Tile floors usually look beautiful. Tile will cost more $ than a cast iron shower receptor (pan). The labor to install the tile usually adds to the cost, It can be a PITA to keep clean from what I've heard/read, but for some it's worth the extra cost and work to get the look they want. We had a Kohler cast iron receptor installed when we reno'd our guest bathroom. Cost was a big factor as we were coming off our kitchen reno at the time, The bathroom is on the ground floor (on slab), and it is a guest bathroom after all, so we didn't want to put tons of $ into it (we still had to reno our two main floor bathrooms!). We wanted the bathroom to look really nice though, as it opens directly off our FR. We are very, very happy with the Kohler cast iron pan. It looks nice (the glossy white looks terrific with the glossy white shower wall tiles, and with the white toilet and sinktop). It is very sturdy and durable, and has no slip grips "baked" right into the finish (easily cleaned with a Magic Eraser if they start to look dingy--good as new!).

docket, I received your email, but apparently cannot reply to it because you have not enabled the email option. Here's what you wrote: I am seriously considering going with cast iron. I like the fact that it strong, I do not want to worry about leaks. It seems that w/ acrylic it is prone to get damgaged. Tile you have to worry about the grout getting black. The picture looks great how is the feel. Is is slippery? You still happy with your decsion to go w/ cast iron. Why did you go cast iron did you look at other options? We've been using the guest bathroom for some months now while work is being done on our MB and hall bath, so can tell you first-hand about the Kohler shower pan. It's very nice! Feels nice and solid underfoot, and not slippery at all. We recently installed two Toto cast iron tubs (one in each of the other two bathrooms); one bathroom is functional. I've been showering in there daily and the tub is very, very nice also. I really like it. Also, not slippery. We chose the cast iron because we liked how it looks, we liked the sturdiness and durability, and we liked the heat retention for which cast iron is known (and it was cheaper than a tile shower floor, which for a guest bathroom, was a good place to save a few $). We originally ordered a Kohler acrylic pan, thinking it was fiberglass. When it arrived though, we discovered not only was it acrylic, but it had no non-slip grips, which was a deal-breaker for us. We returned it for the cast iron pan. I really wasn't interested in a solid surface material (e.g. Corian, Swanstone), so never looked into those. Two things to note. One, cast iron can be a bit colder than other materials initially, but once you runs some warm-hot water, it warms up right away. Our guest bathroom is on the ground floor, on a slab, so it was a little chilly to the touch back in March (when we started using it daily). But, like I said, it warmed up quickly. The second thing, is that the non-slip grips can and do discolor. Regular cleaning with Lysol Basin, Tub, and Tile cleaner doesn't seem to remove the discoloration (at least not too well), however, the Magic Eraser (I use Mr. Clean original Magic Erasers) cleans them with little to no effort. They clean up so well, the first time I used it to clean mine, I thought I had scrubbed away the non-slip grips they were so clean and white! If I can help with any other questions, let me know.

American Standard has a few, but Kohler is the go to vendor for any type of cast iron. If you look at AS, be sure that you don't mistake "Americast" with cast iron. It's totally inferior. Also be aware that modern cast iron without the lead isn't as durable as the older models that you may have experienced in the past. That's a big reason for the popularity of fireclay, which is just a fancy term for "china" sink.

@Rachiele, what? I was supposed to get a paycheck? Nobody told me. Where do I line up. LOL Seriously though, I just love the fact that I found a sink manufacturer who can build a fully customized sink that perfectly fits our cabinets and needs, and who doesn't mind telling me when I naïvely ask for something that won't work well and instead is willing to work with me on finding alternative solutions. This is a rare combination. Admittedly, most people won't need that degree of customization, and they might not be willing to pay for it. That's fine. But it's awesome that these options are available. And while I haven't received my sink yet, I am super happy with the very professional process so far. And I see that you regularly have sales on more standardized products which directly compete with other off-the-shelve manufacturers.