Help choosing a shower base

Cossack

I am remodeling our bathroom and it is now gutted. The space and budget is restricted so I want to put in a shower base and then tile around it. I went to Lowes and Home Depot, and I was overwhelmed by the many choices of shower bases available. I would appreciate recommendations and advice on what brand and features to choose.

I was also told that such bases must sit on a cement base for support. This is for a wooden upstairs floor in an old house. Is that necessary?

Bob Mariani

good support is necessary. As well as waterproofing the walls properly. The only way a DIY'er will get this right is to use Schluter shower systems. Stay away from the crap at box stores. These drains still use weep holes that will clog shortly after installation.

oldrivers

i usually pick the one that is the size i want and one that installs closely to the original drain hole. other than that im not sure of differences or features between makes and models ... if its cheapy looking i pass on it. but i think its the way to go for a diyer no mud bed to deal with less tiles .. bathrooms are fun to do cause theyre small and dont take forever like my hallway thats going on 6 months since i started and i dont think im ever going to finish it. hahahaha. but i am doing some detail work so its takin some time .... im sure some of the plumbing experts here can point out some better recomends on that base.