Marble Slabs For Shower Walls
|Marble Slabs For 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 the products stand the test of time? Which one is the better match for your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall product is most effective for you.
Step 1 – Determine if you’d like to look at your existing walls – To lower your expenses it’s nice to position 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 current walls usually are 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 current system will have to removed, new backerboard installed then new walls put up.
Step 2 – Think through your budget- If you’re like the majority of you would like to get the most value for your money – a high quality material which won’t hurt you wallet. If you desire a simple to completely clean cost-effective material acrylic is a superb choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and has a lifetime warranty.
For a more elegant appearance (which can be accessible in more decorative patterns and designs) consider a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is simple to keep, does not have any joints to grout or seal and is available in lots of choices. Usually the most expensive technique is tile (unless you manage to do the installation yourself and save the labor hours- tile is easily the most time intensive to install vs. sheet items like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile plus it creates a sophisticated 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 you’re ready choose your design and color(s). Acrylic wall surrounds can be found in numerous colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic and also marble finishes. In addition the walls you decide on could be smooth, 4″ x 4″ simulated tiles, 8″ x 10″ simulated tiles or possibly a stone look. Acrylic has stopped being only a white smooth faced wall.
Swanstone, while it continues to be recognized for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, and the fact it certainly can’t crack or craze – carries a very broad range of decorative options at the same time. There are over 45 standard, shiny, 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 generate a finished look. Tile provides widest product options in terms of color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to get a high density water repellent tile for 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 in the wall- What you do not see in the bathtub or shower wall panel project will be 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 good shape 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 and lower your expenses. If the existing wall cannot be installed over put up moisture resistant green board or perhaps a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic if the tile is at good structural shape install on the existing. If not, Swanstone could be installed over greenboard or perhaps a cement board using special glue.
Tile – Poorly done tile installations have caused plenty of wasted money historically (cheap backer board may have been used, poor grouting jobs, poor be employed in the corners are only a few in the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use whether water repellent cement board or perhaps a waterproof extruded polystyrene board like that created from Wedi Corporation. These boards must be glued and screwed to your framing. In addition to with all the right backer board consider investing in the urethane grout. This type of grout won’t should be resealed which is waterproof. Although it can cost you more beforehand it will lower your expenses in the future inside the should regrout, or worse yet the should redo the shower when you have any water damage.
Step 5 – Fix what’s behind the wall – The best time to solve an unhealthy performing shower valve, a shower head which can be too low, or to add backer material to strengthen installing your accessories happens when you’ve got the wall opened up.
Step 6 – Identify the bathtub tub and shower accessories you would like to add function and style to your project – Have you always wanted a leg ledge for shaving, a large part seat, a curved shower rod to maintain the river in, a hand held shower, a large part caddy, a frameless shower door, shampoo or soap niche or perhaps a grab bar? When you’re installing new wall surrounds is the perfect time to accessorize your bath or shower to make it be right for you you.
Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult call an established contractor that isn’t a “one size fits all” – Let’s face it, there are plenty of choices and installation details that should be done properly to be sure an effective project. Calling an expert may be more expensive inside the short term but save lasting costs. Make sure to choose a contractor it doesn’t make an effort to push you in to the wedding party shower or bath wall surround system you can choose from (like a company selling acrylic systems pushes this place solution giving you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems which will attempt to understand your requirements, budgets and tastes and provide alternative ideas.
Know you’re built with 7 steps that will function as good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.