Is our contractor taking the easy way out and should I pursue a tile guy who can and will do the job?

That's up to you. If done properly, either one will work just as well.

Is it as time intensive and a difficult job as our contractor has indicated?

Everything is relative. It'll take more time than it does to drop in the plastic base and hook it up, and yes, it'll cost more, as well. But I don't see it as difficult, per se.

I'm not going to comment on the differences between the two options, we never even considered a pan and it was never an issue with our contractor. In addition to having to build it in, you have to allow a couple of days for the concrete to cure, so I'm sure it takes longer. It makes sense that he wants to take the method of least resistence "and get it done to be done with it" because time is money and the quicker he can finish your job, the quicker he can move on to the next. But that doesn't mean that you should be asked to compromise what you'd prefer to do just because it will benefit your contractor. Get additional quotes and stick to what you either vision or can afford to do. Also, when my GC was tiling our master bath, I ran into a similar situation with our niche. Bill told me something that really put things into perspective and changed my whole approach to the project. He said, "He who holds the golden egg is the boss" In other words, it's your project, you're paying the bill, so you make the call. If it's not a job he wants to do, find someone else you feel comfortable with who will.

Close-- it's the golden rule:

He who holds the gold makes the rules. :-) And you're right-- it's VERY relevant here.

First, I don't know where you're going to find a manufactured 34" by 39" shower pan. You can probably find a 36" by 34".

So you might want to have a talk with your GC and ask him what size the finished shower will actually be.

A manufactured pan is much easier than a tiled shower floor, it's a "one and done" installation.

As to how they look or how well they perform, some are rigid and are fine, some flex and over time can leak.

You can get somewhat of a "traditional look" if you go with a cast iron shower pan and tiled walls. Other options are the solid surface pans, though they can look a bit more modern.

The irony is that a high quality manufactured pan will probably be comparable in price to a site-built tiled pan.

If your TILE GUY is telling you that it is too difficult for him to build a custom tiled shower pan, then you need to find a new tile guy.

Manufactured pans can be fine. Just make sure you're getting what you want, and that it fits into the style of your house.

My opinion.

Mongo

Yes Mongo my dimensions were off. We are planning a contemporary bathroom. We met with a tile guy yesterday. It will cost more, as others have indicated, but I think it is money well spent. If nothing else, I believe a trained man in tile is the way to do this rather then finding out down the road that our contractor really had no clue.

Oh and when we asked our contractor about a shower niche he said he thought we shouldn't do one. Instead he would cut a piece of tile and stick it in the corner of the shower as a shelf. Ummmmm.....no..... Of course, when we asked the tile guy he said no problem.

Sounds like you're on the right track. Your contractor sounds naive enough to the point where he could host a show on HGTV!

Mongo I appreciate everyone's opinion. Truth is i'm finally overwhelmed with this basement. I knew it would be difficult but it is close to impossible.

We are doing a whole basement and it is approx. 2900 sq ft. It is like designing and decorating a whole house. Yikes!

I know what I like but I want the rooms to be cohesive so that is holding me back.