Marble Panels For Shower Walls
|Marble Panels For Shower Walls – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can be hard. Should you install acrylic, an excellent surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the grade of these items stand the exam of energy? Which one is the better match on your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall strategy is most effective 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 preexisting 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 are not spongy or bowed. If you have a plastic or fiberglass system it’s not at all possible to put new walls over your existing materials. In these cases the current system should removed, new backerboard installed then new walls put up.
Step 2 – Think through your budget- If you’re similar to you want to get the best deal on your money – an exceptional material which does not hurt your wallet. If you desire an easy to scrub cost-effective material acrylic is a great choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and has a lifetime warranty.
For a far more elegant appearance (which can be available in more decorative patterns and designs) think about a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is straightforward to take care of, doesn’t have joints to grout or seal and is available in lots of choices. Usually the more costly product is tile (unless you have the ability to set it up yourself and save the labor hours- tile is regarded as the frustrating to set up vs. sheet goods like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile plus it creates a classy look too.
Step 3 – Select your material, designs, colors and accents you would like – After you’ve selected between acrylic, Swanstone and tile you’re ready choose your design and color(s). Acrylic wall surrounds come in numerous colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic plus marble finishes. In addition the walls you end up picking could be smooth, 4″ x 4″ simulated tiles, 8″ x 10″ simulated tiles or maybe a stone look. Acrylic is not merely a white smooth faced wall.
Swanstone, although it continues to be famous for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, as well as the fact it certainly can’t crack or craze – features a very broad range of decorative options too. There are over 45 standard, high gloss, 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 widest product options with regards to color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to get a high density water resistant tile on your bath or shower.
Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material plus the situation of tile finish the eye in the wall- What you don’t see in the bathtub or shower wall panel project can be as significant as whatever you do see. Use the right material(s) behind the wall. Here are some recommendations: Acrylic – If the tile walls have been in sound condition install over them by adhering the acrylic with butyl tape and color match sealant. This will save money on landfill costs, lessen the project installation serious amounts of spend less. If the existing wall can not be installed over put up moisture resistant green board or a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic if your tile is within good structural shape install within the existing. If not, Swanstone could be installed over greenboard or a cement board using special glue.
Tile – Poorly done tile installations have caused lots of wasted money historically (cheap backer board might have been used, poor grouting jobs, poor work in the corners are merely a few in the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use either a water resistant cement board or a waterproof extruded polystyrene board prefer that made from Wedi Corporation. These boards needs to 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 does not need to be resealed and is waterproof. Although it will cost you more at the start it’s going to spend less as time goes on inside the need to regrout, or worse yet the need to redo the shower in case you have any water damage.
Step 5 – Fix what’s behind the wall – The best time to repair a poor performing shower valve, a shower head which can be too low, or add backer material to bolster setting up your accessories happens when you may have the wall showed.
Step 6 – Identify the bath tub and shower accessories you want to add function and elegance 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 best time to accessorize your bath or shower to restore do the job and your family.
Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult call a professional contractor that’s not a “one size fits all” – Let’s face it, there are many of choices and installation details that need to be done efficiently to be sure a successful project. Calling a professional could possibly be costlier inside the growing process but help save long-term costs. Make sure to go with a contractor that does not make an effort to push you in to the wedding party shower or bath wall surround system they sell (like a company selling acrylic systems pushes this solution on you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems that can seek to understand your needs, budgets and tastes and offer alternative ideas.
Know you’re built with 7 steps that may be the good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.