In one bathroom, the tile is original - 50 years old. The tiles have starting popping out from the wall and the drywall next to the shower is bubbling. In the master with the walk-in, it was a very bad DIY tile job. Grout in the inside corners (now cracked), bottom is not properly pitched causing a significant puddle, 2 of the floor tiles are loose and somewhere water is getting out and under because the wall next to the shower is deteriorating and the grout where the bathroom floor tile meets the wall gets wet (even though the curtain seals out any splashes -- water goes under the shower curb). 3 out of 4 tile showers I've owned in 2 houses have been leaky. I'm also not very good at keeping up with cleaning the grout, especially the floor. So I really wanted to go solid surface this time around.

I got Swanstone walls for my tub/shower combo and I love the material (kit ordered through Lowes with 15% "moving coupon" discount anyone can request). I wanted something that would stay clean and never have icky grout. My color Prairie is speckled and matte a bit like stone and does not look like cheap plastic. See this link for the color Glacier, the white in the Prairie Collection made from recycled materials. From the site's contact link I requested a color sample and they sent it right away. Below is the link to the Swanstone kits page. I ordered mine from Lowes and they can help you pick which one is right if you bring in your measurements. The Swanstone built in tall shower niche I got has the soap dish built in and has worked out great. I also learned in the thread about dispenser units for liquid soap/shampoo/conditioner and now I don't need any bottles in the tub/shower. Swanstone new recycled content colors http://www.theswancorp.com/index.php?page=green_page Here is a link that might be useful: Options for tub/shower wall kits Here is a link that might be useful: Swanstone shower options

I messed up and bought a non-vitreous, unglazed chair rail for use in the shower. The description says it is travertine. My husband is installing it DIY and has installed about 3/4 of it. It runs around the shower perimeter at 61" from the floor. My husband is very handy, but this is his first tile job and it is taking him a long time. Shall I brave peril, ask him to take it down, and try to find something else? Or will I be OK with annual sealing? Do I seal before grouting? If the chair rail's OK, can I use a 2x2 of another non-vitreous tile for the niches (back, sides, top & bottom? It looks like the same stone but the description does not say it's travertine. The niches are on the wall opposite the showerhead, 39" and 65" from the floor. The chair rail at Lowes.com The potential niche tile at Lowes.com Thank you!!

The cultured marble type products are inferior to a “true” solid surface material in one critical way. They cannot be easily renewed or repaired onsite. A solid surface material by definition has the color and pattern of the surface running right through the entire depth of the material. It can have surface scratches or scuffs buffed or sanded out on site using scrubbies or sandpaper. This means that it can have NO surface coating that gives it shine or a finished look. That is why you will see us solid surface lovers constantly telling you that cultured marble, Onyx Collection, cultured granite, and any other product with a gel coat or surface shine coat of any kind is not a solid surface. In addition, there are professionals who can make repairs to the material of solid surface material burns, chips, cracks, and so on that are invisible.