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Hardie Backer Board For Shower Walls

Hardie Backer regarding proportions 3264 X 2448Hardie Backer regarding proportions 3264 X 2448

Hardie Backer Board For 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 caliber of they stand the test of time? Which one is the best match for your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall strategy is right for you.

Step 1 – Determine if you want to go over your existing walls – To lower your expenses it’s nice to put 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 provided that the actual walls are certainly not spongy or bowed. If you have a plastic or fiberglass system it isn’t possible to place new walls over your existing materials. In these cases the actual system will have 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 for your money – a superior quality material which will not break your budget. If you are considering an easy to clean affordable material acrylic is a superb choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and comes with a lifetime warranty.

For a much more elegant appearance (that is available in more decorative patterns and designs) think about a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is easy to keep up, does not have any joints to grout or seal and comes in a multitude of choices. Usually the most expensive strategy is tile (if you don’t manage to do the installation yourself and save the labor hours- tile is easily the most time consuming to install vs. sheet products like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile plus it creates a stylish look at the same time.

Step 3 – Select your material, designs, colors and accents you want – After you’ve selected between acrylic, Swanstone and tile you’re ready choose your design and color(s). Acrylic wall surrounds are available in many colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic plus marble finishes. In addition the walls you choose may be smooth, 4″ x 4″ simulated tiles, 8″ x 10″ simulated tiles or even a stone look. Acrylic has stopped being only a white smooth faced wall.

Swanstone, whilst it has become recognized for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, and the fact it certainly can’t crack or craze – has a very broad range of decorative options at the same time. There are over 45 standard, high shine, 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 make a finished look. Tile provides widest product options with regards to color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to get a high density waterproof tile for your bath or shower.

Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material along with the situation of tile finish the eye of the wall- What you aren’t seeing in the bathtub or shower wall panel project can be as important as whatever 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 time and lower your expenses. If the existing wall cannot be installed over placed moisture resistant green board or even a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic if your tile is at good structural shape install within 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 might have been used, poor grouting jobs, poor operate in the corners are only a few of the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use whether waterproof cement board or even a waterproof extruded polystyrene board like that made from Wedi Corporation. These boards should be glued and screwed for a framing. In addition to while using the right backer board consider investing in the urethane grout. This type of grout will not should be resealed and is also waterproof. Although it costs more at the start it will lower your expenses later on inside should regrout, or worse yet the should redo the shower for those who have any water damage.

Step 5 – Fix what’s behind the wall – The best time to fix an undesirable performing shower valve, a shower head that is too low, or add backer material to boost investing in your accessories is when you have got the wall opened up.

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 the water 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 perfect time and energy to accessorize your bath or shower to make it do the job and your family.

Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult call an established 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 properly to make certain a successful project. Calling a professional may be costlier inside short run but save long lasting costs. Make sure to select a contractor which doesn’t try and push you in the wedding party shower or bath wall surround system you can choose from (for example a company selling acrylic systems pushes that one solution on you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems that may seek to understand the needs you have, budgets and tastes and offer different choices.

Know you’re equipped with 7 steps that will be the good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.