom of the shower wall, or sealant that keeps going black and lifting.

Flexing is usually the root cause. A tray that is not fully supported moves slightly every time it is used, which breaks the sealant at the wall, works the waste joint loose and eventually cracks the tray. The shower leaking through the ceiling guide explains how to narrow down where the water is coming from before anything is pulled apart.

Repair or replace?

Small cracks in acrylic trays can sometimes be repaired with a kit, and a failed seal or a loose waste can be put right without lifting the tray. Those are worth trying when the tray is solid underfoot and the crack is cosmetic. If the tray flexes, the crack has opened right through, or water has already reached the floor, a repair only hides the problem for a while.

Replacement means the tray, its base and the waste are all renewed, so the cause is dealt with rather than the symptom. Stone resin trays are heavier and stiffer than lightweight acrylic, which suits a base that has given trouble before.

How a shower tray is replaced

The screen or enclosure comes off first and is set aside if it is being reused. The bottom row of tiles is usually cut away so the old tray can be lifted without damaging the wall above. With the tray out, the floor is checked for soft or wet boards, which are dried or replaced, and the waste is renewed.

Screen and bottom row of tiles carefully removed
Old tray lifted and the floor underneath inspected
Damaged boards replaced and the base made solid and level
New waste fitted and tested before the tray goes down
Tray bedded fully so it cannot flex, then levelled
Wall tiles reinstated, screen refitted and edges sealed

Sizes, enclosures and what can be kept

A like for like tray in the same size is the simplest job and often lets the existing screen or door go back on. Changing the size or shape can mean altering the waste position and retiling more of the wall, which takes it closer to a full walk in shower installation. If the wall tiles are old or the grout is failing, it can be more sensible to retile the shower area at the same time; the regrout or retile guide helps decide.

Whatever the size, the joint between tray and wall is sealed only once the tray has been bedded and loaded, so the sealant is not stretched the first time someone steps in. The mouldy shower sealant guide covers why sealant fails and how to keep it clean.

What drives the cost of replacing a shower tray

The price depends on the tray chosen, whether the screen is reused, how many tiles need taking off and replacing, and what is found underneath. A tray on a sound floor with a matching replacement size is the straightforward end. Rotten boards, a waste that needs rerouting or a change of tray size add time. The written quotation explains each item before work starts.

Shower tray replacement is part of the wider bathroom renovation service. Send photos of the tray, any cracks or stains, the size of the tray and your postcode through the contact page, or call 07470 053613.

The glass that sits on the tray is covered by shower enclosure installation.

This work is part of our Bathroom Renovations service.

Common questions