Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - Tile Shower/Fiberglass?
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olson2334
03-16-05, 11:30 AM
Hello,
My wife and I are finishing our basement and are in the process of exploring options for our bathroom. We are currently looking at showers with either a single or double seat in them and are torn.
We like the look of tiling a shower a lot but have heard that they are a maintenance nightmare and have the potential to leak more so than a Fiberglass shower for example. Is this a difficult DIY project for a person with average handyman skills? If so, are there good instructions some place on how to do this?
Our second thought was to get a 4 piece shower and install it, however we don't like the look as much as the tile but like the idea of lower possible maintenance. A 1 piece will not fit through our front door so this option is out.
Which would you recommend?
We would also like to have the option of being able to place a steamshower in the unit we choose is this possible with either option? Thanks for the help and recommendations.
My wife and I are finishing our basement and are in the process of exploring options for our bathroom. We are currently looking at showers with either a single or double seat in them and are torn.
We like the look of tiling a shower a lot but have heard that they are a maintenance nightmare and have the potential to leak more so than a Fiberglass shower for example. Is this a difficult DIY project for a person with average handyman skills? If so, are there good instructions some place on how to do this?
Our second thought was to get a 4 piece shower and install it, however we don't like the look as much as the tile but like the idea of lower possible maintenance. A 1 piece will not fit through our front door so this option is out.
Which would you recommend?
We would also like to have the option of being able to place a steamshower in the unit we choose is this possible with either option? Thanks for the help and recommendations.
Tileguybob
03-16-05, 06:21 PM
There are pro tile setters who frequent this site and can give you info and instructions on building a tiled shower if you want to investigate that route.
The biggest complaints about the fiberglass surrounds are that they can get dull or scratched easily and the seams where they fit together can get moldy over time. If you can get the right info on the correct cleaning and maintenance supplies for the surround, I suppose you would be ok in choosing that route also.
Dont know about steam in a fiberglass surround, never heard of it so I just dont know. Absolutely doable with tile, just need exta prep work on the walls to keep the steam from working behind the tile and into the wall cavity. If the walls are built right and you use the right materials you will have a long lasting shower.
The biggest complaints about the fiberglass surrounds are that they can get dull or scratched easily and the seams where they fit together can get moldy over time. If you can get the right info on the correct cleaning and maintenance supplies for the surround, I suppose you would be ok in choosing that route also.
Dont know about steam in a fiberglass surround, never heard of it so I just dont know. Absolutely doable with tile, just need exta prep work on the walls to keep the steam from working behind the tile and into the wall cavity. If the walls are built right and you use the right materials you will have a long lasting shower.
Doug Aleshire
03-16-05, 06:56 PM
olson2334,
I agree with Tileguybob that tile would be the way to go and you must make provisions within the shower to have a sloped ceiling (THIS IS A MUST), a door that is installed properly and a good exhaust fan. There are conversion kits available for a shower to make them also function as a steam shower. Here is one link that can provide good information for you.
Bear in mind that there are different types of steam generators but this one relies on the hot water heater. Lower cost but still functions well. It is considered a retrofit. Others are electrically powered.
http://www.jsdynatech.com/eutopa_steam_shower.htm
http://www.jsdynatech.com/Consumer/eutopa_installation.htm
As fas as a do-it-yourself project, I would say yes but I have reservations. Any errors with this could be costly.
As far as those units that scratch easliy, that is in part true but again, it is an issue of how to care for them and knowing what to do to keep it looking good.
Read this,
There are three primary types of tub and shower units – less cast or steel:
1. Gel-coated fiberglass
2. Acrylic reinforced with fiberglass
3. Acrylic backed with a structural composite.
Now side by side, these products look very similar, however there are important differences.
The gel-coat products, when constructed with high quality ingredients, can be very hard and durable. The manufacturing process is critical, as the liquid gel-coat must be applied evenly on the molds at the correct temperature. Gel-coated products if damaged or scratched can be repaired with great success. Repairs performed correctly are permanent and virtually invisible.
Acrylic units are usually constructed using large sheets of solid colored acrylic plastic. These sheets are heated so that they soften. The softened sheets are then stretched over a mold to achieve the desired shape of the shower or tub unit. This stretching process, however, sometimes causes the acrylic to be very thin as it stretches around corners. Those units with the highest percent of acrylic tend to offer higher performance levels. Repairs to these units are not always successful.
Many homeowners in the past were dissatisfied with the fact that the floors of these units flexed like oil cans. Some of the acrylic units backed with composites have addressed this problem. The other units often need to be set in wet plaster (5 gal pail of pre-mixed joint compound) or mortar to provide a solid base. This may be required or recommended in the installation instructions.
The care of either cast iron units or the alternatives is important. Never use cleansers that contain abrasives, as these can scratch both cast iron and plastic fixtures. If you simply make a practice of cleaning the tub or shower area every two weeks, you will avoid the heavy soap buildup that often necessitates heavy scrubbing. Virtually every manufacturer has a recommended cleaner that they strongly suggest you use. Follow these instructions and you will have a beautiful tub and shower area for many years.
Finally, if you do select one of the acrylic or fiberglass, you can keep it looking new by applying once a month, car wax. It just takes a few minutes and you use spray on car wax applied to the surface to the wall surfaces only. Never apply wax to the floor of the unit. Buff this wax out and it will be as shiny as new!
I personally like Lasco...
http://www.lascobath.com/browse.pl?line=2&from=12&backto=tubs.shtml&series=11
The acrylics have a 5 year warranty. Gelcoats have a 3 year.
Kohler is another great product and I would go with ...
http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/product_reselect.jsp?QS_0=Acrylic&QS_1=Multi-piece&QS_2=All&QS_3=All&cat_count=4&frm=1&module=Bath%2FShower+Modules
Hope this helps!
I agree with Tileguybob that tile would be the way to go and you must make provisions within the shower to have a sloped ceiling (THIS IS A MUST), a door that is installed properly and a good exhaust fan. There are conversion kits available for a shower to make them also function as a steam shower. Here is one link that can provide good information for you.
Bear in mind that there are different types of steam generators but this one relies on the hot water heater. Lower cost but still functions well. It is considered a retrofit. Others are electrically powered.
http://www.jsdynatech.com/eutopa_steam_shower.htm
http://www.jsdynatech.com/Consumer/eutopa_installation.htm
As fas as a do-it-yourself project, I would say yes but I have reservations. Any errors with this could be costly.
As far as those units that scratch easliy, that is in part true but again, it is an issue of how to care for them and knowing what to do to keep it looking good.
Read this,
There are three primary types of tub and shower units – less cast or steel:
1. Gel-coated fiberglass
2. Acrylic reinforced with fiberglass
3. Acrylic backed with a structural composite.
Now side by side, these products look very similar, however there are important differences.
The gel-coat products, when constructed with high quality ingredients, can be very hard and durable. The manufacturing process is critical, as the liquid gel-coat must be applied evenly on the molds at the correct temperature. Gel-coated products if damaged or scratched can be repaired with great success. Repairs performed correctly are permanent and virtually invisible.
Acrylic units are usually constructed using large sheets of solid colored acrylic plastic. These sheets are heated so that they soften. The softened sheets are then stretched over a mold to achieve the desired shape of the shower or tub unit. This stretching process, however, sometimes causes the acrylic to be very thin as it stretches around corners. Those units with the highest percent of acrylic tend to offer higher performance levels. Repairs to these units are not always successful.
Many homeowners in the past were dissatisfied with the fact that the floors of these units flexed like oil cans. Some of the acrylic units backed with composites have addressed this problem. The other units often need to be set in wet plaster (5 gal pail of pre-mixed joint compound) or mortar to provide a solid base. This may be required or recommended in the installation instructions.
The care of either cast iron units or the alternatives is important. Never use cleansers that contain abrasives, as these can scratch both cast iron and plastic fixtures. If you simply make a practice of cleaning the tub or shower area every two weeks, you will avoid the heavy soap buildup that often necessitates heavy scrubbing. Virtually every manufacturer has a recommended cleaner that they strongly suggest you use. Follow these instructions and you will have a beautiful tub and shower area for many years.
Finally, if you do select one of the acrylic or fiberglass, you can keep it looking new by applying once a month, car wax. It just takes a few minutes and you use spray on car wax applied to the surface to the wall surfaces only. Never apply wax to the floor of the unit. Buff this wax out and it will be as shiny as new!
I personally like Lasco...
http://www.lascobath.com/browse.pl?line=2&from=12&backto=tubs.shtml&series=11
The acrylics have a 5 year warranty. Gelcoats have a 3 year.
Kohler is another great product and I would go with ...
http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/product_reselect.jsp?QS_0=Acrylic&QS_1=Multi-piece&QS_2=All&QS_3=All&cat_count=4&frm=1&module=Bath%2FShower+Modules
Hope this helps!
olson2334
03-17-05, 07:00 AM
Thanks for the replies.
Can you tell me if there are any good guides online or books on how to do this yourself if I were to look at making the attempt as well as, what tiles to use, sloping ceiling pointer (Thanks for mentioning that Doug I would not have thought of it), etc.? Thanks again for the help.
Can you tell me if there are any good guides online or books on how to do this yourself if I were to look at making the attempt as well as, what tiles to use, sloping ceiling pointer (Thanks for mentioning that Doug I would not have thought of it), etc.? Thanks again for the help.