Marble Slab Shower Walls
|Marble Slab Shower Walls – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can be difficult. Should you install acrylic, a great surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the standard of they stand quality of your energy? Which one is the greatest match for your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall system is right for you.
Step 1 – Determine if you’d like to look at your existing walls – To save money it’s nice to place 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 as long as the current walls are not 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 should removed, new backerboard installed after which new walls put up.
Step 2 – Think through your budget- If you’re like the majority of you would like to get the best deal for your money – an exceptional material which won’t hurt your wallet. If you are looking for a straightforward to clean cost-effective material acrylic is a wonderful choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and features a lifetime warranty.
For an even more elegant appearance (which can be obtainable in more decorative patterns and fashoins) think about Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is easy to take care of, doesn’t have joints to grout or seal and is available in a wide variety of choices. Usually the priciest method is tile (if you don’t manage to set it up yourself and save the labor hours- tile is easily the most time-consuming to install vs. sheet items like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile and yes it creates a sophisticated look too.
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 as well as marble finishes. In addition the walls you select might be smooth, 4″ x 4″ simulated tiles, 8″ x 10″ simulated tiles or even a stone look. Acrylic is no longer merely a white smooth faced wall.
Swanstone, whilst it continues to be known 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 too. There are over 45 standard, shiny, 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 supplies the widest product options when it comes to color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to locate a high density waterproof tile for your bath or shower.
Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material as well as in the truth of tile finish the face from the wall- What you don’t see in a bathtub or shower wall panel project is really as essential as whatever you do see. Use the right material(s) behind the wall. Here are some recommendations: Acrylic – If the tile walls are 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 is not installed over put up moisture resistant green board or even a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic in the event the tile is within good structural shape install within 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 lots of wasted money historically (cheap backer board has been used, poor grouting jobs, poor be employed in the corners are merely a few from the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use the waterproof cement board or even a waterproof extruded polystyrene board that way created from Wedi Corporation. These boards needs to be glued and screwed for a framing. In addition to while using right backer board consider investing in a urethane grout. This type of grout won’t need to be resealed and it is waterproof. Although it will set you back more in advance it will save money down the road 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 fix a poor performing shower valve, a shower head which can be too low, or add backer material to strengthen the installation of your accessories is when you may have the wall opened.
Step 6 – Identify the bathtub tub and shower accessories you would like to add function and magnificence for a project – Have you always wanted a leg ledge for shaving, a corner seat, a curved shower rod to help keep the water in, a hand held shower, a corner 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 meet your needs and your family.
Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult call a reputable contractor that is not a “one size fits all” – Let’s face it, there are tons of choices and installation details that need to be done correctly to make certain an excellent project. Calling an expert could be more costly inside short term but help save long term costs. Make sure to pick a contractor which doesn’t attempt to push you in to the wedding party shower or bath wall surround system you can purchase (for instance a company selling acrylic systems pushes this place solution you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems that will look to understand your preferences, budgets and tastes and offer different alternatives.
Know you’re equipped with 7 steps that may function as a good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.