There are many materials available for shower wall surrounds, but two of the most popular include ceramic tile and acrylic wall panels. Each material offers its own merits, but the choice must still be made when renovating your shower.
Let's find out which is better for you when it comes to shower wall panels versus individual tiles.
The Installation Process
Installing a shower wall panel system is a much faster process compared to the tedious practice of placing individual wall tiles in the shower.
Most bathroom remodeling companies order wall surrounds to size. So, they slide into place easily without many adjustments. In fact, Luxury Bath can provide both a new shower and wall surround as part of a one-day bathroom remodel thanks to how easy it is to install.
Cleaning Shower Wall Panels & Tiles
Tile shower enclosures are notorious for needing extra elbow grease to keep mildew and mold stains at bay. This is partly because mildew quickly penetrates the porous grout between tiles to start growing after every shower. However, a shower wall surround is a solid acrylic surface with no cracks, grout, or silicone, so there's no place for mildew to settle in.
Shower panels can also be designed with faux mildew-resistant grout lines. You'll get the appearance of a tile shower without the effort.
Scaling Materials to Shower Size
Tile and shower wall panels can be scaled to suit any size bathroom enclosure. If you happen to miscalculate when deciding how much of a material to use on the wall, tile can be very forgiving. Common tile patterns and designs are also available at most hardware stores, allowing contractors to run out for more tile if needed.
A shower wall panel can also be scaled to your shower, but the contractor must make sure that the measurements sent to the manufacturer are exact. It's not as simple to "add more panels" to an acrylic wall surround, as it is to expand a tile surround.
Keep in mind shower wall surround can be measured to exactly fit the enclosure for a very clean edge to the wall. The edge tiles in a shower enclosure may need to be cut to fit. If these cut tiles aren't consistent, it can impact the beauty of the shower enclosure.
Are Accessories Available with Both?
Yes, you can add bath wall accessories to both tiled and acrylic wall surrounds. If you are worried about being able to accessorize a shower wall panel system, don't be. Shower wall surrounds are available with just as many accessory options as a tiled shower. You'll find:
- Shower Seats
- Soap Dishes
- Niche Shelving
- Shelving
- Corner Caddies
- Handheld Shower Heads
- Grab Bars
Homeowners can also mix and match tile and acrylic shower enclosures with plastic, or metal shower bases. So, you don't have to keep all the same materials in your shower.
Learn More About a Free Quote for Our Shower Wall Surrounds
Are you thinking about having Luxury Bath install a new shower wall surround for your home? Our BBB-accredited and A+ rated bathroom remodeling company can have a skilled shower remodeler provide a free in-home estimate for you. If you like our quote, we'll start the installation process with measurements, and we'll help you place an order for exactly the shower wall surround style and patterns you want for your bathroom.
Luxury Bath experts also install shower enclosures and bathtubs. We can even provide bathroom conversions to your desired enclosure type. Our one-day remodels allow homeowners to get essential work completed without delay.