Adhesive Shower Walls
|Adhesive Shower Walls – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can be tough. Should you install acrylic, a great surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the quality of these products stand quality of your time? Which one is the greatest match on your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall strategy is good for you.
Step 1 – Determine if you want to go over your existing walls – To cut costs it’s nice to place 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 present walls usually are not spongy or bowed. If you have a plastic or fiberglass system it’s not possible to set new walls over your existing materials. In these cases the present system will likely need to removed, new backerboard installed after which 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 on your money – a high quality material which will not hurt your wallet. If you are looking for an easy to completely clean cost-effective material acrylic is an excellent choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and features a lifetime warranty.
For an even more elegant appearance (that is available in more decorative patterns and fashions) consider a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is straightforward to take care of, doesn’t have joints to grout or seal and also comes in a wide variety of choices. Usually the costliest method is tile (until you have the ability to set it up yourself and save the labor hours- tile is easily the most time consuming to setup vs. sheet items like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile plus it creates a classy look also.
Step 3 – Select your material, designs, colors and accents you desire – After you’ve selected between acrylic, Swanstone and tile you’re ready to choose your design and color(s). Acrylic wall surrounds come in a multitude of colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic as well as marble finishes. In addition the walls you end up picking might 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, as it has become famous for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, and the fact it’s not going to crack or craze – carries a very broad range of decorative options also. There are over 45 standard, glossy, and granite colors. In addition there are decorative panels to construct unique architectural designs named Pebble, Geometric, Beadboard, Tangier and Barcelona. There are also designer trim pieces and rosettes to create a finished look. Tile provides widest product options when it comes to color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to choose a high density water repellent tile on your bath or shower.
Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material and in the case of tile finish the face in the wall- What you do not see in the bathtub or shower wall panel project can 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 come in very 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 and cut costs. If the existing wall cannot be installed over put up moisture resistant green board or possibly a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic if your tile is at good structural shape install in the existing. If not, Swanstone might be installed over greenboard or possibly a cement board using special glue.
Tile – Poorly done tile installations have caused a lot 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 water repellent cement board or possibly a waterproof extruded polystyrene board like this produced from Wedi Corporation. These boards must be glued and screwed for your framing. In addition to using the right backer board consider investing in the urethane grout. This type of grout will not have to be resealed which is waterproof. Although it will cost you more in advance it is going to cut costs down the road within the have to regrout, or worse yet the have to redo the shower when you have any water damage.
Step 5 – Fix what’s behind the wall – The best time to correct an inadequate performing shower valve, a shower head that is too low, as well as to add backer material to strengthen investing in your accessories happens when you have the wall showed.
Step 6 – Identify the tub tub and shower accessories you would like to add function and magnificence for your project – Have you always wanted a leg ledge for shaving, most seat, a curved shower rod to help keep water 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 it to accessorize your bath or shower to restore meet your needs you.
Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult call a reputable contractor which is not a “one size fits all” – Let’s face it, there are many of choices and installation details that have to be done properly to ensure a successful project. Calling an expert may be more costly within the short run but help you save long lasting costs. Make sure to go with a contractor that doesn’t make an effort to push you to the one type of shower or bath wall surround system they offer (such as a company selling acrylic systems pushes this solution you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems which will seek to understand your needs, budgets and tastes and still provide different alternatives.
Know you’re built with 7 steps that may function as a good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.