3 Piece Shower Wall Set
|3 Piece Shower Wall Set – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can be hard. Should you install acrylic, a good surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the grade of the products stand test of time? Which one is the best match for your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall strategy is best for you.
Step 1 – Determine if you want to check out 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 providing the existing walls aren’t spongy or bowed. If you have a plastic or fiberglass system it isn’t possible to position new walls over your existing materials. In these cases the existing system will need to removed, new backerboard installed and after that new walls set up.
Step 2 – Think through your budget- If you’re similar to you need to get the most value for your money – a high quality material which won’t break your budget. If you’re looking for an easy to completely clean economical material acrylic is a wonderful choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and has a lifetime warranty.
For a more elegant appearance (that’s obtainable in more decorative patterns and designs) look at a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is simple to take care of, does not have any joints to grout or seal and comes in a wide variety of choices. Usually the more costly technique is tile (if you do not have the ability to do the installation yourself and save the labor hours- tile is regarded as the time intensive to set up vs. sheet goods like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile also it creates a classy look as well.
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 are available in a variety of colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic and in addition marble finishes. In addition the walls you select 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, while it has become noted for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, along with the fact it’s not going to crack or craze – has a very broad range of decorative options as well. 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 produce 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 waterproof tile for your bath or shower.
Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material along with the truth of tile finish the eye from the wall- What you do not see inside a bathtub or shower wall panel project will be as essential as whatever 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, reduce the project installation some time and spend less. If the existing wall can not be installed over set up moisture resistant green board or even a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic in the event the tile is good structural shape install on the existing. If not, Swanstone can 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 might have been used, poor grouting jobs, poor are employed in the corners are just a few from the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use sometimes a waterproof cement board or even a waterproof extruded polystyrene board like that made from Wedi Corporation. These boards should be glued and screwed for your framing. In addition to with all the right backer board consider investing inside a urethane grout. This type of grout won’t must be resealed and is also waterproof. Although it will cost you more in advance it will spend less down the road inside 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 unhealthy performing shower valve, a shower head that’s too low, in order to add backer material to strengthen installing your accessories occurs when you have got the wall exposed.
Step 6 – Identify the bathtub tub and shower accessories you need to add function and elegance for your project – Have you always wanted a leg ledge for shaving, most seat, a curved shower rod to maintain the water 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 best time to accessorize your bath or shower to make it work for you and your family.
Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult call an established contractor that isn’t a “one size fits all” – Let’s face it, there are plenty of choices and installation details that must be done efficiently to be sure an excellent project. Calling an expert may be more costly inside growing process but save you long term costs. Make sure to pick a contractor it doesn’t try and push you in the wedding party shower or bath wall surround system they sell (like 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 requirements, budgets and tastes and still provide different options.
Know you’re equipped with 7 steps which will function as a good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.