Tiled shower area or SMC tray?

[fix]

I'm having a wetroom installed into my property, tiled floor and walls etc.

I'm debating between whether to tile the entire floor including shower area, or whether to use an SMC tray (flush to the rest of the tiles floor).

Are there really any advantages to using a tiled area, or only that the tiles could match the rest of the floor?

The SMC tray would cost a little less to install than fully tiled, the tray has no grouting so less maintenance, less chance of leaks....

I'm interested to hear people's thoughts, thanks!

 

[drives]

I would go for a tray, for the reasons you allude to above. I also personally think they look just as good if all well designed, if not better. I'd also specify epoxy grout anywhere in a shower room. Why normal (porous) grout is used in wet areas when a waterproof product is available I have never understood.

 

[fix]

I would go for a tray, for the reasons you allude to above. I also personally think they look just as good if all well designed, if not better. I'd also specify epoxy grout anywhere in a shower room. Why normal (porous) grout is used in wet areas when a waterproof product is available I have never understood.

Thanks, the tray will fill the width of the shower area completely so I think it'd look pretty good... I just don't see the point in the tiles there, just extra maintenance!

I was looking at epoxy grouting last night actually, the reduced cost of the tray might somewhat offset the epoxy grout cost

 

[drives]

Thanks, the tray will fill the width of the shower area completely so I think it'd look pretty good... I just don't see the point in the tiles there, just extra maintenance!

I was looking at epoxy grouting last night actually, the reduced cost of the tray might somewhat offset the epoxy grout cost

Yeah I agree about maintenance.

In the grand scheme of things, the grout will be a small proportion of the total cost. I'd imagine your main issue will be getting the contractor to use it as it isn't as easy to use as regular grout. That said, it really isn't difficult.

 

[fix]

Yeah I agree about maintenance.

In the grand scheme of things, the grout will be a small proportion of the total cost. I'd imagine your main issue will be getting the contractor to use it as it isn't as easy to use as regular grout. That said, it really isn't difficult.

Yep I'd read it's abit more of a pain to work with, glazing after too etc....

I mean now you mention epoxy grout, you could say in that case it somewhat negates installing a tray as it's waterproof

Tray is still going to be less maintenance overall of course