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If you didn’t get enough shelves, add some with this adhesive shower caddy from SANNO. Shower caddy: SANNO Adhesive Shower Caddy This white caulk from Dap bonds like glue and seals the seams to prevent water leakage. When you’re installing bathtub walls, you’re going to need sealant for the seams. If you have several children using a common bathroom, get as many shelves as possible to prevent squabbles over space.Ĭaulk: Dap Kwik Seal Caulk in 5.5-Ounce Tube The more people who are using the bathroom, the more shelves you’ll probably need. Shelvesīathtub walls often include molded shelves in one or more of the wall pieces, from a low one on the back wall to six large shelves, three in each corner. Shop around carefully to find something that matches your personal taste.
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Ceramic tile patterns are popular, as are marbled styles. AppearanceĪlthough white or off-white is the most popular color for bathtub walls, they come in a wide array of other colors including pebble, bisque, granite gray, Tahiti matrix, and several shades of blue. It’s also available in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Veritek: This is a proprietary plastic from Swanstone that has a gel-coat finish. PVC: Composite materials can be up to 1/2-inch thick and come in a wide variety of finishes, colors, and patterns. It can also be hard to work with because it requires messy black butyl tape and the acrylic itself expands and contracts. As a general rule, there aren’t many color options in fiberglass, but it will do the job.Īcrylic: High-gloss acrylic is thicker than fiberglass but is still only 1/4-inch thick. They each have their advantages and disadvantages.įiberglass: Surrounds made from fiberglass are typically thin (less than 1/4-inch) and cheap. There are several materials that bathtub walls can be made from. To guard against that, make sure you get an accurate measurement of the width and depth of your tub. A surround that is too deep can be cut down, but if it is too small, you’d better hope you can return or exchange it, which isn’t always possible. The width of tubs usually varies from 32 inches to 34 inches. The width is the main dimension to be aware of. If your tub is a bit shorter than 60 inches, most of the surrounds can be cut to the right size. Measure your tub before you buy a tub surround to make sure it fits. Most bathtubs are 60 inches long, and the bathtub walls are constructed to match. Yes, there are seams, but with a little care and a good caulking system, you won’t have to worry about leaks. There is also less of a chance of buckling over time if your house shifts on its foundation. Many of them can even be cut to size for small or unusually sized tubs.
#1 piece tub shower insert install
That alone with double or triple the cost of a plumbing repair.īathtub walls that come in three-piece or five-piece sets are almost as easy to install as one-piece units. The disadvantage is that in case of plumbing problems, the entire unit will have to be removed in order to access the pipes in the wall. Aesthetics is another advantage, as the seamless appearance is smooth and modern. The big advantage, of course, is the lack of seams. They have a molded back wall and two end panels, all in one continuous unit without any seams. One-piece surround sets are fairly self-explanatory. The first thing you need to consider is how many pieces the bathtub wall comes in. Most bathtub walls or surrounds are attached to the drywall in your wall rather than the two-by-fours.
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However, you need to decide whether a one-piece or multi-piece wall is best for you and what style suits your décor. Today’s materials make installing them a breeze. Originally, they were made of ceramic tiles attached to the existing wall and sealed with caulk, and installation was tedious. Finally, many of them today also provide built-in, molded shelves for your bathroom essentials such as shampoo, razors, soap, washcloths, and other items.īathtub walls have changed over the years. Third, they add visual appeal to your bathroom with a wide variety of appearances and color options. Second, they provide a waterproof barrier between the shower and the two-by-fours and other building material in the wall itself.
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First, they conceal the plumbing in the wall and hold the showerhead in place. Along the way, the number, type, and style of bathtub walls for the shower have multiplied as well.īathtub walls do several things. Since the 1950s, however, showers have made their way into nearly every apartment, house, and hotel. It wasn’t long ago that having a shower in the house was considered a luxury reserved only for the wealthy.
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