Over Bath Shower Wall Panels
|Over Bath Shower Wall Panels – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can be difficult. Should you install acrylic, a solid surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the quality of the products stand quality of energy? Which one is the better match on your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall system is best for you.
Step 1 – Determine if you’d like to check out your existing walls – To spend less it’s nice to put 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 are certainly not 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 present system should removed, new backerboard installed and then new walls offered.
Step 2 – Think through your budget- If you’re like the majority of you want to get the most value on your money – an exceptional material which doesn’t break your budget. If you are considering a straightforward to scrub cost-effective material acrylic is a wonderful choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and has a lifetime warranty.
For an even more elegant appearance (that is accessible in more decorative patterns and fashions) look at a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is not hard to keep up, doesn’t have joints to grout or seal and is available in numerous choices. Usually the costliest technique is tile (if you do not be capable of do the installation yourself and save the labor hours- tile is the most time consuming to put in vs. sheet goods like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile plus it creates a classy 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 you’re ready to choose your design and color(s). Acrylic wall surrounds come in many colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic plus marble finishes. In addition the walls you end up picking may be smooth, 4″ x 4″ simulated tiles, 8″ x 10″ simulated tiles or perhaps a stone look. Acrylic is not only a white smooth faced wall.
Swanstone, as it has been famous for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, and also the fact it won’t crack or craze – features a very broad range of decorative options at the same time. There are over 45 standard, shiny, 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 create a finished look. Tile provides the widest product options when it comes to color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to look for a high density water repellent tile on your bath or shower.
Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material along with the case of tile finish the eye with the wall- What you don’t see inside a bathtub or shower wall panel project is really 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 good shape install over them by adhering the acrylic with butyl tape and color match sealant. This will reduce landfill costs, reduce the project installation time and spend less. If the existing wall can’t be installed over offered moisture resistant green board or even a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic when the tile is good structural shape install on the existing. If not, Swanstone may be installed over greenboard or even a cement board using special glue.
Tile – Poorly done tile installations have caused a lot of wasted money historically (cheap backer board has been used, poor grouting jobs, poor be employed in the corners are only a few with the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use the water repellent cement board or even a waterproof extruded polystyrene board like that made out of Wedi Corporation. These boards should be glued and screwed for your framing. In addition to using the right backer board consider investing inside a urethane grout. This type of grout doesn’t must be resealed and is also waterproof. Although it will set you back more at the start it’s going to spend less as time goes on in the must regrout, or worse yet the must redo the shower in case you have any water damage.
Step 5 – Fix what’s behind the wall – The best time to repair an undesirable performing shower valve, a shower head that is too low, or add backer material to strengthen investing in your accessories is the place you may have the wall opened up.
Step 6 – Identify the bathtub tub and shower accessories you want to add function and style for your project – Have you always wanted a leg ledge for shaving, most seat, a curved shower rod to help keep the river in, a hand held shower, most caddy, a frameless shower door, shampoo or soap niche or even a grab bar? When you’re installing new wall surrounds is the perfect time for it to accessorize your bath or shower making it work for you and your loved ones.
Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult call a good contractor that is not a “one size fits all” – Let’s face it, there are many of choices and installation details that must be done correctly to ensure an effective project. Calling an experienced may be more expensive in the short term but help save long term costs. Make sure to select a contractor that doesn’t make an effort to push you into the one sort of shower or bath wall surround system they offer (such as a company selling acrylic systems pushes this one solution you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems that can seek to understand your needs, budgets and tastes and supply different options.
Know you’re designed with 7 steps which will function as good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.