Porcelain Slabs For Shower Walls
|Porcelain Slabs For Shower Walls – Choosing the best shower or bathtub wall surround can be difficult. 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 foremost match on your budget and tastes? Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall strategy is best for you.
Step 1 – Determine if you want to look at your existing walls – To lower your expenses 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 as long as the actual 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 actual system will have to removed, new backerboard installed 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 will not break the bank. If you’re looking for a straightforward to scrub cost effective material acrylic is an excellent choice. It is warm to the touch, installs quickly and comes with a lifetime warranty.
For an even more elegant appearance (that’s accessible in more decorative patterns and fashoins) look at a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is easy to maintain, doesn’t have joints to grout or seal and comes in a wide variety of choices. Usually the most expensive method is tile (if you do not be capable of install it yourself and save the labor hours- tile is regarded as the frustrating to put in vs. sheet items like acrylic & Swanstone). There are limitless choices and price ranges of tile and it creates a sophisticated look also.
Step 3 – Select your material, designs, colors and accents you want – After you’ve selected between acrylic, Swanstone and tile you need to choose your design and color(s). Acrylic wall surrounds appear in a multitude of colors, patterns and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic plus marble finishes. In addition the walls you choose could be smooth, 4″ x 4″ simulated tiles, 8″ x 10″ simulated tiles or maybe a stone look. Acrylic has stopped being simply a white smooth faced wall.
Swanstone, whilst it may be noted for it’s strength, color and texture consistent, grout-free quality, and also the fact it certainly can’t crack or craze – features a very broad range of decorative options also. There are over 45 standard, high shine, and granite colors. In addition there are decorative panels to make 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 in terms of color, accents, borders, sizes and thicknesses. Make sure to choose a high density water resistant tile on your bath or shower.
Step 4 -Choose your backerboard. Select material to adhere the wall material and in the situation of tile finish the face in the wall- What you don’t see inside a bathtub or shower wall panel project can be as significant 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 good condition install over them by adhering the acrylic with butyl tape and color match sealant. This will reduce landfill costs, slow up the project installation time and lower your expenses. If the existing wall is not installed over offered moisture resistant green board or even a cement backer board. Swanstone – Like acrylic if your tile is good structural shape install within the existing. If not, Swanstone could be installed over greenboard or even a cement board using special glue.
Tile – Poorly done tile installations have caused plenty of wasted money historically (cheap backer board may have been used, poor grouting jobs, poor be employed in the corners are simply a few in the problems). For tile installations never use green board – use whether water resistant cement board or even a waterproof extruded polystyrene board prefer that created from Wedi Corporation. These boards should be glued and screwed for your framing. In addition to while using right backer board consider investing inside a urethane grout. This type of grout will not have to be resealed and is waterproof. Although it costs more at the start it’ll lower your expenses later on within the have to regrout, or worse yet the have to redo the shower for those who have any water damage.
Step 5 – Fix what’s behind the wall – The best time to solve an inadequate performing shower valve, a shower head that’s too low, or to add backer material to strengthen investing in your accessories occurs when you have got the wall opened.
Step 6 – Identify the bathtub tub and shower accessories you want to add function and magnificence for your project – Have you always wanted a leg ledge for shaving, a corner seat, a curved shower rod to maintain water in, a hand held shower, a corner caddy, a frameless shower door, shampoo or soap niche or even a grab bar? When you’re installing new wall surrounds is the ideal time to accessorize your bath or shower making it meet your needs 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 tons of choices and installation details that have to be done efficiently to make sure a successful project. Calling an experienced could possibly be costlier within the short run but save long term costs. Make sure to go with a contractor it doesn’t try to push you in the wedding party shower or bath wall surround system you can choose from (like a company selling acrylic systems pushes that one solution you). Look for a company skilled and competent in multiple systems that may seek to understand your preferences, budgets and tastes and supply different choices.
Know you’re designed with 7 steps that can serve as a good outline to plan your acrylic, Swanstone or tile bathtub or shower wall surround installation.