Glass Tile Shower Walls
|Glass Tile Shower Walls – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can often be difficult. Should you install acrylic, a solid surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the quality of these items stand quality of time? Which one is the better match on your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall method is right for you.
Step 1 – Determine if you would like to go over your existing walls – To cut costs it’s nice to put 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 providing the existing walls aren’t 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 likely need to removed, new backerboard installed and after that new walls placed.
Step 2 – Think through your budget- If you’re like the majority of you need to get the best deal on your money – a top quality material which won’t hurt you wallet. If you desire a straightforward to completely clean cost effective material acrylic is a wonderful choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and features a lifetime warranty.
For a much more elegant appearance (that’s for sale in more decorative patterns and fashoins) look at a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is straightforward to keep up, does not have any joints to grout or seal and also comes in a multitude of choices. Usually the priciest strategy is tile (if you do not have the ability to install it yourself and save the labor hours- tile is the most frustrating to setup vs. sheet goods like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile also it creates a stylish look too.
Step 3 – Select your material, designs, colors and accents you need – After you’ve selected between acrylic, Swanstone and tile you need to choose your design and color(s). Acrylic wall surrounds are available in numerous colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic plus marble finishes. In addition the walls you end up picking may be smooth, 4″ x 4″ simulated tiles, 8″ x 10″ simulated tiles or possibly a stone look. Acrylic is not really only a white smooth faced wall.
Swanstone, whilst it may be known for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, and the fact it won’t crack or craze – features a very broad range of decorative options too. There are over 45 standard, high shine, 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 with regards to color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to get a high density water-resistant tile on your bath or shower.
Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material plus the case of tile finish the face area with the wall- What you can’t locate in the bathtub or shower wall panel project is as essential as what you do see. Use the right material(s) behind the wall. Here are some recommendations: Acrylic – If the tile walls have been in good condition install over them by adhering the acrylic with butyl tape and color match sealant. This will reduce landfill costs, lessen the project installation serious amounts of cut costs. If the existing wall cannot be installed over placed moisture resistant green board or a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic in the event the tile is at good structural shape install on the existing. If not, Swanstone may 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 could have been used, poor grouting jobs, poor be employed in the corners are only a few with the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use whether water-resistant cement board or a waterproof extruded polystyrene board that way created from Wedi Corporation. These boards ought to be glued and screwed in your framing. In addition to while using the right backer board consider investing in the urethane grout. This type of grout won’t need to be resealed and is also waterproof. Although it can cost you more beforehand it is going to cut costs later on inside the 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 to add backer material to bolster the installation of your accessories is the place you’ve got the wall opened.
Step 6 – Identify the tub tub and shower accessories you need to add function and elegance in your project – Have you always wanted a leg ledge for shaving, a large part seat, a curved shower rod to keep the river in, a hand held shower, a large part 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 to restore work for you you.
Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult call an established contractor which is not a “one size fits all” – Let’s face it, there are a lot of choices and installation details that need to be done correctly to make certain an effective project. Calling a specialist may be more expensive inside the short term but save long lasting costs. Make sure to select a contractor which doesn’t attempt to push you in to the one sort of shower or bath wall surround system they offer (for instance a company selling acrylic systems pushes that one solution giving you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems that can look to understand your preferences, budgets and tastes and provide different alternatives.
Know you’re furnished with 7 steps that will function as a good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.