Backer Board For Tile Shower Walls

Preparing A Shower Wall For Tile within proportions 1537 X 2049

Backer Board For Tile Shower Walls – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can be difficult. Should you install acrylic, a solid surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the quality of these items stand the exam of energy? Which one is the best match to your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall system is good for you.

Step 1 – Determine if you would like to look at your existing walls – To lower your expenses it’s nice to place 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 so long as the existing walls are certainly not spongy or bowed. If you have a plastic or fiberglass system it’s not at all possible to position new walls over your existing materials. In these cases the existing system will need to removed, new backerboard installed after which new walls put up.

Step 2 – Think through your budget- If you’re similar to most you wish to get the most value to your money – a high quality material which won’t break the bank. If you’re looking for an easy to scrub cost effective material acrylic is an excellent choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and has a lifetime warranty.

For a far more elegant appearance (which can be for sale in more decorative patterns and designs) think about Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is not hard to keep up, doesn’t have joints to grout or seal and will come in lots of choices. Usually the priciest product is tile (if you don’t be capable of install it yourself and save the labor hours- tile is the most time intensive to set up vs. sheet products like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile and it creates a stylish look too.

Step 3 – Select your material, designs, colors and accents you would like – After you’ve selected between acrylic, Swanstone and tile you’re ready to choose your design and color(s). Acrylic wall surrounds are available in numerous colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic and also 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 has stopped being just a white smooth faced wall.

Swanstone, while it has been known for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, and the fact it certainly can’t crack or craze – features a very broad range of decorative options too. There are over 45 standard, high shine, and granite colors. In addition there are decorative panels to develop 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 regarding color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to get a high density waterproof tile to your bath or shower.

Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material along with true of tile finish the face of the wall- What you don’t see in a bathtub or shower wall panel project is really as essential as that which you do see. Use the right material(s) behind the wall. Here are some recommendations: Acrylic – If the tile walls will be in sound condition install over them by adhering the acrylic with butyl tape and color match sealant. This will save the landfill costs, slow up the project installation some time to lower your expenses. If the existing wall can’t be installed over put up moisture resistant green board or a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic when the tile is within good structural shape install over the existing. If not, Swanstone may be installed over greenboard or 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 work in the corners are just a few of the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use whether waterproof cement board or a waterproof extruded polystyrene board like this created 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 a urethane grout. This type of grout won’t should be resealed which is waterproof. Although it can cost you more at the start it’s going to lower your expenses in the future inside should regrout, or worse yet the should redo the shower in case you have any water damage.

Step 5 – Fix what’s behind the wall – The best time to correct a poor performing shower valve, a shower head which can be too low, or to add backer material to strengthen investing in your accessories is the place you may have the wall opened.

Step 6 – Identify the bathtub tub and shower accessories you wish to add function and elegance for a project – Have you always wanted a leg ledge for shaving, a large part seat, a curved shower rod to help keep the river in, a hand held shower, a large part caddy, a frameless shower door, shampoo or soap niche or a grab bar? When you’re installing new wall surrounds is the ideal time to accessorize your bath or shower to really make it work for you and your loved ones.

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 should be done right to make certain an effective project. Calling an expert could possibly be costlier inside short run but help you save long lasting costs. Make sure to go with a contractor which doesn’t try and push you into the wedding party shower or bath wall surround system you can purchase (for example a company selling acrylic systems pushes this place solution on you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems that will aim to understand the needs you have, budgets and tastes and offer different choices.

Know you’re built with 7 steps that can function as good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.