Finishing the Acrylic Shower

The installation story begins with the post Replacing the Fiberglass Tub with an Acrylic Shower. Or you can start reading pricing and rationalizing West Shore Home Bath Remodel Price or Replace the Fiberglass Bath with a New Acrylic Shower Research when we first started to figure out how much materials would cost if we did it ourselves.

But if you read those already or you want to just jump in with the old tub gone, read on.

When they got the pipes in the walls they turned the water back on to make sure there were no leaks. Best to find any problem before the walls are up.

Next they cut plywood to fit the walls.

They put in long wood screws to protect the shower floor as they put the plywood on the walls.

The plywood fits everywhere they cut the drywall away.

On the side walls it goes up to the top of where the acrylic walls will be.

They put in the corners. These make sure that even if water gets through into the corner seam, it still goes into the shower pan instead of into the wall.

They used lasers to get very exact measurements for the acrylic wall panels.

They cut the wall panels and carried them in. The wall panels have plastic protecting them, too.

They positioned the back panel first to make sure it fit exactly.

Then they leaned it behind the door and put adhesive on the wall. This is a battery operated adhesive gun.

This is the stuff they are squeezing out.

After they had a lot of adhesive, they pushed the panel into place and pressed until it was securely attached to the wall.

The side panels are cut to fit when they brought them in.

Then they fit the side acrylic panels into place. There was a tiny amount of trimming to make it fit perfectly.

They cut the holes for the shower and control valve. This drill attachment cuts a perfect circle hole.

The holes line up, ready to stick it to the wall.

Once the panels are up, they finish the fixtures and put up the shelves.

They finished putting the hardware on.

The shelves and edges are sealed with this sealant.

Finally they put up the grab bars.

The last step is the trim where the shower touches the tile floor.

They put this trim where the shower comes to the tile.

Here is the finished shower.

Here is before and after.

I am so glad we didn’t try this one by ourselves. They made it look easy, but it was still a lot of 2-man work. And as Cliff reminds me, he has a job and plumbing is not his job.

They left instructions to maintain the shower.

3 Keys to Maintaining the Appearance of Your New Bath

1. Allow the Seam Lock to cure for at least 24 hours before using your tub/shower.
2. Clean your new tub/shower weekly with one of the approved cleansers listed below.
3. Remember to never use harsh chemicals on your new system – this will void the warranty. If you must use them on a clogged drain, funnel them into the drain.

Cleaning Tips:

How to Clean Your Acrylic System

We recommend using Scrub Free for your weekly cleaning. Just spray it on the walls and bathtub and wipe it down using either a sponge or a mesh bath sponge. Then rinse the walls and bathtub using a cup of water. Maintaining the unit this way is quick and easy! The key to getting the most out of your new acrylic tub/shower is to understand that the acrylic material is non-porous and you should never use harsh chemicals or scrub with abrasive brushes.

Approved Cleansers

• Fantastic
• 409
• Non-Ammonia Windex
• Vinegar in Water
• Kaboom!
• Scrub Free

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If you click, you get a $250 discount and they give me a $50 referral.