Bath Shower Wall Covering

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Bath Shower Wall Covering – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can be hard. Should you install acrylic, an excellent surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the standard of these items stand the test of your energy? Which one is the foremost match for the budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall product is best for you.

Step 1 – Determine if you want to look at your existing walls – To lower your expenses it’s nice to position a bathtub or shower wall surround over an existing surface. It is possible to use specialized glue or butyl tape to adhere acrylic or Swanstone solid surface materials over existing tile so long as the present walls usually are not spongy or bowed. If you have a plastic or fiberglass system it’s not at all possible to put new walls over your existing materials. In these cases the present system will have to removed, new backerboard installed and after that new walls put up.

Step 2 – Think through your budget- If you’re like the majority of you want to obtain the most value for the money – a superior quality material which won’t hurt you wallet. If you are considering an easy to wash economical material acrylic is a great choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and includes a lifetime warranty.

For an even more elegant appearance (that’s for sale in more decorative patterns and designs) consider a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is straightforward to keep up, doesn’t have any joints to grout or seal and will come in a wide variety of choices. Usually the more costly product is tile (if you don’t are able to set it up yourself and save the labor hours- tile is among the most frustrating to setup 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 desire – After you’ve selected between acrylic, Swanstone and tile it is time to choose your design and color(s). Acrylic wall surrounds come in numerous colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic plus marble finishes. In addition the walls you decide on might be smooth, 4″ x 4″ simulated tiles, 8″ x 10″ simulated tiles or possibly a stone look. Acrylic is no longer only a white smooth faced wall.

Swanstone, although it may be noted for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, as well as the fact it’s not going to 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 construct unique architectural designs named Pebble, Geometric, Beadboard, Tangier and Barcelona. There are also designer trim pieces and rosettes to create a finished look. Tile provides the widest product options when it comes to color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to choose a high density water repellent tile for the bath or shower.

Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material as well as in the situation of tile finish the eye of the wall- What you aren’t seeing in a bathtub or shower wall panel project will be as essential as what you do see. Use the right material(s) behind the wall. Here are some recommendations: Acrylic – If the tile walls will be in sound condition install over them by adhering the acrylic with butyl tape and color match sealant. This will reduce landfill costs, lessen the project installation some time and lower your expenses. If the existing wall can’t be installed over put up moisture resistant green board or a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic when the tile is 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 lots of wasted money historically (cheap backer board may have been used, poor grouting jobs, poor work in the corners are only a few of the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use the water repellent cement board or a waterproof extruded polystyrene board like this created from Wedi Corporation. These boards must be glued and screwed in your framing. In addition to using the right backer board consider investing in a urethane grout. This type of grout won’t need to be resealed and is waterproof. Although it will cost you more at the start it’s going to lower your expenses as time goes on inside need to regrout, or worse yet the need to redo the shower in case you have any water damage.

Step 5 – Fix what’s behind the wall – The best time to fix an unhealthy performing shower valve, a shower head that’s too low, or add backer material to strengthen installing your accessories happens when you may have the wall opened.

Step 6 – Identify the bathtub tub and shower accessories you want to add function and elegance in your project – Have you always wanted a leg ledge for shaving, most seat, a curved shower rod to keep water in, a hand held shower, most caddy, a frameless shower door, shampoo or soap niche or a grab bar? When you’re installing new wall surrounds is the perfect time for you to accessorize your bath or shower making it meet your needs you.

Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult call a reputable contractor that is not a “one size fits all” – Let’s face it, there are many of choices and installation details that need to be done right to make sure a successful project. Calling an experienced might be higher priced inside short term but help you save long-term costs. Make sure to pick a contractor it doesn’t try to push you into the wedding party shower or bath wall surround system they offer (like a company selling acrylic systems pushes this place solution on you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems which will seek to understand the needs you have, budgets and tastes and supply different alternatives.

Know you’re equipped with 7 steps that may serve as a good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.