Vinyl Sheet Flooring For Shower Walls
|Vinyl Sheet Flooring For Shower Walls – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can be tough. Should you install acrylic, an excellent surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the grade of the products stand quality of energy? Which one is the greatest match to your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall strategy is good for you.
Step 1 – Determine if you would like to look at your existing walls – To save money 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 provided that the present walls usually are not spongy or bowed. If you have a plastic or fiberglass system it’s not at all possible to set new walls over your existing materials. In these cases the present system should removed, new backerboard installed then new walls placed.
Step 2 – Think through your budget- If you’re like most you would like to obtain the most value to your money – an exceptional material which won’t break the bank. If you are considering an easy to clean economical material acrylic is a wonderful choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and features a lifetime warranty.
For a far more elegant appearance (which is available in more decorative patterns and styles) consider a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is simple to take care of, doesn’t have any joints to grout or seal and will come in numerous choices. Usually the most expensive method is tile (unless you are able to install it yourself and save the labor hours- tile is the most time intensive to setup vs. sheet items like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile also it creates a stylish look as well.
Step 3 – Select your material, designs, colors and accents you would like – After you’ve selected between acrylic, Swanstone and tile you need to choose your design and color(s). Acrylic wall surrounds are available in many colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic as well as marble finishes. In addition the walls you decide on can be smooth, 4″ x 4″ simulated tiles, 8″ x 10″ simulated tiles or even a stone look. Acrylic is no longer only a white smooth faced wall.
Swanstone, although it continues to be noted for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, as well as the fact it will not crack or craze – has a very broad range of decorative options as well. 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 generate a finished look. Tile supplies the widest product options with regards to color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to look for a high density water resistant tile to your bath or shower.
Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material along with the case of tile finish the facial skin in the wall- What you do not see in a bathtub or shower wall panel project is 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 have been in very good condition install over them by adhering the acrylic with butyl tape and color match sealant. This will save on landfill costs, slow up the project installation serious amounts of save money. If the existing wall can’t be installed over placed moisture resistant green board or possibly a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic if your tile is good structural shape install within the existing. If not, Swanstone can be installed over greenboard or possibly a cement board using special glue.
Tile – Poorly done tile installations have caused lots of wasted money historically (cheap backer board might have been used, poor grouting jobs, poor be employed in the corners are only a few in the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use sometimes a water resistant cement board or possibly a waterproof extruded polystyrene board like this produced from Wedi Corporation. These boards should be glued and screwed for your framing. In addition to while using the right backer board consider investing in a urethane grout. This type of grout won’t should be resealed and it is waterproof. Although it will cost you more beforehand it’ll save money later on inside the should regrout, or worse yet the should redo the shower if you have any water damage.
Step 5 – Fix what’s behind the wall – The best time to correct an unhealthy performing shower valve, a shower head which is too low, or to add backer material to boost the installation of your accessories happens when you may have the wall showed.
Step 6 – Identify the bath tub and shower accessories you would like to add function and elegance for your project – Have you always wanted a leg ledge for shaving, most seat, a curved shower rod to hold the water in, a hand held shower, most caddy, a frameless shower door, shampoo or soap niche or possibly a grab bar? When you’re installing new wall surrounds is the perfect time to accessorize your bath or shower to really make it work for you you.
Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult call a good contractor that isn’t a “one size fits all” – Let’s face it, there are a lot of choices and installation details that should be done correctly to ensure a successful project. Calling a specialist may be costlier inside the short run but help save long-term costs. Make sure to choose a contractor that does not try to push you in to the one sort of shower or bath wall surround system they offer (such as a company selling acrylic systems pushes that one solution on you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems that can look to understand your needs, budgets and tastes and still provide alternative ideas.
Know you’re designed with 7 steps that may function as a good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.