bathroom remodeling from re-bath servicing bay area
Should you build a custom ceramic tile shower or install a premade shower stall for a new bathroom?
The shower stall units are usually made in a factory and shipped to your home in one or several pieces.They can be installed by a professional crew.Most shower kits include a shower pan and two or three solid wall panels, although some are one-piece shells, in which the shower base or bathtub is integrated with the walls.Whether or not you can get a one-piece unit through the doors of your home is one of the factors to consider when choosing between a single piece or multi piece unit.Multi-piece units are popular for this reason.The shower pan or tub, molded wall panels with shelves and soap dishes, and even the shower door are included in the multi-piece kits.Big box home improvement centers may sell simpler shower stall kits in the store, but better-quality products will require special ordering based on the precise dimensions of your shower alcove space.
If your bathtub is in good shape and doesn't require replacement, a wall kit is an excellent option.A wall kit does not include the bathtub or shower pan.You cover the walls above the tub with panels to complete the shower enclosure.If you have removed wall surfaces, or if they are in good shape, the panels can be applied over bare studs.
The wall panels on shower kits are more expensive than they used to be.For a faux-tile look, the panels can be molded.The look of marble or granite can be mimicked by higher-end wall panels made with solid surface materials.
There are custom-built ceramic tile showers.They were built from scratch by carpenters and tilers.The alcove is walled in with cement board panels such as Wonderboard or Durock.The tilers finish the tile work.The shower door must be installed by a carpenter.The cost of a custom-tile shower is more expensive than a luxury-end shower.Few shower units can approach a custom-tile in this way.
A hybrid option is installing a shower pan and finishing the walls with custom tiling.Installation of tile shower pans is difficult if you start with a factory shower pan and tile the walls.
Pre-fabricated stalls come in a variety of colors and shapes, giving tiled shower units a run for their money.Many units can be installed by a do-it-yourselfremodeler.
A new shower can be installed in a single day.In the hands of a skilled pro, custom-tile showers can take a week or more.
Pre-made showers are usually cheaper than tiled stalls, and often by hundreds of dollars.
Prefabricated showers are easier to maintain than ceramic tile showers.
Most kits have only minimal seams in the corners and along the top of the shower pan or tub.There are no seams in one-piece units.It's easier to clean and less likely to leak from fewer seams.
If there is a small amount of flex to the subfloor, the shower pans will not crack.The base of the shower pans is usually embedded in a thin layer of mortar for stability.
Prefabricated showers are lighter than custom tile showers because they are plastic of one form or another.A prefabricated shower is a better choice in a home with structural floor issues.
Economy kits are only available in stock sizes.The upper-end kits may be custom-ordered to precise dimensions.
It is difficult to make repairs after a crack appears in a shower because cracked ceramic tiles are easy to replace.Spot repairs can be made with fiberglass repair kits.Full relining is the only other option.
Pre-made "plastic" showers are seen as low-end building materials and may slightly diminish the real estate value of your home when compared to custom tile work.
The plastic used in the showers is not easy to recycle and will not break down if it reaches a landfill.
One-piece units can't pass through doorways because of the awkward size.One-piece units are usually put in place before doorways are finished.
A tiled shower allows for more creativity since there are thousands of different colors, patterns, and sizes available in ceramic and porcelain tiles.
Since these showers are built from scratch, there is an infinite range of design options.
Ceramic tile is "green" since it is made with natural clay, not plastic.40 to 60 percent recycled content is what makes eco-friendly tile.It costs roughly the same for recycled tile as it does for "from scratch" tile.
Ceramic tile is a premium building material that will slightly increase the resale value of your home when compared to synthetic shower materials.A custom tile shower with ceramic tile bathroom floors and stone countertops will be a selling advantage.