What goes under the shower? What is correct?

Can you please help me? As a woman, I am completely overwhelmed.

We want to install a new large super flat white shower and have asked around among friends and some craftsmen beforehand. Everyone gave us a different tip. The only thing everyone agreed on was that the shower should be rock solid.

Actually, we just wanted to let the craftsmen do it. But since some advised us to definitely have a so-called frame installed, which is not cheap, others said you have to use Styrofoam for the shower to rest on.

And just yesterday, someone recommended taking a stone frame and placing stones underneath. Everything else is theoretically nice, but only if the floor is really perfectly even. You can adjust it with a lot of fiddling, but it will never be truly right. If you build the shower in with bricks, then nothing will wobble for years and we wouldn’t have to worry about the joints cracking eventually.

We should never have asked! But now it’s constantly running through my head. What is actually right and lasts permanently?

Well, normally the shower tray manufacturer also provides the matching frame. If you use that, it fits as well. What is much more important is the sealing, for example with a coating and a sealing tape between the shower tray and the wall. The silicone joint is not meant for sealing there.

The appropriate frame is not enough. The Styrofoam carrier is a minimum. The stones are the best solution if executed professionally. Do not forget sealing.

Well, normally the shower tray manufacturer also provides the appropriate frame. If you use that, it fits as well. What is much more important is the sealing, for example with a coating and a sealing tape between the shower tray and the wall. The silicone joint is not there to seal.

Thanks, yes, a company in Germany also recommended that to us when we looked around the showroom. However, a craftsman said that "these things are theoretically quite nice. But if we want nothing to wobble, the shower should be built into the wall."

New build or existing house?
For new builds, this must go into the screed or be recessed,
For existing houses, there are super-flat renovation shower trays,
all can be firmly installed, nothing wobbles

Maybe you have a picture of it? Who is supposed to carry out this installation then? I would discuss it exactly with this person and he is responsible for making sure that it turns out as discussed and guarantees the function. Maybe he should also buy the desired product; then it might cost a little more but you have the greatest possible certainty that it will work. Probably everyone is somewhat right and there are always many ways to Rome.