Half Glass Shower Wall
|Half Glass Shower Wall – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can be difficult. Should you install acrylic, an excellent surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the standard of the products stand test of energy? Which one is the greatest match on your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall strategy is good for you.
Step 1 – Determine if you would like to look at your existing walls – To spend less it’s nice to put a bathtub or shower wall surround over a current surface. It is possible to use specialized glue or butyl tape to adhere acrylic or Swanstone solid surface materials over existing tile provided that the existing walls are not spongy or bowed. If you have a plastic or fiberglass system it’s not possible to put new walls over your existing materials. In these cases the existing system will need to removed, new backerboard installed and after that new walls set up.
Step 2 – Think through your budget- If you’re similar to you need to obtain the most value on your money – a superior quality material which does not break the bank. If you are looking for a fairly easy to scrub economical material acrylic is a great choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and has a lifetime warranty.
For a much more elegant appearance (that is for sale in more decorative patterns and styles) consider a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is easy to keep, doesn’t have any joints to grout or seal and will come in a multitude of choices. Usually the most expensive method is tile (if you do not be capable of set it up yourself and save the labor hours- tile is easily the most time-consuming to put in vs. sheet goods like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile also it creates a sophisticated look too.
Step 3 – Select your material, designs, colors and accents you want – After you’ve selected between acrylic, Swanstone and tile you’re ready to choose your design and color(s). Acrylic wall surrounds are available in a variety of colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic and also marble finishes. In addition the walls you select might be smooth, 4″ x 4″ simulated tiles, 8″ x 10″ simulated tiles or maybe a stone look. Acrylic has stopped being simply a white smooth faced wall.
Swanstone, although it continues to be recognized for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, as well as the fact it will not crack or craze – has a very broad range of decorative options too. There are over 45 standard, glossy, and granite colors. In addition there are decorative panels to create unique architectural designs named Pebble, Geometric, Beadboard, Tangier and Barcelona. There are also designer trim pieces and rosettes to make a finished look. Tile supplies the widest product options with regards to color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to choose a high density water repellent tile on your bath or shower.
Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material as well as in true of tile finish the facial skin in the wall- What you do not see in a bathtub or shower wall panel project will be as significant as what you do see. Use the right material(s) behind the wall. Here are some recommendations: Acrylic – If the tile walls are in good shape install over them by adhering the acrylic with butyl tape and color match sealant. This will reduce landfill costs, reduce the project installation some time and spend less. If the existing wall can not be installed over set up moisture resistant green board or a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic if the tile is at good structural shape install on the existing. If not, Swanstone might be installed over greenboard or a cement board using special glue.
Tile – Poorly done tile installations have caused plenty of wasted money historically (cheap backer board may have been used, poor grouting jobs, poor work in the corners are simply a few in the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use sometimes a water repellent cement board or a waterproof extruded polystyrene board that way produced from Wedi Corporation. These boards ought to be glued and screwed to your framing. In addition to while using the right backer board consider investing in a urethane grout. This type of grout does not should be resealed and is also waterproof. Although it will set you back more up front it’ll spend less later on in the should regrout, or worse yet the should redo the shower in case you have any water damage.
Step 5 – Fix what’s behind the wall – The best time to correct an inadequate performing shower valve, a shower head that is too low, or add backer material to boost investing in your accessories is the place you have got the wall opened up.
Step 6 – Identify the bath tub and shower accessories you need to add function and style to your project – Have you always wanted a leg ledge for shaving, a corner seat, a curved shower rod to help keep the river in, a hand held shower, a corner caddy, a frameless shower door, shampoo or soap niche or a grab bar? When you’re installing new wall surrounds is the ideal time for it to accessorize your bath or shower to really make it be right for you you.
Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult call a good contractor that isn’t a “one size fits all” – Let’s face it, there are a lot of choices and installation details that should be done efficiently to make sure an excellent project. Calling a specialist may be more expensive in the growing process but save long term costs. Make sure to go with a contractor that does not try and push you to the one type of shower or bath wall surround system you can choose from (for instance a company selling acrylic systems pushes this solution giving you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems that can attempt to understand your requirements, budgets and tastes and provide different alternatives.
Know you’re equipped with 7 steps which will function as good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.