Granite Panels For Shower Walls
|Granite Panels For Shower Walls – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can be hard. Should you install acrylic, a great surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the caliber of these items stand test of time? Which one is the better match on your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall product is best for you.
Step 1 – Determine if you would like to check out your existing walls – To spend less it’s nice to position 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 present walls usually are not spongy or bowed. If you have a plastic or fiberglass system it isn’t possible to set new walls over your existing materials. In these cases the present system should removed, new backerboard installed and then new walls placed.
Step 2 – Think through your budget- If you’re like most you wish to get the best deal on your money – an exceptional material which will not hurt you wallet. If you are looking for a straightforward to clean cost-effective material acrylic is a great choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and includes a lifetime warranty.
For a far more elegant appearance (which is obtainable in more decorative patterns and designs) think about a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is simple to maintain, doesn’t have joints to grout or seal and comes in numerous choices. Usually the more costly strategy is tile (if you do not be capable of install it yourself and save the labor hours- tile is regarded as the time consuming to set up vs. sheet products like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile and it creates an elegant look at the same time.
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 can be found in a multitude of colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic as well as 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 is not only a white smooth faced wall.
Swanstone, although it may be recognized for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, along with the fact it certainly can’t crack or craze – features a very broad range of decorative options at the same time. There are over 45 standard, high gloss, and granite colors. In addition there are decorative panels to make unique architectural designs named Pebble, Geometric, Beadboard, Tangier and Barcelona. There are also designer trim pieces and rosettes to create a finished look. Tile offers the widest product options with regards to color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to look for a high density water-resistant tile on your bath or shower.
Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material along with true of tile finish the facial skin of the wall- What you can’t locate in the bathtub or shower wall panel project is really as significant as that which you do see. Use the right material(s) behind the wall. Here are some recommendations: Acrylic – If the tile walls are 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 some time and spend less. If the existing wall can not be installed over placed moisture resistant green board or even a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic if your tile is good structural shape install over the existing. If not, Swanstone might 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 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-resistant cement board or even a waterproof extruded polystyrene board like that made from Wedi Corporation. These boards needs to be glued and screwed for your framing. In addition to while using right backer board consider investing in the urethane grout. This type of grout will not need to be resealed and it is waterproof. Although it will set you back more beforehand it will spend less in the future inside need to regrout, or worse yet the need to redo the shower if you have any water damage.
Step 5 – Fix what’s behind the wall – The best time to solve a poor performing shower valve, a shower head which is too low, or to add backer material to bolster installing your accessories occurs when you’ve got the wall opened.
Step 6 – Identify the bath tub and shower accessories you wish to add function and magnificence for your project – Have you always wanted a leg ledge for shaving, a large part seat, a curved shower rod to hold the lake in, a hand held shower, a large part 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 and energy to accessorize your bath or shower to restore do the job and your family.
Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult call a good contractor which is not a “one size fits all” – Let’s face it, there are tons of choices and installation details that need to be done properly to ensure a prosperous project. Calling a specialist could possibly be higher priced inside growing process but help you save long-term costs. Make sure to go with a contractor that does not make an effort to push you in the one kind of shower or bath wall surround system they sell (like a company selling acrylic systems pushes this place solution for you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems that may aim to understand your needs, budgets and tastes and offer alternative ideas.
Know you’re built with 7 steps which will function as good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.