Tiled Shower Stall Vs. Prefab Stall
The two types of shower stalls are prefab or tiled or custom stalls. Prefab is short for prefabricated, meaning that the shower stall comes in a few large pieces that can be easily and quickly installed. Prefab shower stalls are made out of a few different materials, but most often you will find them made out of acrylic or fiberglass. Custom stalls are usually made out of tile or a stone such as granite or marble.
While prefab stalls have long been shunned by the design world because of their limited colors and styles, new manufacturing techniques have widened the options available to a home owner considerably. There are a large variety of colors and patterns now available, although the standard white or ivory remain the most popular color choices.
One of the largest advantages of prefab shower units are the potential cost savings. A homeowner with some previous home repair skills can usually install a prefab shower unit in a single afternoon. This can be a very attractive option for a do it yourselfer looking to save money.
Also, prefab units are often much cheaper than the materials used to build a custom shower units. They can often be purchased at a home improvement center for only a few hundred dollars and only require some caulk and some screws to complete the installation. They come in single piece and multiple piece units. Multiple piece units are preferred because they easily fit through doors.
Prefab units have a few disadvantages. First of all, because they are made to standard sizes, it may be difficult to install them in an older house where most of the walls are not square. Also, if your prefab stall get damaged in any way, chances are you will have to replace it. Although spot repairs are possible, cosmetically they are seldom desirable as anything more than a temporary fix.
Despite some definite advantages, prefab stalls are not always the cheapest or best option. If you have an irregularly shaped bathroom, or want an irregularly shaped shower stall, a tiled stall is often the best solution. By having a tiled shower stall, you can make it as large or a small as you wish.
You also have many more color and pattern options when installing a custom tiled shower stall. There are thousands of types of tile, so you are guaranteed to find something that will fit perfectly with your home’s current decor. Tiled stalls are often considered more luxurious, something you should consider if you intend on reselling your home within the next five years.
Custom tiled shower stalls are normally built by a carpenter and a tiler. Tiled shower stalls should not be built by the homeowner unless he has significant experience with laying tile. Laying the tile correctly is particularly important because all of the seals must be waterproof to prevent water damage to the underlying structure.
To construct a tiled shower stall, a carpenter will begin by constructing the frame for the shower stall and covering it with waterproof wallboard. Then a tiler will lay the tiles or stone you have chosen to complete the installation. Plan on your shower being unusable for a few days until the grout and mortar have cured.
Custom tiled stalls have the advantage of being able to be repaired. Cracked or stained tiles can be removed by an expert and replaced without having to redo the entire stall. Tiled stalls also are often less likely to incur damage from day to day use when compared to prefab stalls.
Both custom tiled stalls and prefab shower stalls are good solutions when you want to add or renovate a shower in an existing bathroom. However, the best choice for your particular home will depend on your own do it yourself aspirations, your budget, and your style.
