Tiled Shower Walls

Farmhouse Bathroom Renovation Styled With Duk Liner Wood Tile regarding proportions 3648 X 5472

Tiled Shower Walls – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can be hard. Should you install acrylic, an excellent surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the caliber of these items stand test of energy? Which one is the better match to your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall method is right for you.

Step 1 – Determine if you’d like to check out your existing walls – To cut costs 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 providing the existing walls are 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 have to removed, new backerboard installed and then new walls put up.

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

For an even more elegant appearance (which is accessible in more decorative patterns and fashions) look at a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is not hard to keep up, does not have any joints to grout or seal and is available in numerous choices. Usually the most expensive product is tile (if you don’t have the ability to set it up yourself and save the labor hours- tile is among the most time-consuming to setup vs. sheet products like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile also it creates a sophisticated 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 appear in a variety of colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic and also marble finishes. In addition the walls you end up picking may be smooth, 4″ x 4″ simulated tiles, 8″ x 10″ simulated tiles or maybe a stone look. Acrylic is no longer just a white smooth faced wall.

Swanstone, as it has become recognized for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, as well as the fact it certainly can’t crack or craze – has a very broad range of decorative options too. There are over 45 standard, glossy, and granite colors. In addition there are decorative panels to construct unique architectural designs named Pebble, Geometric, Beadboard, Tangier and Barcelona. There are also designer trim pieces and rosettes to generate a finished look. Tile provides the widest product options in terms of color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to look for a high density waterproof 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 face area in the wall- What you don’t see in the bathtub or shower wall panel project can be as essential as what 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 reduce landfill costs, reduce the project installation time and cut costs. If the existing wall cannot be installed over put up moisture resistant green board or possibly a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic if the tile is within good structural shape install in 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 lots of wasted money historically (cheap backer board might have been used, poor grouting jobs, poor are employed in the corners are just a few in the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use sometimes a waterproof cement board or possibly a waterproof extruded polystyrene board like this made out of Wedi Corporation. These boards must be glued and screwed to your framing. In addition to while using right backer board consider investing in the urethane grout. This type of grout doesn’t should be resealed and is waterproof. Although it will set you back more beforehand it will cut costs in the future 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 solve an undesirable performing shower valve, a shower head which is too low, as well as to add backer material to strengthen installing your accessories is when you have got the wall opened.

Step 6 – Identify the tub tub and shower accessories you wish to add function and type to your project – Have you always wanted a leg ledge for shaving, a large part seat, a curved shower rod to maintain water 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 perfect time and energy to accessorize your bath or shower to really make it be right for you and your loved ones.

Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult call a professional 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 right to ensure an effective project. Calling an experienced could possibly be more costly inside short run but save you long term costs. Make sure to select a contractor that doesn’t make an effort to push you into the one type of shower or bath wall surround system they sell (for example a company selling acrylic systems pushes this place solution for you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems that may look to understand your needs, budgets and tastes and provide different options.

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.