b'Shower SystemsShower systems continue to evolve to meet client demandsTodays shower systems are lightweight, easy to install, and often allow the ability to tile the next day. Waterproofed shower trays and compo-nents streamline jobs, and manufacturers have developed kits that allow floor warming to flow into the shower itself, not only the bathroom floor. There is a growing range of drain coverssome tileable for a seamless lookand long-lasting finishes to meet client demands.Mark Albonetti heating kits last May, which were the first of their kind in the Installation and Technical Specialist industry. But it also has a lot to do with increased consumer MD Pro/PROVA Products awareness of shower floor heating in general. Homeowners The new shower systems are water management systems.are becoming attracted to the idea that you can heat your The way the old mud pan was installed most of the time pro- entire tile showers floor instead of just relying on the water moted the chance for failures. Until recent years pre-pitchingto heat a small portion. The combined kits make this integra-a pan was unheard oflead pans, CPV pans with a clampingtion extremely easy as the heating system is already sized for ring was standard procedure. If the weep holes were blockedthe included shower pan.the pan became a swimming pool. By putting the waterproof-ing on top of the shower, it moves water to the drain before itBastian Lohmannbecomes a problem. Most systems are lightweight and easierVP Marketing and Sales/Technical Serviceto install, and you can tile the same day or next day. wedi CorporationAs more contractors and builders Sean Gerolimatos commit to modular shower systems Director of Research and Development like wedis to simplify their projects, Schluter Systems L.P. we like to double down on the idea The technological challenge for shower systems has been tothat wedi systems are all you need use materials and product configurations to reduce installationwhenbuildingashowerbesides time while simultaneously maintaining or even improving thetile and craftsmanship. We constant-quality of the installation. If the installer can spend less timely add more features and variety to on the substrates and do better quality work that is a best caseBastian Lohmann our systems, such as offering a wide scenario for the tile industry. An example of products whererange of stainless steel drain cover technology is creating these types of improvements is factory- shapestomeetcustomerdemand.Clientsalsodemand applied waterproofing on shower trays so less waterproofingoptions in terms of finish, from tileable versions that let the work needs to be done on site. The waterproofing membranecover disappear below the tile to colors like gold, bronze, is custom cut and adhered to the shower tray at the point ofchromeendless options. But whats equally important as manufacture, saving multiple steps on the job site. the look of the covers is getting deep into the steel and coat-ings technology to make the pretty colors happen but also Julia Billen last in showers over a very long time. Powder coating or vari-President and Owner ous plating processes are widely known and very affordable, WarmlyYours and thats why many use them on fixtures. But they are less Over the last year, weve seen a sizable increase in floorthan ideal when used over a high quality stainless steel cover heating projects for tile showers (up 12.7% from prior-year- that is then exposed in a shower. So one big technology thats period).Partofthisuptickiscertainlyduetothelaunchtrending for us is a new type of proprietary coating process, ofourcombinedshowerwaterproofingandelectricfloorall of it made in the USA.622020|TECH'