Tile Look Shower Wall Panels
|Tile Look Shower Wall Panels – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can often be difficult. Should you install acrylic, a great surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the standard of they stand quality of energy? Which one is the greatest match on your 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 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 providing the current walls aren’t spongy or bowed. If you have a plastic or fiberglass system it is not possible to place new walls over your existing materials. In these cases the current system should removed, new backerboard installed and then new walls put up.
Step 2 – Think through your budget- If you’re similar to most you need to obtain the most value on your money – a superior quality material which will not hurt you wallet. If you are considering a straightforward to completely clean economical material acrylic is a wonderful choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and includes a lifetime warranty.
For a far more elegant appearance (that is accessible in more decorative patterns and designs) look at a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is easy to keep up, has no joints to grout or seal and also comes in numerous choices. Usually the costliest strategy is tile (until you manage to set it up yourself and save the labor hours- tile is among the most time intensive to setup vs. sheet goods like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile and it creates a stylish look too.
Step 3 – Select your material, designs, colors and accents you desire – After you’ve selected between acrylic, Swanstone and tile you’re ready choose your design and color(s). Acrylic wall surrounds come in numerous colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic and in addition marble finishes. In addition the walls you end up picking might be smooth, 4″ x 4″ simulated tiles, 8″ x 10″ simulated tiles or perhaps a stone look. Acrylic has stopped being just a white smooth faced wall.
Swanstone, whilst it continues to be known for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, and also the fact it will not crack or craze – carries 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 create unique architectural designs named Pebble, Geometric, Beadboard, Tangier and Barcelona. There are also designer trim pieces and rosettes to produce a finished look. Tile offers the widest product options regarding color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to look for a high density water repellent tile on your bath or shower.
Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material plus true of tile finish the face area from the wall- What you can’t locate in the bathtub or shower wall panel project can be as important as that which you do see. Use the right material(s) behind the wall. Here are some recommendations: Acrylic – If the tile walls will be in very good condition 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 put up moisture resistant green board or perhaps a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic if your tile is at good structural shape install over the existing. If not, Swanstone might be installed over greenboard or perhaps a cement board using special glue.
Tile – Poorly done tile installations have caused plenty of wasted money historically (cheap backer board could have been used, poor grouting jobs, poor are employed in the corners are just a few from the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use sometimes a water repellent cement board or perhaps a waterproof extruded polystyrene board that way made from Wedi Corporation. These boards should be glued and screwed for a framing. In addition to using the right backer board consider investing in the urethane grout. This type of grout will not should be resealed which is waterproof. Although it will cost you more at the start it is going to spend less later on inside should regrout, or worse yet the should redo the shower when 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 is too low, or add backer material to bolster the installation of your accessories is when you’ve got the wall exposed.
Step 6 – Identify the tub tub and shower accessories you need to add function and magnificence for a 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 perhaps a grab bar? When you’re installing new wall surrounds is the ideal time for you to accessorize your bath or shower to make it do the job and your family.
Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult call a good contractor that’s not a “one size fits all” – Let’s face it, there are plenty of choices and installation details that should be done efficiently to make certain an effective project. Calling an experienced could possibly be costlier inside short term but help you save lasting costs. Make sure to choose a contractor that does not attempt to push you in the wedding party shower or bath wall surround system they offer (for example a company selling acrylic systems pushes this place solution for you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems which will look to understand your preferences, budgets and tastes and offer alternative ideas.
Know you’re designed with 7 steps that may serve as a good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.