Framing A Shower Wall For Plumbing

Basement Bathroom With Pex Plumbing And A Rainfall Showerhead within measurements 2736 X 3648

Framing A Shower Wall For Plumbing – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can be tough. Should you install acrylic, an excellent surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tiles? Will the standard of these products stand the exam of time? Which one is the greatest match for your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall method is good for you.

Step 1 – Determine if you would like to go over your existing walls – To lower your expenses 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 existing walls are certainly not spongy or bowed. If you have a plastic or fiberglass system it’s not possible to put new walls over your existing materials. In these cases the existing system will need to removed, new backerboard installed and then new walls set up.

Step 2 – Think through your budget- If you’re like most you need to obtain the most value for your money – a superior quality material which will not hurt you wallet. If you’re looking for an easy to scrub cost effective material acrylic is a great choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and comes with a lifetime warranty.

For a far more elegant appearance (which is obtainable in more decorative patterns and fashions) think about Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is not hard to maintain, doesn’t have any joints to grout or seal and also comes in lots of choices. Usually the most expensive product is tile (until you manage to do the installation yourself and save the labor hours- tile is among the most time consuming to setup vs. sheet items like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile and it creates an elegant look at the same time.

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 can be found in many colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic plus marble finishes. In addition the walls you decide on might be smooth, 4″ x 4″ simulated tiles, 8″ x 10″ simulated tiles or maybe a stone look. Acrylic is not just a white smooth faced wall.

Swanstone, as it has become recognized 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 at the same time. There are over 45 standard, high shine, 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 make a finished look. Tile supplies the widest product options with regards to color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to locate a high density water-resistant tile for your bath or shower.

Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material as well as in the case of tile finish the face area of the wall- What you do not see in the bathtub or shower wall panel project is as essential 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 sound condition install over them by adhering the acrylic with butyl tape and color match sealant. This will save on landfill costs, decrease the project installation some time and lower your expenses. If the existing wall cannot be installed over set up moisture resistant green board or perhaps a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic if your tile is in good structural shape install within the existing. If not, Swanstone might be installed over greenboard or perhaps a cement board using special glue.

Tile – Poorly done tile installations have caused a great deal of wasted money historically (cheap backer board has been used, poor grouting jobs, poor be employed in the corners are just a few of the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use sometimes a water-resistant cement board or perhaps a waterproof extruded polystyrene board like this produced from Wedi Corporation. These boards ought to be glued and screwed for a framing. In addition to while using the right backer board consider investing in the urethane grout. This type of grout will not need to be resealed and is waterproof. Although it can cost you more in advance it’ll lower your expenses later on within the need to regrout, or worse yet the need to redo the shower if 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 which is too low, in order to add backer material to boost installing your accessories happens when you may have the wall opened up.

Step 6 – Identify the bathtub tub and shower accessories you need to add function and style for a project – Have you always wanted a leg ledge for shaving, a large part seat, a curved shower rod to hold water in, a hand held shower, a large part 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 restore do the job and your loved ones.

Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult call an established contractor that is not a “one size fits all” – Let’s face it, there are many of choices and installation details that need to be done properly to ensure an excellent project. Calling a specialist might be more costly within the short run but help save lasting costs. Make sure to choose a contractor that does not attempt to push you to the wedding party shower or bath wall surround system you can choose from (for example a company selling acrylic systems pushes this place solution giving you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems that can attempt to understand your requirements, budgets and tastes and offer different options.

Know you’re designed with 7 steps that will serve as a good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.