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Shower floor/wall finish w/ no grout jnt

Bellconllc | Posted in General Discussion on May 13, 2008 10:46am

Fellow Travelers,

I am on the hunt for a custom shower floor & wall finish that is tile and natural stone free. In otherwords, no grout joints. I am renovating an existing tiled 7 ft x 3.5 ft shower for a couple in their early eighties. They are done cleaning grout joints. This is a master shower on the 2nd floor with a built in seat, shelf and facing glass partition with a glass door. The floor below is the entry / dining with a custom all wood inlay floor. No leaks period! Our plan is to completly demo the existing tile work down to the studs. Check for rot and start over. No off the shelf fiberglass units will fit this unique configuration. I have been on a long search for a nonporous, cleanable user friendly surface that will allow for the standard one valve and one shower head. The bench is to remain for them to be able to sit for safety purposes. I am currently stumped. What can you show me? Many thanks for any and all responses.

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  1. Pelipeth | May 13, 2008 01:00pm | #1

    I did a 5x3 shower stall from scratch, and, aside for the floor, which was a Swanstone solid surface pan ($500+), I lined everything with Azek beadboard lower portion. Upper portion sheet goods. 2 yrs later still georgeous . The 4x8 sheet at my lumber yd. as of yesterday is $l00.

    1. Bellconllc | May 13, 2008 11:25pm | #8

      Thanks for the input Pelipeth! I'm on my way to researching Swanstone and Azek bead board

    2. carlmccarty | May 14, 2008 01:06am | #18

      I am also in the middle of a bath redo. Is the AZEK easily cleaned? It almost sounds to good to be true since I just received a quote of $2200. from Royalstone for a solid surface pan and wall liner.

      1. Pelipeth | May 14, 2008 03:22am | #20

        Yes, in a word. On interior and exterior applications when it has gotten stained or dirty I've been able to clean with: OOPS, Accetone, Comet etc. The factory edge (grain) can be a problem, or cuts. Face is not an issue. I install the sheet goods w/3M Dbl. sided tape and GE Silicone. The bead board I brad nail w/SS fasteners, silicone, 3M tape. Any nail holes in the face I fill with white Crayola crayon. Invisible..Remember it works just like pine and is just as soft.

        1. rnsykes | May 14, 2008 08:18pm | #26

          I've seen Azek used as a shower surround.  I can't see it being hurt by the constant wettnes since it's 100% plastic, but I worry about the edges.  They grow mildew outside, and I imagine it's probably worse in a shower situation.

          1. Bellconllc | May 14, 2008 08:56pm | #29

            Adding this to my research.

          2. Pelipeth | May 15, 2008 03:03am | #30

            The factory edges or cut edges are Azeks weakest point. In the shower stall I did none of the edges were inside the actual stall. The inside 90 corners were near perfect fits (scribes) and caulked in. I have found that with reasonable care (read) cleaning, mold/mildew is not a problem.

  2. DanT | May 13, 2008 01:06pm | #2

    I can't tell from your profile where you are from so this may be a shot in the dark.  Find a dealer for Acrylic sheets.  Guys that do tub liners can get them.  You can get them in colors, marble, stone look etc. You can also get them in tile look configuration.

     I can get sheets 8'X5' right through my company and probably can get a special order size if I ask.  You can just put them on over drywall using butyl tape.  The vendor can show you.  These are fairly thick sheets so while not as expensive as tile in terms of product and labor they still are not cheap.  If you need a floor you are on your own.  I have no idea on that one.  DanT

    1. Bellconllc | May 13, 2008 11:34pm | #9

      Dan appreciate your input. I'll check out the acrylic sheets with a tub liner company. Sounds like we're talking plastic laminant. I'll also check out the butyl tape. Thanks to you I'm now aware of the personal profile option. I filled it out. Thanks!

  3. WindowsGuy | May 13, 2008 04:13pm | #3

    I second the Swanstone recommendation.  Have had one for years with no issues.

    A little on the institutional side, but a wide selection of colors and bases.  They also make matching sinks and vanity tops.

    1. Bellconllc | May 13, 2008 11:37pm | #10

      Got it on the 2nd for Swanstone. I'll check out their matching sinks and counter tops. Thanks!

  4. rnsykes | May 13, 2008 09:59pm | #4

    You can also get Corian in 1/4" sheets and seam them.  Doesn't solve the pan problem, but swanstone makes nice pans and wall kits.  Kinda expensive, but if they don't want tile/stone, and can't use fiberglass, then the are going to have to face the fact that this won't be a cheap remodel.

     

    1. Bellconllc | May 13, 2008 11:42pm | #11

      Thanks! I did not know that Corian was available at 1/4" thick. I'll check it out. Appreciate the 3rd positive note on Swanstone. This is a 4th project for this good customer. The possibilities are good that they will pay the higher price for the lower maintenance.

      1. rnsykes | May 13, 2008 11:47pm | #12

        I have to warn you that if oyu go the Swanstone rout, I'd pass on their trim peices.  They are bulky, and in my opinion un-necessary.  Build the walls flat, plumb and square, and just scribe the corners.  Man, just thinking about those trim peices makes me cringe.

        1. Bellconllc | May 14, 2008 12:03am | #16

          Msykes, got it on the bulky trim pieces. I too have no desire to enter the cringe mode. Thanks.

  5. sapwood | May 13, 2008 10:15pm | #5

    You say no grout joints. You probably have a good reason but just in case it's because of the porosity/cleaning issue...... Have you thought of epoxy grout? This stuff is very nice. It doesn't harbor micro-organisms. They claim its waterproof. All I know is even a bad-tiler like me can install it well. It looks great. I used Laticrete.

    1. Bellconllc | May 13, 2008 11:50pm | #13

      Your right it is because of the porosity/cleaning issue. Since posting I came across Epoxy Grout in my research here within the Fine Homebuilding site. It just might be the fix, though the customer is fairly firm on the no tile approach. They may not be open to the new education. 

  6. maverick | May 13, 2008 10:59pm | #6

    I'll second the motion for epoxy grout.

     its a PITA to install but it will solve all of your problems

    1. Bellconllc | May 13, 2008 11:53pm | #14

      That's what I hear. Initial slumping then depending on temperature - flash setting. Thanks.

  7. Biff_Loman | May 13, 2008 11:04pm | #7

    There's also cultured marble.  The newer selection is very nice, not at all like the horrible caramel-esque sinks/vanity tops of yesteryear.

    It's pricey, and to be honest I wouldn't want to DIY the install, but suppliers will sell shower bases that match.  Also shower seats and inset soap/shampoo containers.

    1. Bellconllc | May 13, 2008 11:59pm | #15

      Cultuered marble may also get us there. This may even be the solution for our own bathroom remodels my bride is gently prodding on. We have the yesteryear caramel-esque counter tops. Thanks for the extra note on bases, seats and insets.

  8. BryanSayer | May 14, 2008 12:04am | #17

    You could do a swimming pool, turned up on end. Do the whole thing in mortar, and then paint it.

  9. semar | May 14, 2008 02:41am | #19

    I suggest you go to the Tile Forum,
    The guys there are experts in these applications

    1. Bellconllc | May 14, 2008 04:04am | #22

      Thanks. With your suggestion I went there. It helped.

    2. onthelevel | May 14, 2008 06:39am | #24

      I second the tile forumn suggestion, Azek is an outside trim material and I don't believe it is specd for total immersion, day after day, might want to read up on that. Corian (or any competetitor) is a far superior product to cultured marble as far as scratching, but both make a very nice shower. You could always go one piece marble walls if the dollars allow.

      1. semar | May 14, 2008 06:43pm | #25

        Personally I would not use marble or granite materials.
        They are porous and need to be maintained (sealed - But when do you know if the sealing is no longer effective?)
        My preference would be: Seal all walls and floor with Kerdi (Schluter)and install one piece acrylic sheet on the walls and one-piece showerpan on floor

        1. Bellconllc | May 14, 2008 08:55pm | #28

          Good point on the sealer requirements for natural stone. Had not heard of Kerdi. I'll look it up while I research acrylic sheet goods.

        2. MGMaxwell | May 15, 2008 01:22pm | #31

          If you use the one piece synthetic materials you don't need Kerdi. The "plastic" choices glue down and Kerdi is meant for thinset. Maybe Kerdi will accept tub and shower surround adhesives but I don't know.

          1. semar | May 15, 2008 10:04pm | #32

            I would skimcoat the Kerdi with thinset and then set the "plastic" materials. I think more of a double seal considering the riskfactor, plus you can extend the Kerdi over the floor also, the whole bathroom becomes a "swimmingpool"
            Better safe than sorry.

      2. Bellconllc | May 14, 2008 08:52pm | #27

        Your keeping this discussion informative. Thanks. I am currently researching the Azec product. I've also found a local Corian rep associated with a supplier/installer. We're working out the design and related cost to see if we move in this direction.

    3. Orbs | May 16, 2008 03:06am | #33

      greeting all. I remodel in san diego and have done quite a number of bathrooms in cultured marble. back walls and side walls are done in one piece. I usually use a fiberglass shower pan and have the walls done in cm. the company I use, Marble Works, can do seats, shelves, recessed shampoo shelves, window wraps, and just about anything you want. you can have the vanity tops made in same material with intregal sinks. there are quite a few color choices so you can match the color design of towels etc. I find the prices to be quite comparible to tile.

       

      Orbs

  10. Sasquatch | May 14, 2008 03:29am | #21

    Check your home depot.  They have a solid product with a base that can be custom-ordered, and the price wasn't too bad.  It looked great.  I forget what it cost.  It looks something like a highly polished Corian.

    1. Bellconllc | May 14, 2008 04:06am | #23

      I will check it out. Going that way tomorrow. Thanks

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