Well, it lasted from the 60's and that ain't bad. Were it me, I would move the drain, pull a mud floor and tile it,,,,but, thats just me.

It depends on how much you want to spend. If you have a slab, would it really flex enough to crack porcelain on steel? I have been reading about bathrooms here for at lest 6 years and do not remember ever reading about a steel base cracking.

Price comes into play when you move toward longer lifetimes on shower bases. You can order a Swanstone or Corian or other solid surface base in any color and it will last a lifetime looking good. Ones that are less expensive, like acrylic, lose the gloss and look dingy over time. i would go with porcelain on steel or solid surface.

Here is a thread on this forum that discusses shower bases.

It does not cover acrylic bases, as I think most people on this forum would not use them. It does cover the Onyx Collection, Swanstone, custom made Corian from Grifform, and there is even a link to a definition of Solid Surface and what makes that so special in one of my posts. You can go to the top of this page to the search box and find lots more discussion on them

Installation is very important. Many, if not most, bases are set into a bed of mortar, not just set down on the slab. Look for installation instructions for whatever you are considering.

Dave,
Kohler has a great selection of shower pans, some with low curbs.
I have installed many and never had an issue with them.

Skip Bootz. It’s junk. Find the right contractor before you do anything else. You’re costing yourself a lot here by not knowing what you don’t know.

We sell acrylic bases all the time. The proper installation is what is needed for any base to last. If you can go to a larger base ( 60 x 34 or 36 ) that would make a nicer shower - HOWEVER that can only be determined by the dimension of other plumbing in the bathroom... It looks like you are on a cement slab. Plumbing can be move bit it is more costly to do so.

I too agree - you have done the removal of everything, now it is time to sit with a pro to really figure out your next steps.

I also agree that Kohler has nice shower bases - so does Fluerco, Maax, Americh - there are several.

Good luck

We are very happy with the Kohler cast iron shower receptor (pan) in our guest bathroom. It’s very sturdy and has no-slip grips. We used that bathroom/shower while renovating our other two bathrooms, so we know firsthand how comfortable it is underfoot.

Kohler cast iron or acrylic.

My Kohler dealer recommended Maxx

Get a ready made base from either Kohler or Maxx

Maxx has this system with tiled walls, ready made base & doors

But Kohler can provide one with a linear drain

Of course American Standard has the linear drain also.

Choreograph Barres need blocking in the walls.

I realize this post is 2 yrs old, but hey Dave, let's see that picture you promised. I am thinking about this same project!