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Wet Floor Former vs Level-Access Shower Tray: Which Is Right for You?
If you're planning a level-access or accessible bathroom, you'll quickly run into two options that sound similar but work differently: a wet floor former and a level-access shower tray. Choosing the right one affects your installation, your cost and the final look. This guide explains the difference in plain English — and shows how one popular tray, the AKW Braddan, can actually give you the best of both worlds.
What is a wet floor former?
A wet floor former is a pre-graded board that is recessed into your floor so its surface finishes completely flush with the surrounding floor. You then tank (waterproof) the whole area and finish over the top with safety vinyl or tiles. The result is a true, seamless wet room with no step, lip or tray edge at all.
The AKW Tuff Form is the classic example: a strong GRP former, just 22mm deep, that drops into a timber or concrete floor. It's the go-to choice for a genuine, fully integrated wet room — but it's a bigger installation job, because the floor has to be cut and recessed, fully tanked, and finished. See our guides to fitting one on a concrete floor or a wooden floor.
What is a level-access shower tray?
A level-access shower tray is a pre-formed tray with a built-in fall to the waste. It gives you a very low or flush threshold for easy, safe access, but — unlike a former — it's a self-contained tray with its own surface, so the waterproofing and finishing demands are generally simpler.
The AKW Braddan Shower Tray is a great example, available in 24 sizes with a choice of gravity or pumped waste. It's quicker and more straightforward to install than a fully recessed former, which is part of why it's one of our best-selling accessible showering products.
Former vs tray: the key differences
| Wet floor former (e.g. Tuff Form) | Level-access tray (e.g. Braddan) | |
|---|---|---|
| Threshold | Completely flush — true wet room | Very low or flush (see below) |
| Installation | More involved — recess & tank the floor | Generally simpler & faster |
| Finish | Vinyl or tiles over the top | Pre-finished tray surface |
| Waterproofing | Full tanking essential | Lower risk, but still seal correctly |
| Best for | A seamless, integrated wet room | Fast, safe level access on most floors |
The Braddan twist: a tray that can become a former
Here's the part most guides miss. The AKW Braddan can be sunk completely level — recessed into the floor so its surface sits flush with the surrounding floor, essentially performing like a wet floor former and giving you that seamless, step-free wet room look. But it can also be installed in a more conventional, simpler way where a full former-style recess isn't practical.
That flexibility is a genuine advantage: with the Braddan you're not locked into one installation method. You can aim for a fully flush, former-style finish where the floor allows it, or take the easier route when it doesn't — all from the same tray. For many accessible bathrooms, that makes the Braddan the most practical choice of the two.
Which should you choose?
- Choose a wet floor former (Tuff Form) if you want a fully integrated, tiled or vinyl wet room with no tray surface at all, and you're comfortable with the more involved recess-and-tank installation.
- Choose a level-access tray (Braddan) if you want safe, low-threshold access with a simpler, faster fit — with the option to sink it flush for a former-style finish if your floor allows.
Both remove the trip hazard of a traditional raised tray or bath edge, and both suit accessible “bathroom for life” installs and modern family wet rooms.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a wet floor former and a shower tray?
A wet floor former is recessed into the floor and finished over with vinyl or tiles for a completely seamless wet room. A level-access shower tray is a pre-formed tray with its own surface that gives a very low or flush threshold and is generally simpler to install.
Can a shower tray be fitted flush like a wet floor former?
Yes. The AKW Braddan can be sunk completely level so its surface finishes flush with the surrounding floor, effectively performing like a wet floor former — while still offering a simpler installation option where a full recess isn't practical.
Which is easier to install?
A level-access tray such as the Braddan is generally quicker and more straightforward, because a former has to be recessed into the floor and the whole area fully tanked before finishing.
Do both need waterproofing?
A wet floor former must be fully tanked (waterproofed) as part of the install. A pre-formed tray has lower waterproofing demands, but joints and the waste must still be sealed correctly to prevent leaks.
Which is best for a wheelchair-accessible bathroom?
Both can provide level access. A former gives a fully seamless surface; a Braddan sunk flush achieves a similar result with a simpler fit. The best choice depends on your floor type, budget and how integrated you want the finish.
Explore your options
Browse the AKW Tuff Form wet floor formers for a fully integrated wet room, or the AKW Braddan Shower Tray for flexible, level-access showering in 24 sizes. Not sure which suits your project? Our accessible-bathroom team is happy to help you decide.