Waterproof Boards For Shower Walls
|Waterproof Boards For Shower Walls – 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 these products stand test of your time? Which one is the foremost match for your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall system is right for you.
Step 1 – Determine if you would like to review your existing walls – To save money it’s nice to put a bathtub or shower wall surround over an existing surface. It is possible to use specialized glue or butyl tape to adhere acrylic or Swanstone solid surface materials over existing tile as long as the current walls aren’t spongy or bowed. If you have a plastic or fiberglass system it’s not possible to set new walls over your existing materials. In these cases the current system will likely need 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 obtain the most value for your money – an exceptional material which won’t hurt your wallet. If you are considering an easy to completely clean economical material acrylic is a great 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) think about a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is straightforward to keep up, doesn’t have any joints to grout or seal and also comes in a multitude of choices. Usually the more costly technique is tile (until you be capable of do the installation yourself and save the labor hours- tile is regarded as the time intensive to install vs. sheet products like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile and yes it creates a classy look at the same time.
Step 3 – Select your material, designs, colors and accents you need – After you’ve selected between acrylic, Swanstone and tile it is time to choose your design and color(s). Acrylic wall surrounds can be found in numerous colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic and in addition marble finishes. In addition the walls you select may be smooth, 4″ x 4″ simulated tiles, 8″ x 10″ simulated tiles or perhaps a stone look. Acrylic is no longer merely a white smooth faced wall.
Swanstone, whilst it has become noted 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 at the same time. There are over 45 standard, high gloss, 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 make a finished look. Tile offers the widest product options in terms of color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to locate a high density water-resistant tile for your bath or shower.
Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material plus true of tile finish the eye with the wall- What you don’t see in a very 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 come in very good condition install over them by adhering the acrylic with butyl tape and color match sealant. This will save the landfill costs, lessen 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 in the event the tile is in good structural shape install on the existing. If not, Swanstone may be installed over greenboard or possibly a cement board using special glue.
Tile – Poorly done tile installations have caused a lot of wasted money historically (cheap backer board has been used, poor grouting jobs, poor are employed in the corners are merely a few with the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use either a water-resistant cement board or possibly a waterproof extruded polystyrene board that way created from Wedi Corporation. These boards ought to be glued and screwed for your framing. In addition to with all the right backer board consider investing in a very urethane grout. This type of grout won’t must be resealed and is also waterproof. Although it will cost you more up front it’ll save money down the road inside must regrout, or worse yet the must redo the shower when 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, in order to add backer material to bolster the installation of your accessories is the place you’ve got the wall exposed.
Step 6 – Identify the tub tub and shower accessories you need 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 keep the river in, a hand held shower, a large part caddy, a frameless shower door, shampoo or soap niche or possibly a grab bar? When you’re installing new wall surrounds is the ideal time for it to accessorize your bath or shower to really make it do the job 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 plenty of choices and installation details that must be done properly to ensure an excellent project. Calling an experienced may be more expensive inside short term but help you save lasting costs. Make sure to choose a contractor that does not try to push you to the one kind of shower or bath wall surround system they offer (for instance a company selling acrylic systems pushes this place solution giving you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems that can look to understand your needs, budgets and tastes and provide different choices.
Know you’re equipped with 7 steps that may be the good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.