A solid-surface shower base is a molded, non-porous floor with no grout. A tiled pan is tile over a sloped bed and a waterproofing membrane, with grout in the field. People searching “onyx shower base” are usually asking about that first class: a factory floor sold under brand names such as The Onyx Collection and similar solid-surface products. Bath Pro SD does not sell those brands. We match you with licensed independent remodelers who can install a pan that fits this alcove.

Do not copy a competitor’s price list. Lead time, color range, and weight vary by manufacturer. Ask for that model’s sheet.

This page is the pan decision. Low-maintenance shower walls covers the walls. Walk-in shower dimensions covers size. Shower waterproofing covers the membrane under a tiled floor.

What a solid-surface base is

The floor is cast in a mold. The face does not absorb water, so it does not take a stone sealer. There are no grout lines on the floor. Drain location is often left-hand or right-hand on standard sizes. Custom sizes exist when the alcove is not a catalog rectangle. Threshold height varies by model. Some are sold as low-step entries. None of that is a curbless, flush-to-bathroom-floor shower unless the drawing says so.

The base is heavy. The subfloor has to carry it. Ask the remodeler to check the floor structure before anyone orders the pan. Bath Pro SD does not publish weights. Use the manufacturer’s spec.

What a tiled pan is

A tiled pan is a slope you build: a liner or a bonded membrane, a bed that falls to the drain, and tile that can match the walls. It can move the drain. It can be curbless with a linear drain. It has grout. Inland hard water will show on that grout. A flood test during the rebuild is how you know the pan holds water before tile covers it.

A tiled pan is the usual path when the alcove is odd, the drain must move, or the design is a true curbless floor. A molded base is the usual path when the alcove matches a standard size and you want a wipe-down floor.

Cleaning and slip

Solid-surface floors wipe. Tile floors need grout care. Neither is maintenance-free if the fan is weak and the glass is never wiped down. Hard water in East County and North County inland will spot any glossy floor. Ask whether the surface has a textured, slip-resistant finish. A polished floor in a soapy shower is a fall risk. The remodeler should name the texture on the bid.

Fit, drain, and schedule

Measure the finished opening, not the old pan. A 60-by-30 alcove is common. Many San Diego baths are not. If the drain is in the wrong corner for the molded base, you either move plumbing or pick a different pan. Moving a drain is a tub-to-shower or shower remodel plumbing line, not a product upgrade.

Custom molded bases can have long factory lead times. In-stock acrylic pans are faster. Tiled pans are built on site after demo. Ask for the calendar in writing: order date, on-site days, and when the bathroom is usable. Bath Pro SD does not promise a one- or two-day finish.

What to put on the drawing

  • Interior dimensions of the finished shower
  • Drain location and whether it can stay
  • Threshold height, including any accessibility need
  • Wall system that meets the pan, with a named corner detail
  • Subfloor check for weight
  • Manufacturer name, model, and color, or a tiled pan spec with membrane and slope
  • Who is on the CSLB record for the plumbing

For permits, use City of San Diego Development Services or County Planning & Development Services, depending on the address.

Frequently asked questions

Is an onyx shower base the same as natural onyx stone?

No. In this product class, “onyx” is usually a brand of solid-surface shower floor, not a slab of gemstone. Read the manufacturer name on the quote. Ask whether the face is non-porous and whether it needs a sealer. Do not assume a stone-care kit applies.

Which pan is easier to clean?

A grout-free molded base is usually faster to wipe than a mosaic floor. Large-format porcelain on a tiled pan is closer than small mosaic. Hard water still spots the surface. Cleaning is not the same as a dry wall. The pan still has to slope and seal.

Can I use a solid-surface base with tile walls?

Sometimes. The meeting line at the walls is the risk. Ask for the manufacturer’s listed wall transition, not a caulk-only hope. Mixing systems without a published detail is how leaks start.

Does Bath Pro SD sell shower bases?

No. Bath Pro SD is a referral service. Call (858) 400-4896 with the alcove size and whether the drain can stay. You will contract with a licensed independent remodeler.