Reuben
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| 25 Aug 2008 10:05 AM |
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I have been giving this a lot of thought recently and am pondering a couple things. Is is best to thermo form them or can one get by with coving the walls curbs etc? If you cove the walls then how is best way to get the slope? |
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Andy
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| 25 Aug 2008 11:31 AM |
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Most of the shower pans we use are thermoformed on the floor only. Then the side panels come all the way down to the floor to get the seal. Around the perimeter of the floor there is a 4 curb that is not seen on the wall side.
I am not sure what you are comparing wit regards to coving and thermoforming. Explain a bit more.
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Reuben
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| 25 Aug 2008 11:46 AM |
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Looking at creating the taditional shower floor pan like a Swanstone and the culture marbled for the custom sizing stuff. So for the slope on the floor are they thermal forming that and then coving up the curbs or just thermoforming it all? I know swan and culture marble or poured, but how do you get there using sheet stock? |
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Andy
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| 25 Aug 2008 12:06 PM |
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The floor is thermoformed and then the cove is done in a traditional three piece manner. I am not positive the exact process because we don't make pans.
Are you planning on making them yourself?
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Reuben
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| 25 Aug 2008 02:42 PM |
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I am considering it as an option if it is not to big of a hassel. |
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Andy
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| 25 Aug 2008 03:08 PM |
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If you have an oven large enough to make it work then give it a try. You may find buying them is less hassle and they are certified.
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Jon Olson
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| 25 Aug 2008 03:49 PM |
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Hello Reuben . As much as i like the fact you are pushing the envelope. I agree with Andy. Shower pans are hard to do with out the correct tooling. We stopped making pans about 4 years ago. Mainly because there where companies that are better at it than us. Such as Griform. There are allot of steps involved .
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Schultzform
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| 26 Aug 2008 02:41 PM |
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Schultz Forming Products makes large Thermo-forming Ovens that are 68" X 103" ID. There not listed on the web site but can be special ordered. |
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| Martin Schultz
Schultz Forming Products
www.schultzformingproducts.com
800-822-2875
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Andy
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| 26 Aug 2008 04:32 PM |
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Are they standard large sizes or can they be custom made to any size?
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Schultzform
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| 27 Aug 2008 11:36 AM |
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There is one standard large size, it has an ID of 68" X 102". But we often make custom sizes including small strip ovens. |
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| Martin Schultz
Schultz Forming Products
www.schultzformingproducts.com
800-822-2875
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Todd Wheeler
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| 27 Aug 2008 12:06 PM |
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You can also establish the required slope by cutting pie shaped pieces meeting at the drain. It's a lot of work but it can be done. Re-enforce the seams and fill the cavity underneath with two-part expanding foam.
Cove the wall to curb height, add a flange a couple inches higher on wall sides and leave an expansion gap between the flange and the wall.
I don't have the space or the manpower to devote to a shower pan, so I go through Grifform.
http://www.grifform.com/home.asp
Todd |
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Wags
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| 27 Aug 2008 07:03 PM |
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Todd
I would think this would make for a weak floor. With 4 seams and the normal movement you will get from the hot water and weight. Most shops I have seen, if they are making their own, they thermoform them and then do coves as Andy has described. I believe this is also how Tom Penske makes his floors. I try to eliminate seams wherever possible, they are always a potential weak spot.
What are most doing for slip resistance on the floors? |
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Kowboy
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| 27 Aug 2008 08:10 PM |
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Posted By Wags on 08/27/2008 7:03 PM
What are most doing for slip resistance on the floors? Wags: Corian is more slip resistant wet than dry according to Tony Bascillio of DuPont. At least that's what he told us back when Corian was selling 1/4" tiles. Joe |
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Johnny C
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| 27 Aug 2008 08:17 PM |
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Before I got my oven about 12 years ago, I used to do the pie shape process. Reinforce the seams and you won't have a problem. Water temperature in a shower I would guess is maybe 110 to 115 deg. I don't think you could stand in a 115 deg stream. Any hotter than that and your boys will be soft boild. by the time the water spashes to the floor it might be 100 deg. probably less. I really don't see it as much of an issue. In perspective, I would think that it would be less of an issue than a South facing window letting sunlight onto your countertop.
Corian has a white paper on this I think. It states that a matte finish satisFies the ADA requirements for a non slip surface.
Johnny C |
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Wags
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| 27 Aug 2008 10:00 PM |
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I agree Johnny, but I've seen baths up north, where the floor over a crawl space would be cold. Perhaps in the 50's.. Then someone turns on the hot water while they get ready, and its 140, then they turn the water down and climb in, say like me..and my 150 lbs... then I put the other leg in :). Cycle that 2 or 3 times a day for months and you have some movement. I just tried to stay away from those situations, I have enought problems in life without adding to it. I also agree you can do it 100 times and never have a problem. but that 101 is a real B**ch...
Joe, I did some corian tiles ( 1/2") years ago, and I was told the same thing, but you get SS wet, a little soap and a bare foot... again 100 times no problem... but.. Old cast iron tubs never had any slip resistant surfaces on them, cept if mom put those paste on flowers in it. But then, we also had steel dash boards on cars!
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