Are You Considering A Solid Surface Shower? Understand The Differences Between Acrylic And Other Solid Surfaces
Are you considering a solid surface shower? Acrylic? Glass? Stone? Which works the best for your home? There are many different water-resistant materials to choose from, but it's easy to get lost among all the information. The truth is, there are some significant differences between the materials, and the pros and cons of each should be taken into consideration before deciding what should go into your bathroom remodel and new shower.
What Solid Surfaces Work Best In Bathrooms?
Solid surface showers are an alternative to tiling a shower or shower stall. These showers are also available in many colors and designs, including granite, marble, limestone, slate, travertine, and even glass. These are some of the premium materials you can use for a solid surface shower design, but acrylic is another budget-friendly option.
Solid surface showers are also made of acrylic—a plastic material. These showers are molded using acrylic resin, mineral fillers, and plasticizers and then finished. Acrylic is harder than tile and comes in many different colors. The acrylic surfaces in bathrooms are typically sealed with a sealer to prevent water damage.
Benefits of Acrylic
Solid surface showers are the modern alternative to traditional tiled showers. They are said to be easier to keep clean, more modern looking, and more durable than tiled showers. They might be more expensive, but most people say they are worth it.
Solid surface showers are made from acrylic can come in many colors and in custom shapes. The good news about solid surface acrylic shower walls is that they're easy to cut and drill, can be shaped and drilled, can be polished to a high-gloss sheen, and don't need to be painted.
Solid surface acrylic shower walls can be made from acrylic, polyester, or fiberglass. Acrylic is more durable than polyester, but the polyester variations are stronger and have more varied colors. Fiberglass is stronger than polyester, but acrylic is lighter.
Benefits of Other Solid Surfaces
In addition to the acrylic options for solid surfaces, there are also materials like glass and stone like granite. While these materials are different than acrylics, they have some advantages. Some of these other surfaces to consider for your shower design include:
- Glass—Glass solid surfaces are similar, but they use tempered glass rather than acrylic. The thin sheets of tempered glass are ground and polished to a smooth, shiny surface. Glass solid surfaces can be made in any color and are very durable. They also come in sheets, or they can be custom cut.
- Marble—Marble solid surfaces are made by gluing sheets of marble to a rigid backing material. Marble solid surfaces are very durable, but they are expensive and require special care.
- Granite—Granite solid surfaces are similar to marble surfaces, but they are a lot less expensive.
True stones, like marble and granite, are not solid surfaces. They are natural stones, smooth and shiny, and porous. True stones are cut and polished and sealed with resins, but they aren't cut, drilled, or sanded. You can't manufacture true stones. Instead, they are mined.
The Cost of a Solid Surface Shower Installation
Solid surfaces showers are cheaper than tiling a shower. Solid surfaces showers typically cost $500 to $800, compared to $3,500 to $10,000 for tiling a shower. These showers also require less maintenance than tiling a shower.
Solid surfaces showers are more expensive than fiberglass showers. They cost $500 to $800, compared to $1,500 to $2,500 for fiberglass showers. In addition, it is easier to have solid surface showers installed, and they are less prone to damage like cracking, which can save you money in the long run.
Contact a solid surface shower remodeling contractor to discuss these options for your bathroom renovations.
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