These terrazzo shower bases from Crane look like the real deal. The website says that they truly are marble chips embedded in concrete, then polished to a high gloss. I have shower bases in two of my three bathrooms, and when I renovated about 5 years ago, I went with simple white Swanstone solid surface. While the Swanstone has worked out fine, I definitely would have checked out these Crane bases, if I’d known about them. Terrazzo is a most noble, retro material! These bases come in several colors (hint: go neutral) and sizes (hint: go minimum 36″x42″). Update: Crane now merged with American Standard, but here’s a link to my research on terrazzo shower bases.
Hey, if you have a Swanstone or fiberglass base, the only thing I can get to really keep it clean it Lysol Basin Tub & Tile Cleaner. The liquid spray is best – my husband actually orders it online. Using this cleaner, I really can keep the white base looking like new – although it may take several soaking applications. Suzie Homemaker (a real joke, you can bet), over and out.
Lolo says
Hi – I know there will be haters when this is read (sorry!) but I just purchased a mid-century home in Virginia, and it came with a pink bathroom (not the tile, but the toilet/2 sinks/and an odd-shaped tub) – Sadly, the bathroom will be used by my teenage twin boys, and they are adamant about getting rid of the pink fixtures. Therefore, I’m offering them up for sale – anyone interested? Not sure how I would ship them, but they are located in Northern Virginia, about 10 minutes from downtown DC.
pam kueber says
no overt hating allowed here. Put ’em on craigslist, that’s likely to be your best outlet. Odd shaped tub? Cinderella tub? See our story on these (comes right up in the Search box). good luck
pam kueber says
P.S. Maybe it would be a good life lesson to your teenaged twin boys that money does not grow on trees and that they will not die if they live with a pink bathroom? Just sayin’…
scott says
Am I missing something? The link you gave for Crane shower bases does not even mention “showers”! I find nothing on shower bases at the crane site. Perhaps if you gave a specific url that would help.
thanks
pam kueber says
scott, it looks like crane no longer offers this on their website – however, when i just search “crane terrazzo shower bases” on google i see a variety still offered at online retailers. what i would recommend is: contact crane, get their info on this apparently discontinued line to ensure it’s what you want… then try to find what you want via remaining stock at online retailers. good luck.
Chad says
Does anyone have any experience with Royalstone shower bases (see link below). I am most concerned about staining with these solid surface shower bases. How do the Terrrazzo hold up to water stains and such over time?
http://www.royalstoneind.com/
Sofia says
Hello,
I am thinking of buying a 1963 colonial type home and it has a half bath on the first floor. I would love to convert it to a full bath. Do you know if this is easily possible – installing a crane type shower base?
Thank you for your time. Your site is VERY fun.
pam kueber says
Hi Sofia, I am wary of giving this kind of advice over the internet because I think it “all depends” – especially since you have included the word “easily” in your question. I think the best thing for you do is to consult with a contractor who can take a look at the situation with you. I have gutted three bathrooms and from my experience, I think you will be looking at the location of plumbing pipes and drains in relation to where you are thinking of putting the shower. If the bathroom is on the first floor and there is a basement underneath – that makes it easier to get to the pipes, at least. Also know – that no matter what anyone tells you in a consultation — these kinds of renovations can be a pain…with an old house you never know what kind of snag you will hit once you open a wall. I don’t want to scare you off, I just want to encourage your to do your homework, consult with experts as required, and go in with open eyes. Finally, glad you like the site! I have a lot of fun doing it – and I’m glad it shows! Stay in touch…let us know how it all turns out! Good luck!
Christina says
I have an original 1962 terrazzo shower base downstairs and I love it! I’m turning my upstairs master bath tub into a shower-only and I’ll be getting a new terrazzo base for that shower. After much research, I’m getting one made by Stern Williams, ordered via Ferguson. It’s super-heavy, but even with shipping the cost is comparable to Swanstone. So, the only downside is reinforcing the floor enough to handle its weight. I’ll get photos of each to you at some point. Great site – thanks for doing this!
pam kueber says
Hi Christina, thanks for the tip on Stern Williams / Ferguson. I’ll check it out. Have you seen the base in the flesh?
50sPam says
🙂 MJ, thanks for starting to comment! It really keeps me energized and going to hear from readers – I mean it. You made me do a happy face for the first time in weeks. Thank you!
It’s also great to know that this shower base is “authentic.” And you know the last thing I’m going to say: SEND PHOTOS OF YOUR BATHROOMS! We want to see. Many thanks, MJ
mjbraun says
I have one of these in my master bath shower. If fact, both of my bathrooms are completely Crane. The house was built in 1962. One bathroom is a lighter jade green shade and the other is light blue. Both baths have wall-hung toilets and drop-in sinks with the silver metal band. The green bath has a very large/deep tub with matching tiles in several shades of green. It’s all in very good condition. We purchased the house from the original owner. What they chose in ’62 was always going to be in good taste in their opinion, so they never changed much, but they took very good care of everything.
I read this website every single day. It has been so much fun! I thought it was finally time I begin to comment on some of the neat things here.