Flexstone Shower Walls
|Flexstone Shower Walls – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can be difficult. Should you install acrylic, a great surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the grade of the products stand test of your time? Which one is the greatest match to your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall system is most effective for you.
Step 1 – Determine if you’d like to review your existing walls – To lower your expenses it’s nice to place a bathtub or shower wall surround over a pre-existing surface. It is possible to use specialized glue or butyl tape to adhere acrylic or Swanstone solid surface materials over existing tile providing the present 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 present system should removed, new backerboard installed and then new walls set up.
Step 2 – Think through your budget- If you’re like most you want to get the best deal to your money – a superior quality material which doesn’t break the bank. If you are considering a simple to scrub cost effective material acrylic is an excellent choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and includes a lifetime warranty.
For a much more elegant appearance (which can be accessible in more decorative patterns and fashions) look at a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is straightforward to keep up, has no joints to grout or seal and will come in numerous choices. Usually the more costly method is tile (unless you have the ability to install it yourself and save the labor hours- tile is regarded as the time-consuming to set up vs. sheet products like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile and yes it creates a stylish look at the same time.
Step 3 – Select your material, designs, colors and accents you would like – After you’ve selected between acrylic, Swanstone and tile it is time 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 also marble finishes. In addition the walls you end up picking can be smooth, 4″ x 4″ simulated tiles, 8″ x 10″ simulated tiles or perhaps a stone look. Acrylic is not just a white smooth faced wall.
Swanstone, as it has been noted for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, and also 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, glossy, 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 make a finished look. Tile provides the widest product options with regards to color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to choose a high density water-resistant tile to your bath or shower.
Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material and in the situation of tile finish the face from the wall- What you aren’t seeing in a very bathtub or shower wall panel project will be as important 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 money on landfill costs, slow up the project installation time and lower your expenses. If the existing wall can’t be installed over set up moisture resistant green board or a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic when the tile is at good structural shape install in the existing. If not, Swanstone can 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 could have been used, poor grouting jobs, poor work in the corners are just a few from the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use whether water-resistant cement board or a waterproof extruded polystyrene board prefer that created from Wedi Corporation. These boards needs to be glued and screwed for your framing. In addition to while using the right backer board consider investing in a very urethane grout. This type of grout doesn’t have to be resealed and is waterproof. Although it will cost you more in advance it’s going to lower your expenses in the future inside have to regrout, or worse yet the have to redo the shower if you 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 which can be too low, or to add backer material to bolster installing your accessories happens when you have got the wall opened up.
Step 6 – Identify the tub tub and shower accessories you want to add function and style for your project – Have you always wanted a leg ledge for shaving, a corner seat, a curved shower rod to hold the lake in, a hand held shower, a corner caddy, a frameless shower door, shampoo or soap niche or a grab bar? When you’re installing new wall surrounds is the perfect time and energy to accessorize your bath or shower making it meet your needs you.
Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult call an established contractor that is not a “one size fits all” – Let’s face it, there are tons of choices and installation details that have to be done efficiently to be sure a successful project. Calling a professional may be higher priced inside short term but help you save long-term costs. Make sure to pick a contractor it doesn’t attempt to push you in the one type of shower or bath wall surround system you can purchase (for instance a company selling acrylic systems pushes this place solution giving you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems that can attempt to understand your needs, budgets and tastes and offer different alternatives.
Know you’re designed with 7 steps which will serve as a good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.