Lynn,

The main problem I see with custom made ones is that they might cost
me an arm and leg.

I built a shower this summer, with Swanstone parts. I was lucky, I
could use a standard 32x60 base with the drain in the middle. Even that
base was ~$600, with the 3 walls the Swanstone parts totalled $1800. A
custom one might be more, but it's _EASY_. Easy to install, easy to
clean, won't leak, looks good. And an amatuer can do a
professional-looking job in a few hours.

You are the third person offering to build one of tile, which make me
think "hmmm... so many people recommending tile, there must be merit
to it". The only problem I have with tiling is cleaning it. While
plastic/vinyl is cheap, it is one smooth plane with no grouts that are
so tedious to clean. Can you (or other posters) comment on this?

I'm not a fan of tile. You can do almost any shape with it, sure. But
it's a fair amount of work. If it's your first time tiling, it will
often look like it. You have to grout. And seal grout. And clean
grout. There are many more opportunities for leaks. You have to make
the floor slope. For me, that adds up to calling a contractor, and at
that point you've spent as much as a custom shower base. A good tile
guy can do beautiful things with tile, given time and a sufficient budget.

Good plastic isn't cheap. I priced doing my shower in Corian, just for
info. $3500 ... That was just for a base and 3 walls, and me doing the
labor!

A lot depends on what you consider an arm and a leg, and what kind of
house you're putting the shower in.

- Bryan