A curbed shower uses a raised threshold at the entry to contain water within the shower pan. It is the traditional configuration and it works well in standard bathroom layouts where the shower is enclosed on two or four sides by walls. A curbless shower eliminates that threshold entirely so the bathroom floor transitions directly into the shower floor at the same level. This requires the shower floor to be recessed slightly below the surrounding surface and sloped precisely toward the drain so water is captured before it reaches the rest of the bathroom.
The curbless option has become increasingly popular in Miami for both aesthetic and practical reasons. It creates a clean, open visual line through the bathroom and removes the step-over hazard that a raised curb introduces, which makes it the preferred configuration for accessibility-focused projects as well. Haven Home Remodeling Group builds curbless showers by recessing the structural subfloor, installing a linear drain at the transition point, and applying a continuous waterproofing membrane that bridges the joint between the shower pan and the bathroom floor. The tolerances are tighter than a standard curbed build, and Haven’s in-house crews handle this configuration regularly across Miami-Dade County.