Not every "stone" shower tray is the same material. A solid surface shower tray is made from a mineral composite that is solid all the way through — the same colour and substance from the surface to the underside. That single fact explains why it stays looking new for years, can be repaired rather than replaced, and feels nothing like a thin coated tray.
At Marlan we have manufactured in solid surface since 1986. Every tray is built to your exact measurements in our own workshop in the Netherlands, in one seamless piece, and shipped direct to you across Europe — no middlemen, no resellers.
Genuine mineral composite, not coated mineral cast
This is the distinction that matters most when you compare shower trays, and it is easy to miss from a product photo.
- Solid surface (mineral composite): a homogeneous material — mineral filler bound in resin — that is the same colour and density throughout its full 24 mm thickness. There is no separate top coat. A scratch or scuff sits in the same material as the rest of the tray, so it can be sanded out and the surface restored.
- Mineral cast: a cast core finished with a thin gelcoat layer on top. The visible surface is that coating, not the body of the tray. Once the gelcoat is worn through, chipped or deeply scratched, the core underneath is exposed and the damage generally cannot be repaired invisibly.
Both are sold as "mineral" or "composite" trays, so the words alone don't tell you which you're getting. The test is simple: is the colour running through the whole material, or is it a surface layer? Our trays are colour-through solid surface. This is the same family of material people recognise under the brand name Corian — a Corian shower tray and a solid surface shower tray are the same idea: a colour-through mineral composite rather than a coated one.
Colour-through & fully repairable
Because the material is identical from top to bottom, a Marlan tray ages differently from a coated one.
- Everyday marks, scuffs and dull spots can be polished back out — the finish is renewed, not patched over.
- Even after a knock or a dropped bottle, there is no coloured coating to chip away and reveal a different layer underneath.
- The matte microtexture surface can be refreshed over its lifetime, so the tray keeps the look it had on day one.
A coated tray, by contrast, is only as durable as its top layer. With genuine solid surface there is no top layer to fail — which is why these trays are specified where the floor has to last and look good for the long term.
Seamless & hygienic
Each tray is produced as one continuous piece, with the fall to the drain built in at the factory. There are no joints, no silicone seams in the floor surface and no tiled grout lines for water, soap or mould to collect in.
- One-piece, seamless construction — 100% waterproof across the whole tray.
- Factory-built slope, so water runs cleanly to the drain with no standing puddles.
- Slip-resistant by design: a fine matte microtexture underfoot and a gently rounded R2 edge.
- A colour-matched drain cover (140 × 140 mm) sits flush with the surface; choose a point drain (centre, left or right) or a linear channel drain.
- A wipe with a soft cloth is usually all the cleaning a smooth, seamless surface needs.
The result is a shower floor — a shower tray, sometimes called a shower base or pan — that is genuinely easy to keep clean, because there is simply nowhere for grime to hide.
7 standard colours + 60+ NCS (free samples)
A solid surface tray is coloured through the whole material, so the colour you choose is the colour all the way down.
- 7 standard colours covering the most-requested whites, greys and warm neutrals.
- 60+ custom colours via the NCS system, to match tiles, walls or sanitaryware exactly.
- Up to 3 free colour samples sent to your home, so you can judge the tone and the matte texture in your own light before you decide.
Sizes run from 70 × 70 cm up to 320 × 150 cm, made precisely to your space. Cut-outs are no problem — around walls, pillars or under a sloped ceiling — because each tray is built to order rather than picked from a shelf.
Care
Looking after a solid surface tray is straightforward, and minor wear is recoverable rather than permanent.
- Day to day: rinse and wipe with a soft cloth; a mild household cleaner removes soap and limescale.
- Avoid abrasive scouring pads and harsh chemicals on the matte finish for routine cleaning.
- Dull patches or light scratches: because the colour runs through the material, the surface can be lightly sanded and polished back to an even matte finish.
- For deeper marks, the homogeneous material means a proper repair is possible — the tray does not need to be replaced.
Price & delivery
Standard sizes range from €684 to €1,018 incl. VAT. Made-to-measure trays start from €695 incl. VAT — all prices incl. VAT, plus shipping. Delivery is across Europe, direct from us as the manufacturer.
There is no online payment. After your enquiry you receive an order confirmation and a payment request, with a deposit of no more than 50%. For made-to-measure trays we first send a production drawing for your approval, so the size, drain position and cut-outs are exactly right before anything is built. Typical lead time is around 6 weeks.
Questions or a non-standard shape? Call us on +31 594 515080 — you'll speak directly to the workshop that makes your tray.