Plaster Shower Wall
|Plaster Shower Wall – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can be difficult. Should you install acrylic, an excellent surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the grade of these products stand test of your energy? Which one is the best match for your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall system is right for you.
Step 1 – Determine if you want to go over your existing walls – To spend less it’s nice to place a bathtub or shower wall surround over a current 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 aren’t 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 after which new walls put up.
Step 2 – Think through your budget- If you’re similar to most you wish to get the most value for your money – a superior quality material which does not break the bank. If you are looking for a fairly easy to completely clean cost effective material acrylic is a wonderful choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and includes a lifetime warranty.
For an even more elegant appearance (that is accessible in more decorative patterns and styles) look at a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is straightforward to keep, does not have any joints to grout or seal and comes in numerous choices. Usually the more costly strategy is tile (if you do not have the ability to do the installation yourself and save the labor hours- tile is among the most time intensive to setup vs. sheet products like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile and it creates a sophisticated look too.
Step 3 – Select your material, designs, colors and accents you desire – After you’ve selected between acrylic, Swanstone and tile you’re ready choose your design and color(s). Acrylic wall surrounds are available in a multitude of colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic plus 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 has stopped being simply a white smooth faced wall.
Swanstone, whilst it continues to be famous for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, and the fact it won’t crack or craze – has a very broad range of decorative options too. There are over 45 standard, high shine, 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 the widest product options in terms of color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to get a high density waterproof tile for your bath or shower.
Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material as well as in true of tile finish the face from the wall- What you can’t locate inside a bathtub or shower wall panel project is as important as what you do see. Use the right material(s) behind the wall. Here are some recommendations: Acrylic – If the tile walls are in very good condition install over them by adhering the acrylic with butyl tape and color match sealant. This will save on landfill costs, slow up the project installation some time and spend less. If the existing wall can’t be installed over put up moisture resistant green board or perhaps a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic if your tile is in good structural shape install in the existing. If not, Swanstone can 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 could have been used, poor grouting jobs, poor work in the corners are simply a few from the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use whether waterproof cement board or perhaps a waterproof extruded polystyrene board like that created from Wedi Corporation. These boards needs to be glued and screwed to your framing. In addition to using the right backer board consider investing inside a urethane grout. This type of grout does not must be resealed which is waterproof. Although it will set you back more up front it’s going to spend less down the road inside the must regrout, or worse yet the must redo the shower for those who have any water damage.
Step 5 – Fix what’s behind the wall – The best time to correct an unhealthy performing shower valve, a shower head that is too low, in order to add backer material to bolster investing in your accessories is the place you may have the wall opened.
Step 6 – Identify the bath tub and shower accessories you wish to add function and style to your project – Have you always wanted a leg ledge for shaving, a corner seat, a curved shower rod to help keep water in, a hand held shower, a corner caddy, a frameless shower door, shampoo or soap niche or perhaps a grab bar? When you’re installing new wall surrounds is the ideal time and energy 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’s not a “one size fits all” – Let’s face it, there are tons of choices and installation details that must be done properly to be sure an effective project. Calling a professional could be higher priced inside the growing process but help save long term costs. Make sure to choose a contractor that does not try and push you to the one type of shower or bath wall surround system you can purchase (like a company selling acrylic systems pushes this place solution you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems that can seek to understand your requirements, budgets and tastes and provide different choices.
Know you’re equipped with 7 steps that can be the good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.