Custom Shower Wall
Custom Shower Wall Panels 5 Things Nobody Tells You That You Need regarding dimensions 735 X 1102Custom Shower Wall – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can be difficult. Should you install acrylic, a solid surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the quality of these items stand the exam of time? Which one is the better match for your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall strategy is best for you.
Step 1 – Determine if you’d like to review your existing walls – To save money it’s nice to place a bathtub or shower wall surround over a preexisting 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 existing walls are certainly not spongy or bowed. If you have a plastic or fiberglass system it’s not possible to position new walls over your existing materials. In these cases the existing system will likely need to removed, new backerboard installed and then new walls set up.
Step 2 – Think through your budget- If you’re similar to most you would like to get the best deal for your money – a superior quality material which doesn’t break the bank. If you’re looking for an easy to completely clean economical material acrylic is an excellent choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and features a lifetime warranty.
For a much more elegant appearance (which is for sale in more decorative patterns and styles) consider a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is straightforward to maintain, doesn’t have joints to grout or seal and will come in a wide variety of choices. Usually the most expensive product is tile (if you do not manage to do the installation yourself and save the labor hours- tile is easily the most time-consuming to set up vs. sheet goods like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile also it creates an elegant look also.
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 appear in a multitude of colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic and in addition marble finishes. In addition the walls you decide on may be smooth, 4″ x 4″ simulated tiles, 8″ x 10″ simulated tiles or maybe a stone look. Acrylic is not only a white smooth faced wall.
Swanstone, as it has become known for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, and the fact it will not crack or craze – has a very broad range of decorative options also. 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 produce a finished look. Tile provides the widest product options when it comes to color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to look for a high density water-resistant tile for your bath or shower.
Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material along with the truth of tile finish the face from the wall- What you aren’t seeing in the bathtub or shower wall panel project can be as important as everything you do see. Use the right material(s) behind the wall. Here are some recommendations: Acrylic – If the tile walls are in sound condition install over them by adhering the acrylic with butyl tape and color match sealant. This will reduce landfill costs, slow up the project installation some time and save money. If the existing wall can’t be installed over set up moisture resistant green board or even 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 even a cement board using special glue.
Tile – Poorly done tile installations have caused a lot of wasted money historically (cheap backer board could have been used, poor grouting jobs, poor are employed in the corners are only a few from the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use whether water-resistant cement board or even a waterproof extruded polystyrene board like that made from Wedi Corporation. These boards needs to be glued and screwed in your framing. In addition to with all the right backer board consider investing in the urethane grout. This type of grout doesn’t need to be resealed and is also waterproof. Although it will set you back more up front it’ll save money as time goes on within 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 repair a poor performing shower valve, a shower head which is too low, as well as to add backer material to strengthen the installation of your accessories occurs when you may have the wall opened up.
Step 6 – Identify the bath tub and shower accessories you would like to add function and style in your project – Have you always wanted a leg ledge for shaving, most seat, a curved shower rod to hold the river in, a hand held shower, most caddy, a frameless shower door, shampoo or soap niche or even a grab bar? When you’re installing new wall surrounds is the best time for you to accessorize your bath or shower making it be right for you you.
Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult call a good contractor that is not a “one size fits all” – Let’s face it, there are plenty of choices and installation details that need to be done properly to make certain an effective project. Calling a professional might be more costly within the short term but help you save lasting costs. Make sure to choose a contractor which doesn’t try and push you into the wedding party shower or bath wall surround system they sell (such as a company selling acrylic systems pushes this solution on you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems that can attempt to understand the needs you have, budgets and tastes and offer different alternatives.
Know you’re equipped with 7 steps which will function as a good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.
