Tile or acrylic shower floor?
bob Smith
3 years ago
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Tile above fiberglass/acrylic shower surround -pictures please!
Comments (3)Thanks! I'm just trying to see how it would look if we did it - I've never seen it installed. If I don't like the way it looks, we'll end up ripping it all out....See Moretile experts: acrylic/fiberglass and mud tile floor????
Comments (4)I don't have a clear picture of his intent, but I'll toss this out: As a tile backer and/or shower surround, a mud job is king. It allows the walls to be floated perfectly plumb and square, and with mesh properly embedded in and wrapped around the mud wall corners, you can actually grout your shower's inside corners instead of caulking them. It's rock solid construction. Now moving on, he mentioned "acrylic or fiberglass" for the shower floor and or portions of the walls. I translate this as a manufactured acrylic shower pan and an acrylic shower surround unit. Installing an acrylic surround over a mud job doesn't quite make sense to me. Or were those offered as two different choices? In an ideal world, I'd use the floated mud walls as the base structure. Kerdi over that would give you topical waterproofing. Tile/glass over that and you have an installation that will last for generations. An acrylic or fiberglass surround, it really depends on the quality of the unit. Lesser quality units, especially flimsy bases, can flex and crack around the drain, sometimes in a matter of years. Better quality ones can perform well for years. As to a waste of money, I don't think a mud job is a waste of money unless it's to be covered by an acrylic surround. I don't think Kerdi is a waste of money unless it's to be covered with an acrylic surround. A cheap acrylic surround can be a waste of money, a failure in the unit can cause unseen water damage, if it's flimsy and the base flexes underfoot it can give an uneasy feeling when standing in the unit. A good quality acrylic surround can give excellent value for the dollar and perform very well. But it can be installed over drywall. All totally my opinion. Could he have been describing an acrylic or fiberglass waterproofing over the mud job? I think I'm not fully understanding his intentions....See MoreShower: Acrylic finish vs Porcelain tile
Comments (1)It really comes down to aesthetics. If upkeep is a major overriding factor to looks, then go with the acrylic because if you can get an acrylic, one-piece unit into the space, it will be easier to clean than the tile. There is nothing porous about it. Years ago, I put an single piece Aquaglass unit into a rental apartment, and my tenant loves it--no grout, no caulk in the wet area. But I'm wondering if you can get a one-piece unit in the configuration you describe. You mention a half wall on one side? When I remodeled my own master bath, I installed ceramic tile with glass accents on the walls because it is prettier than acrylic and will definitely make a difference when it comes to resale in this area. As a concession to maintenance, I chose to go with an acrylic base that matches the garden tub next to the shower. In either case, to make cleaning easier, make sure to include a hand shower among the fixtures or as the showerhead if you are only installing one....See MoreAcrylic or Swanstone Shower Pan? Maybe Tile?
Comments (10)I just had a new shower installed...tiled walls and floor. It is important to use small tiles for the floor so that the pitch will allow proper drainage. You don't want to use anything bigger than 2"x2" tiles. I used 1"x1" tiles. Also, my tile guy used the "Schluter System" to install the floor and drain, which is a very water-tight method of doing a tile floor. The underlayment is key to a tiled shower floor. That is what seals out water & prevents leaks...not the tile itself. The Schluter System is a substitute for the tradtional mud pan, which can grow mold & acquire other issues over time. You can google it and find a demo on their website. There are die-hard, old-school mud pan tile installers who will refuse to go in this direction, but this Schluter method is becoming increasingly more popular, especially among younger tile installers who are open to new ideas. It's much faster to install, so tile guys like that, but for the homeowner it has outstanding waterproofing capabilites, so everyone wins. I will say, if you want to go this route, it is important to find an installer with some experience installing the system. As with anything, there is a learning curve at first, so you need a person who has installed a number of them. Good luck with your decision! Wish I could send you my tile guy...he's wonderful!...See Morebob Smith
3 years ago
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