Tiling A Shower Wall
|Tiling A Shower Wall – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can be tough. Should you install acrylic, a solid surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the quality of these items stand the exam of your time? Which one is the better match on your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall product is best for you.
Step 1 – Determine if you’d like to check out 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 providing the current walls are not spongy or bowed. If you have a plastic or fiberglass system it is not possible to place new walls over your existing materials. In these cases the current system will have to removed, new backerboard installed and after that new walls set up.
Step 2 – Think through your budget- If you’re like the majority of you need to get the most value on your money – an exceptional material which will not break your budget. If you’re looking for an easy to wash cost effective material acrylic is an excellent choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and features a lifetime warranty.
For a far more elegant appearance (that is obtainable in more decorative patterns and fashions) think about Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is straightforward to keep, does not have any joints to grout or seal and is available in lots of choices. Usually the costliest product is tile (unless you be capable of do the installation yourself and save the labor hours- tile is the most frustrating to set up vs. sheet items like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile and it creates a sophisticated look also.
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 appear in a multitude of colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic and in addition 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 is no longer merely a white smooth faced wall.
Swanstone, while it may be known for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, along with the fact it won’t crack or craze – includes a very broad range of decorative options also. 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 produce a finished look. Tile provides widest product options with regards to color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to locate a high density water-resistant tile on your bath or shower.
Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material and in the truth of tile finish the face from the wall- What you don’t see inside a bathtub or shower wall panel project is as significant 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 condition install over them by adhering the acrylic with butyl tape and color match sealant. This will save money on landfill costs, reduce the project installation some time to lower your expenses. If the existing wall can not be installed over set up moisture resistant green board or even a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic if the tile is within good structural shape install in the existing. If not, Swanstone could be installed over greenboard or even a cement board using special glue.
Tile – Poorly done tile installations have caused a great deal of wasted money historically (cheap backer board may have 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 sometimes a water-resistant cement board or even a waterproof extruded polystyrene board prefer that created from Wedi Corporation. These boards ought to be glued and screwed for your framing. In addition to while using right backer board consider investing inside a urethane grout. This type of grout will not need to be resealed and is also waterproof. Although it costs more up front it will lower your expenses as time goes on inside the need to regrout, or worse yet the need to redo the shower for those who have any water damage.
Step 5 – Fix what’s behind the wall – The best time to fix an inadequate performing shower valve, a shower head that is too low, as well as to add backer material to bolster installing your accessories occurs when you may have the wall exposed.
Step 6 – Identify the tub tub and shower accessories you need to add function and magnificence for your project – Have you always wanted a leg ledge for shaving, a corner seat, a curved shower rod to maintain the river 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 ideal time for you 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 reputable contractor that isn’t a “one size fits all” – Let’s face it, there are tons of choices and installation details that need to be done properly to be sure an excellent project. Calling a professional could be more expensive inside the short term but help you save long lasting costs. Make sure to pick a contractor it doesn’t attempt to push you to the wedding party shower or bath wall surround system you can purchase (for example a company selling acrylic systems pushes this place solution giving you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems that may aim to understand your needs, budgets and tastes and supply different options.
Know you’re equipped with 7 steps that may be the good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.