Alternative Shower Materials

last year

I want to replace my 16 year old tile shower with something requiring less maintenance. This is a custom shower so the materials used would have to be customized (72x40).
The choices are somewhat limited. There is acrylic installed by professionals with companies such as West Shore Homes or Bath Fitters. There is a product called Onyx that can be installed by homeowners but I think we would use someone with experience using this material. And, there is Wetwall made by Wilson Art which is also a DIY.
Does anyone have experience with any of these products?
Would you provide some advice, please?
Thank you

Featured Answer

Nancy in Mich

last year

The advantage of a solid surface like Hi-Macs, Corian, Swanstone, Transolid, and maybe others is that they require no real upkeep, last a lifetime, cannot mold or mildew, and because the color goes all the way through the material, it can be repaired. Solid Surface has no outer surface treatment. The Onyx Collection will say they are solid surface, but they have a gloss finish on the top of the glossy choices. They now have matte finish, but I don’t know if that type is solid surface or not. The Kohler walls (I forget what they changed the name to, it used to be Choreograph) are not the same material all the way through, but have surface color only. If it scratches or chips, you see it. With Solid Surface, a stain that won’t wash off can be sanded off with a 3M scrubby. I have had my Transolid shower for 3.5 years and I never have washed the walls. I do need to scrub the floor about once a month because it is grooved for traction and the grooves stay wet a bit longer so that organisms can grow there. But a spray of scrubbing bubbles and a scrub brush on a mop handle takes care of it in a few minutes. I need to wash the one line of caulk around the perimeter of the shower to keep it mildew free at the same time. Solid Surface costs a bit more than big-box surrounds, but the same or less than getting a properly waterproofed tile shower. If you plan to be in the house more than 10 years, it might be worth getting.

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Comments (19)

G
last year
Have you researched the solid surface material, Corian? They can make a completely seamless, groutless shower.
Becky Campbell
Original Author
last year
I will research- thanks
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Tundra Finish Works, thanks for the reply. Yes, exactly my concern - tying the pan to the room floor! One thin line of silicon sealer is all that is between me and disaster? I will have the room floor fully waterproofed and the room walls are going to be tiled to about 45" and waterproofed to some reasonable height (have not discussed it yet with Jim, the contractor). He knows that he is pitching the room floor toward the shower and has instructed me to chose a room tile no larger than 3-4" for that reason. One of the reasons I chose Transolid is this video:Transolid shower pan demo He says that they solved the problem of the transition between the floor and the pan, though he does not explain how they solved it. Now that pan is not exactly the same as the one they are selling to me, as it does not have the covered drains or the faux tile look. The video is from 2010, and I imagine they have made changes to the pans in that time. Not to mention that this was a "facilities" show and not aimed at the homeowner. But their design is otherwise similar, with their half-inch "low static barrier redirecting the water to the center drain." They do not talk about the transition to the floor in their Spec Sheet. I am using their Remodel wall system. This Spec Sheet is for the 60 x 36 size shower. For some reason, they do not have the ADA shower size Remodel walls in their web offerings, though they do sell them. I am buying a couple extra pieces of their wall material to do the ceiling, too. I spray upward and hit the ceiling sometimes. Plus the one shower I had where we did the ceiling with the same wallboard as the walls lasted FOREVER when it should never have worked at all, since the material was not approved for use in the shower (I was young and stupid and had run out of money). Shower Wall Specs Creative Tile Eastern CT, thank you so much for the Trending Accessibility link. I have started to look at this. I see the part about their wall system being made with plywood so that things can be added later. Smart. I am putting in all the bells and whistles and bars to begin with. We are tearing out and rebuilding the walls in different places, so blocking will be put in place for everything when the walls are built. I have an "L" Jaclo grab bar for one end, a hand-held shower head vertical bar that is also a grab bar, toward the opposite end, a corner shelf (HealthCraft Invisia) that is also a grab bar and a grab bar to use vertically at the entrance. I will use a free-standing stool because I already have it and it is more flexible. I do want to look at the Trending Accessibility shower pans more closely. I see that their wall systems are assembled in the same way as the Transolid. Off I go to explore their site and learn more!
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Moore4
last year
Corian is not the only solid surface material, only one brand name of the many. And, this is an EXCELLENT option for a shower. 10 years+ after installation of mine (LG Hi-Macs), it still looks brand new.
Becky Campbell
Original Author
last year
Did you install it yourself or hire someone?
Svetlana J
last year
I used to have a solid surface shower (product was 22 years old when I purchased the home). It still looked perfect and required no maintenance. I think I sprayed it a few times with a cleaner and went over with a brush just in case, but it didn’t really need anything.
Moore4
last year
We used the same material for our vanity countertops, the contractor installed everything.
Becky Campbell
Original Author
last year
Nancy, thank you for this information. I looked at Onyx yesterday. I’ll research Transolid now and see if we have a source in our area. We plan to stay in this house- we built it to be the last one.
Verbo
last year
Your solid surface choices will be double the cost of a standard high skilled labor tiled shower. Read the recent thread about the 22K Corian shower that isn’t turning out like envisioned. And that price didn’t even include plumbing or glass.

Tile can be low maintenance. If you make the appropriate tile choices, and hire the right skilled craftsman to build it.
Becky Campbell
Original Author
last year
I’m looking for that thread- thanks. I don’t need a nightmare experience!
Nancy in Mich
last year
Remember the labor costs of tile, and all the steps. Solid Surface can go up in a day or two. No waterproofing painted under it, no grout after the tile is in. If you can scribe for drywall, you can scribe for solid surface. Transolid used a lot more trim pieces in my handicapped shower than most companies use, so those went up and were braced in place after the walls had been finished. I know that with Swanstone, some installations use a butt joint for corners and have no trim at all. It comes up to 96” in length, too.
Becky Campbell
Original Author
last year
Having the shower go up in one day is definitely a plus- I don’t think I have the patience for several days of installation. We will hire professionals for this job, not DIY.
smit2380
last year
We had our hall bath redone with Onyx a few years ago. Solid surface showers are hard to get where I am located. Onyx has a clear coat which i like slightly less than solid surface. However, i liked onyx better than cultured marble or acrylic. We have liked it and it is easy to maintain. My daughter likes it so well that she is planning to use the exact same thing in her bath. We also looked at Tyvarian, but it was too bold for a hall bath.
Becky Campbell
Original Author
last year
I am really leaning toward Onyx.I looked at it yesterday and really like it better than the acrylic I had previously looked at. I have never liked the tile in my shower and hate trying to keep it clean. The acrylic has great properties such as easy to maintain but I still find the look of acrylic a little institutional. The Onyx has a warmer feel and look.
So glad to hear that you are still pleased with the onyx.
Thank you.
Glenna Rhodes
last year
last modified: last year
I have a Kohler Luxstone walk in shower - I love it! The 2 head shower sprayer, the semi-frameless clear glass doors, the shower niche for shampoos and walls to the ceiling. easy to squeegee the walls and glass. But it cost a pretty penny. May not be true solid surface (i.e. same color all the way through) but I am the only one using it and I don't beat it up! I ended up with Kohler because finding someone knowledgeable about installing a solid surface seemed impossible even tho I live in a rather large metro area. Kohler crew was in and out in a day and a half.

Back in the day I used Corian and it was so easy to clean and no grout fails but very plain. This was in the 80's before they were too expensive. I'm considering redoing my 2nd bath and again I'm on the hunt for a solid surface that won't break the bank AND offers a faux Subway white tile look. Looking at Oynx (found an installer for that product). Considering Swanstone and Transolid but haven't found an installer familiar with either product. Or maybe I will do everything (vanity, flooring, mirror, toilet) EXCEPT a new shower and just hang a new curtain over my one piece fiberglass surround. I don't love it but there is not a thing wrong with it, other than the cream color (I would like white!)
Becky Campbell
Original Author
last year
Your shower is beautiful. I have someone coming on Friday to give me a quote on using the Onyx. Acrylic seems to be material many are using but I really like the look of the solid surface and the Onyx. I really am not worried about scratches or dents, only adults here!
Thanks for input!
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
Another option is a large format tile or porcelain like Dekton
maggieq
last month
@Nancy in Mich. Recently found Transolid SaraMar at Lowes. Is this the same as your Transolid directly from the company? Thanks.
Nancy in Mich
last month
Maggieq, it appears to be. It says that it is a solid surface material that is repairable. Color goes throughout.

Alternative Shower Materials

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