I recently bought a house and noticed that the previous owners installed a type of hard plastic around the shower walls. Unfortunately, it's starting to peel and break apart, but I've had to prioritize foundation repairs instead of tackling the bathroom yet. I've been looking into tub surrounds, but the shortest ones available are 54 inches tall, and due to the slant of the roof, I can only fit a surround that's 52 inches at the most. I've heard mixed reviews about tile and its waterproofing abilities, and I'm curious — what have others experienced? Are there any other options we might consider instead of a traditional surround?
2 Answers
Tiles are definitely waterproof, but the issue lies with the grout lines, which can be porous. Don’t discount surrounds entirely, though! Many are available in multiple pieces rather than one big section. Brands like Flexstone and Swanstone offer options that are fairly easy to cut down to your needed size using a jigsaw. Just remember to tear everything down to the studs and use green or blue boards — no need for cement board or extra waterproofing since these are solid surfaces. You'll just have caulk seams instead of grout lines, which can save you some hassle in the long run.
Have you thought about whether the 54” surround can be cut down to fit your space? Sometimes that's a possibility that’s overlooked. It could save you some trouble altogether!
Exactly! If waterproofing is done correctly under the tile, the walls will remain waterproof even with grout.