No Grout Shower Walls
|No Grout Shower Walls – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can be tough. Should you install acrylic, an excellent surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the grade of they stand the exam of time? Which one is the greatest match to your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall product is most effective for you.
Step 1 – Determine if you want to review your existing walls – To lower your expenses 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 so long as the actual walls are not spongy or bowed. If you have a plastic or fiberglass system it’s not at all possible to place new walls over your existing materials. In these cases the actual system will need to removed, new backerboard installed and then new walls put up.
Step 2 – Think through your budget- If you’re similar to most you would like to get the best deal to your money – a superior quality material which won’t hurt your wallet. If you desire a straightforward to completely clean affordable material acrylic is an excellent choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and has a lifetime warranty.
For a more elegant appearance (that is accessible in more decorative patterns and fashoins) think about Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is straightforward to maintain, doesn’t have joints to grout or seal and is available in a wide variety of choices. Usually the costliest technique is tile (if you do not be capable of set it up yourself and save the labor hours- tile is among the most time-consuming to setup vs. sheet goods like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile and it creates a classy look at the same time.
Step 3 – Select your material, designs, colors and accents you desire – After you’ve selected between acrylic, Swanstone and tile you need to choose your design and color(s). Acrylic wall surrounds are available in a variety of colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic plus marble finishes. In addition the walls you select could be smooth, 4″ x 4″ simulated tiles, 8″ x 10″ simulated tiles or even a stone look. Acrylic is not only a white smooth faced wall.
Swanstone, whilst it continues to be known for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, and also the fact it certainly can’t crack or craze – has 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 produce a finished look. Tile offers 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 in the wall- What you don’t see in a bathtub or shower wall panel project is really as significant as what you do see. Use the right material(s) behind the wall. Here are some recommendations: Acrylic – If the tile walls come in good shape install over them by adhering the acrylic with butyl tape and color match sealant. This will reduce landfill costs, decrease the project installation some time and lower your expenses. If the existing wall is not installed over put up moisture resistant green board or possibly a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic in the event the tile is within good structural shape install within the existing. If not, Swanstone could 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 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 sometimes a waterproof cement board or possibly a waterproof extruded polystyrene board that way made out of 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 have to be resealed and is waterproof. Although it costs more in advance it will lower your expenses later on in the have to regrout, or worse yet the have to redo the shower for those who 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 that is too low, or to add backer material to boost installing your accessories happens when you have got the wall opened up.
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, most seat, a curved shower rod to help keep the river in, a hand held shower, most caddy, a frameless shower door, shampoo or soap niche or possibly a grab bar? When you’re installing new wall surrounds is the best time for you to accessorize your bath or shower to really make it meet your needs and your family.
Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult call a good contractor that is not a “one size fits all” – Let’s face it, there are plenty of choices and installation details that have to be done right to ensure an excellent project. Calling an experienced could be more expensive in the growing process but help you save long-term costs. Make sure to choose a contractor that doesn’t try to push you in to the wedding party shower or bath wall surround system they offer (such as a company selling acrylic systems pushes this solution for you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems that may seek to understand your preferences, budgets and tastes and still provide alternative ideas.
Know you’re equipped with 7 steps that will serve as a good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.