Whether you are embarking on a complete bathroom remodel, or just updating or converting your tub or shower, the materials you choose for walls and surrounds can change the look and feel of your space.
Beyond selecting a color and pattern, it’s important to consider cost and maintenance. Certain products are built to last longer than others, and are easier to clean and maintain. Here is an overview of the best types of shower walls and surrounds to match your vision and design budget.
Acrylic Shower Surround Panels
Acrylic is one of the most widely-used materials for shower surround panels because of its durability. Resistant to cracks, chips, scratches, and stains, it is easy to clean and stands up to wear and tear. It also retains a subtle gloss throughout its lifetime.
Although white is a classic option, acrylic is available in many other colors and can even be painted to blend in seamlessly with the look and color palette of your bathroom. Acrylic shower walls are factory-made and arrive ready to install in your home. That saves time, money, and mess compared to other materials. In as little as a day, you can update or convert your bath or shower!
Single-Sheet Acrylic DuraBath™ Outperforms Other Acrylic Products
Single-sheet acrylic is one of the most convenient and attractive options for shower and bathtub walls and surrounds. This product arrives as a one-piece unit, and don’t require grout. That means less chance of leaks, easier maintenance, and good resistance against mold and mildew.
DuraBath™ Acrylic wall surrounds are custom-manufactured for your individual bath or shower. Our innovative acrylic material is both non-porous and waterproof. It’s also backed by a lifetime warranty—so you never have to worry about repairs as long as you own the product.
You can customize the look of shower walls by choosing from 14-color options that reflect the look of granite, marble, travertine—without all the maintenance these materials require. Re‑Bath also offers acrylic shower walls in 15 modern subway tile designs including subway and hexagon patterns that will never go out of style.
Fiberglass Shower Enclosures
Most newer tubs and showers are made out of acrylic or fiberglass. And the two materials are similar in many wats. However, fiberglass shower walls and surrounds are not quite as durable as acrylic.
Fiberglass doesn’t hold up as long as acrylic, and it is more prone to chipping, cracking, and scratching. While it is easy to keep clean, over time, fiberglass can absorb water and stains, and grow mold and mildew.
Fiberglass can be less expensive than acrylic shower enclosures, but if you consider that acrylic typically holds up better for longer, you can save money with acrylic by not having to replace it as quickly as fiberglass.
Glass Shower Walls
Glass tile shower walls provide an elegant, custom look for your bathroom. Unlike ceramic and porcelain tiles which can have variations and irregularities in shape, size, and color, glass tiles provide a more consistent, sleek, and modern appearance.
As you might imagine, glass is very easy to clean. All you need it a window clean and microfiber cloth. This makes glass ideal for a damp, high-traffic area like a bathroom. As for the cons of glass tiles for shower surrounds, they require more time and care to install. A professional tile installer is generally recommended.
Glass tiles also cost more than acrylic and fiberglass shower walls. If you like the look of glass tile but it’s a bit over your budget, consider using fewer tiles as an accent or focal point somewhere in the bathroom, rather than covering a large surface like a shower surround.
Natural Stone
Because of its elegant and luxurious look, natural stone is possibly the most coveted option for shower walls. Marble, granite, and travertine come in countless different colors and styles, and no two pieces are alike.
However, natural stone is a bit less practical than glass, ceramic, acrylic, and porcelain. It is more brittle and prone to chipping and flaking. Also, because it’s porous, it’s not ideal for bathtub and shower surrounds. Proper sealing can help mitigate that issue.
If you use natural stone be prepared to spend more on materials and installation than the other options we’ve mentioned. It takes time to source, transport, polish, and cut these raw materials, often from oversees locations. This will be reflected in the price.
Yet because of its beauty and quality, you can expect a good return on your investment in a bathroom remodel if you use natural stone. That high resale value is a major advantage of natural stone for home design projects.
DuraBath™ Natural Stone Offers a Custom Look at a Fraction of the Cost of Other Products
If you want the look and feel of natural stone without the care and cost, a Re‑Bath DuraBath™ Natural Stone Wall Surrounds is the perfect solution.
Harvested from 3,000-year-old quarries across the globe, our stone shower walls and surrounds are cut and reinforced at the same time. This allows us to create large shower wall panels for a seamless appearance. Beautiful and low-maintenance, there is a color and style of DuraBath™ stone to match every bathroom remodel style and budget.
Now that you know more about different types of shower walls, are you ready to refresh your bathroom? Schedule a free design consultation today.
Call to Book Your Free Design Consultation Speak with our team and book your free, in-home design consultation with Re‑Bath today. Begin the effortless path to your dream bathroom.