Retrofit shower system and method for installing same

Abstract

A retrofit shower system including a shower pan formed of a drain hub having an aperture for receiving plumbing for a drain hole and several separate quadrants. The quadrants are seamed together and seamed to the drain hub to create a shower floor. Each quadrants is formed with support rails on the bottom that get smaller in depth as the support rails get closer to the drain hub. The resulting shower floor has an angle towards the drain hub to allow water to properly drain in the shower. Coved sidewall components are provided including at least two corner-coved walls and at least two coved wall connectors. The sidewall components are seamed to the shower floor. Wall panels and a shower ceiling may also be provided.

1 . A pan for a retrofit shower system comprising: 
 a drain hub having an aperture for receiving plumbing for a drain hole; and    a plurality of separate quadrants;    wherein the plurality of quadrants are seamed together and seamed to the drain hub; and    wherein the seamed quadrants and the seamed drain hub form a waterproof shower floor surface.    
   
   
       2 . The pan of  claim 1  wherein each quadrant comprises at least one support rail on the bottom of the quadrant wherein the depth of the support rail gets smaller as the support rail gets closer to the location of the drain hub such that the resulting shower floor is angled towards the drain hub.  
   
   
       3 . The pan of  claim 1  further comprising at least one seam support rail that is configured to straddle a seam between two quadrants on the bottom of the quadrants to provide support for the seam and wherein the depth of the seam support rail gets smaller as the seam support rail gets closer to the location of the drain hub such that the resulting shower floor is angled towards the drain hub.  
   
   
       4 . The pan of  claim 1  further comprising sidewalls comprising at least two corner-coved walls and at least two coved wall connectors that are seamed to each other and to the shower floor.  
   
   
       5 . The pan of  claim 1  wherein the drain hub and quadrants are formed of a solid surface material selected from the group consisting of acrylic, polyester, and polyester-acrylic blend solid surface material.  
   
   
       6 . A method for retrofitting a shower comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining measurements of the existing shower;    manufacturing new shower components based on the measurements of the existing shower comprising: 
 a shower pan comprising: 
 a drain hub having an aperture for receiving plumbing for a drain hole; and  
 at least two separate quadrants;  
 
   installing the drain hub over the drain hole of the existing shower such that the aperture is aligned with the drain hole; and    seaming the at least two quadrants to each other and seaming the at least two quadrants to the drain hub to form a waterproof shower floor surface.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising the steps of manufacturing sidewalls comprising at least two corner-coved walls and at least two coved wall connectors and installing the sidewalls by seaming the at least two corner-coved walls and at least two coved wall connectors to each other and to the shower pan.  
   
   
       8 . A retrofit shower system comprising: 
 a pan comprising: 
 a drain hub having an aperture for receiving plumbing for a drain hole; and  
 a plurality of separate quadrants;  
 wherein the plurality of quadrants are seamed together and seamed to the drain hub to create a waterproof shower floor;  
   sidewalls comprising at least two corner-coved walls and at least two coved wall connectors that are seamed to each other and to the shower floor; and    wall panels that are seamed to the sidewalls.    
   
   
       9 . The retrofit shower system of  claim 8  further comprising a dam wall that extends up from the sidewalls and behind the wall panels to prevent water from seeping into underlying structure behind the wall panels and under the shower floor.