Shower platform material?

[Elliot]

Can somebody steer me toward a readily available perforated material that I can use as a shower floor-platform? This would be a low platform that sits in a plastic kiddie-pool, to keep the user's feet off the floor itself. It needs to drain water right thru, but not have holes so large that people risk getting a toe stuck. And it should be resistant to cultivation of germs.

I could build it out of wood slats and paint it real good, but plastic or metal would be better.

I’m thinking plastic freight pallet, but the ones I have seen have holes that are too large.

Ideas?
.

[VultureChow]

How far off the floor do you need it?

There are plastic floor tiles for industrial purposes or in public showers, saunas(where I've seen them) that drain.

[mudpuppy000]

I think we were using a plastic shipping pallet for a few years. You could add some of those perforated rubber mats they use in restaurant kitchens to make it a little more comfortable.

[digital]

Ours is made from wood and about 5 feet off the ground. No paint, no coating. Just wood. Cultivation of germs is not an issue if left in the sun because the UV light acts as a natural disinfectant. Plus, if you plan your shower right around sunset you get just the right amount of warmth.

The base is a metal catch basin and the shower fits inside. This prevents any water from touching the playa. Slots between the wooden planks are no more than half an inch wide and more than sufficient for drainage. I'll see if I can find a picture somewhere.

[Popeye]

http://www.allegropets.com/general-cage ... fgodQJ4AKg
Fiberglass grate like this, light, easily cut with a skill saw, fairly cheap and will not support bacteria. Supports a lot of weight- good span or lay flat.

[The Rod]

Cedar. I know you said you didn't want wood, but cedar slats placed about a 1/4 inch apart drain great and because it's cedar it's already resist and to germ cultivation and rotting. Sanded fine to eliminate risk of foot splinters. Here in off-the-grid country many of my friends use cedar for their permanent year-round outdoor showers and it works great!

You could also put a flexible mats like VC suggested that could go right on top of your slats to keep feet from coming in direct contact with the wood floor.

Really, I don't see why wood wouldn't work fine for a shower floor.

[The Rod]

Or if you have buckets of cash and you want to last forever you could go with powder coated expanded metal grates...

[JayBobBoy]

After trolling Craigslist for a couple weeks last year, I found a free shower basin from someone who was redoing their bathroom. It was really easy to build a stand for it so it stood about 18" off the ground. I put it in our evap pond and it worked really well.

The price was right!

[Elliot]

How far off the floor do you need it?

There are plastic floor tiles for industrial purposes or in public showers, saunas(where I've seen them) that drain.

I figure four to six inches off the ground will do nicely. And these tiles look suitable -- and I can install them on a wood pallet, which I already have.

[Canoe]

Cedar. ...
Really, I don't see why wood wouldn't work fine for a shower floor.

My knee jerk reaction was CEDAR! Cedar, cedar, cedar!
But, you have to build it properly so you can't get cupping holding water/soap (and forming scum) for slipping. Done right it's truly great. But, takes time.

That plastic floor tile looks very robust.

Perhaps a cedar supporting base built after a first year trial with the pallet.

[ygmir]

Cedar. ...
Really, I don't see why wood wouldn't work fine for a shower floor.

My knee jerk reaction was CEDAR! Cedar, cedar, cedar!
But, you have to build it properly so you can't get cupping holding water/soap (and forming scum) for slipping. Done right it's truly great. But, takes time.

That plastic floor tile looks very robust.

Perhaps a cedar supporting base built after a first year trial with the pallet.

cedar? c'mon you guys, if you're gonna do it, do it right with heart redwood.

[melodiousdirge]

Overturned milk crates tie-wrapped together at the corners. Could even cut them down to 4-6" tall if you really wanted.

[Canoe]

Overturned milk crates tie-wrapped together at the corners. Could even cut them down to 4-6" tall if you really wanted.

Hey!
Like that, the plastic bread/bun carrier trays!
Add a wood block or two for support in the middle.

[melodiousdirge]

Overturned milk crates tie-wrapped together at the corners. Could even cut them down to 4-6" tall if you really wanted.

Hey!
Like that, the plastic bread/bun carrier trays!
Add a wood block or two for support in the middle.

Oh yeah, the bread baskets would be closer to the right height than milk crates. I've never looked that closely at one; are they strong like a milk crate?

[Ratty]

I have heavy plastic crates that are only 6" tall. I use them under my ice chests. I think they had 2 liter bottles in them originally. They literally fell off the back of a truck. Finders keepers.