Considering the damage they do over time if they fail, it's amazing how little architects, general contractors, and homeowners know about shower pans. Anyone who has worked in remodeling has seen the damage. The leaks usually start very slowly and continue to get worse, often going undetected for a number of years. In that time, the water can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage. Subflooring, joists, girders, even exterior siding can be completely rotted away. One of the reasons that pans get so little attention is that lots of people assume a good tile job is completely waterproof. Most aren't. It depends on the width of the grout joints, and the type of tile, grout, grout additives, reinforcing wire, attachment, and
