bathtub surround or tiles

julia25_2007

16 years ago

We can't decide on what to put around the new bathtub when we do our renovations.

We are leaning towards a surround, but want to hear your experience.

Is there any downside to putting in a surround? Are they durable? Have people had problems with them breaking or cracking?

I'm sure they are less work than putting up tiles, but I would want it to be long lasting.

Your thoughts please.

Comments (6)

weedyacres
16 years ago
I think it's mostly a question of aesthetics and personal choice. Surrounds are cheaper, easier to install, water-tight and very durable, but don't generally elicit a "wow" when people see them. If the wow factor is important, or you want to do something more high-end, then tile's the way to go.
judys_ont
16 years ago
thanks weedyacres,

We are having a contractor come tomorrow for an estimate on doing the reno.
Good to know you feel surrounds are durable and water-tight. Now, I am wondering what would happen if we needed to get at the plumbing somewhere down the road.
Which would be easier to remove-surround or tile?
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My first step would be to recommend you go to the manufacturer's website and get the specific framing/attachment instructions for your tub. Your tub might need a horizontal 2x4 ledger just under the 60" flange for support, and the flange itself may or may not be screwed into the wall studs. That will dictate how close the flange needs or does not need to be to the framing. As to the flange detail, you'll first cover the studs with a barrier, usually 6-mil polyethylene sheeting. Staple this to the studs and let it lap over the flange of the tub. You'll want the face of the durock to at least be flush to the face of the flange. Having the cement board slightly proud of the face of the flange is okay, too. If the cement board will not satisfy this as things are now, then use thin 1/2" furring strips nailed off on the faces of each stud to bring the framing closer to the flange. If furring, your poly would go over the furring strips. The cement board can be held just above the tub's flange. That way your bottom course of tile will cover the flange and stop about a grout width off of the tub. That tile/tub gap will later be caulked. Ignore the reference to "kerdi" in the following drawings. The two following sketches show tub sidewall details both with and without furring strips. In your case, you'd want the poly between the cement board and the framing.
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Thanks, all. I really appreciate hearing so many outside opinions. This is our forever home, which is why I'm struggling so much with this decision. We're going room by room, slowly over time, and making this house our home. So my thought is we might as well make it exactly how we want it this first time around because we won't be touching it again for probably 15 years. But I don't want to damage the tub either or drive my husband crazy, so I'm still at a standstill with the decision...and thus the project. I walk in there like twice a day and just stare and think, stare and think. It should NOT be this hard! monicakm - here's a link to the tile. http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&fromStore=true&partNumber=399387-34692-G8CC15
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abmarble
16 years ago
what type of surround are you talking about?
If you go with a ceramic tile tub surround
later down the road if you ever remod again the tile will
be a hard job to remove, (if installed correctly)
If you go with a cultured marble (man made marble)
surround it won't be as hard, but I always recommend
cultured marble on the walls. less maintenance
cleaner looking, and will out last a tile surround.
bill_vincent
16 years ago
Or, you could always install an access panel on the OTHER side of the wall. Then all you have to do is open a door.
judys_ont
16 years ago
The tub surround would be made of plastic and come in panels that overlap to fit your particular area. If they are held together by a caulking, then I would assume it wouldn't be so hard to remove one surround panel. I think they have a nice clean look to them.
I have never used this product before so I am looking to benefit from someone who has.

Tiles would definately look good too. Still trying to decide which way to go.

Good idea, bill vincent. We do have a closet on the other side of the wall for an access door.
jakkom
16 years ago
We did cultured granite (like CM, just more particulate matter in the resin) for our surrounds. We are not tile people, despite the absolutely GORGEOUS work done by Bill V, of whom we are in continual awe.

Out here most people use bathtubs for showering, so a solid surround wins out over tile in resale unless it's a retro tile fan (of which there are many, actually).

Our previous surround was acrylic and I hated it. Did not know at the time that acrylic and fiberglass are EXTREMELY sensitive to using the wrong cleaners on them. I used the wrong one and the finish went to heck. From then on it looked dirty all the time.

Both are brittle but acrylic extremely so. Without proper support it cracks easily. Our surround cracked one day from light pressure, going quickly from bad to worse. The day the contractor ripped it out was music to our ears, even at a cost of $$$$!

Now if they could only fix the problem of having to remove/replace the silicon caulk every seven years....Bill V., any technological progress on that horizon?

bathtub surround or tiles

Comments (6)

weedyacres

judys_ont

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