Q. Can I install the shower base myself?
A. Although the experienced DIY’er could possibly do it, we recommend that your shower base be installed by a professional.

Q. How much does the shower base weigh?
A. The shower bases are roughly 20 lbs. per square foot. To find the approximate weight of your base, multiply the length by the width (in inches), and divide by 144. Take that number and multiply it by 20, and that will give you the approximate weight of the shower base.  L x W / 144 x 20 = approximate weight in pounds.

Q. How do I get my shower base once I order it?
A. We will ship your shower base to you via a common freight carrier. The base can be shipped directly to your house or the job site. Be prepared to unload the base yourself, as the freight companies will not unload it for you. You may need a forklift for larger shower bases, as they can be very heavy. You can save some of the shipping cost by picking the base up at the closest freight terminal.

Q. What is the largest size shower base that can be made?
A. The largest standard shower base is 60” x 48”. The size of a shower base is restricted by the size of the slabs used and the most economical use of the raw material. The slabs used to make the shower bases are 120” long by 48” tall. If you need a shower base that is larger than the standard 60” x 48”, we can check with the manufacture to see if they can do it. In most cases they can make custom shower bases longer than 60” but they cannot make it any wider than 48”. Shower bases larger than 60” x 48” must be quoted on a job-by-job basis. Shower bases larger than 60” x 48” will most likely need two drains. It is not possible to make a Portofino shower base any larger than the source slabs, which are 120” x 48”.

Q. Can I use multiple showerheads and/or body jets with my Portofino shower base?
A. Multiple showerheads and/or body jets are not recommended with shower bases larger than 36”x42”. The slope on the larger shower bases is not enough to drain the excessive amount of water that comes from the multiple heads. We recommend using a single showerhead or adding a second drain to the pan. You must contact one of our customer service representatives and request a special order quote for multiple drain units.

Q. Does it have to be sealed?  If so how often?
A. The shower base comes pre-sealed from the manufacturer, and does not need to be sealed at the time of installation. Once installed, we recommended that the shower base be thoroughly cleaned and resealed every 1-2 years to maintain maximum protection.

Q. What type of sealer should or should not be used?
A. Any commercially available penetrating stone sealer suitable for engineered marble surfaces can be used. We recommend the use of Anti-Drop to reseal the shower base because of it’s proven performance over time. Anti-Drop is available from the VMC Online Store.

Q. Even with the grooves cut into the base how slippery will it be?
A. The shower base floor has specifically designed to be slip resistant and meets industry standards.

Q. What is the production/delivery lead time for a standard size shower base? What about custom sizes?
A. The production time for a standard size shower base is generally 2 weeks and delivery time is generally 2-4 days for LTL shipments. Depending on the production schedule, it could take as long as 3 weeks for production and 2-4 days for LTL shipping. Custom orders typically take about the same amount of time, unless they are very unusual.