I'm going to re-do our shower, using tile. It has an acrylic shower base
which I want to replace.

Should I go with acrylic again, or do tile? What are issues regarding
durability, lifetime, leaks, ease of keeping clean?

For acrylic, I've found info on Jucuzzi and American Standard. Can you
recommend one of these, or another?

Judging by the instructions I've pulled of the web, installation of acrylic
looks pretty straightforward. Any useful tips?

I've done a half-dozen floor/backsplash tile projects, so I'm pretty
comfortable with doing the shower walls. But a tile base is another story.
Looking in a tile book, it doesn't seem too difficult. Is this something
that takes some experience to get right, or could I reasonably expect to get
it right the first time? This is on a second floor, so I definitely don't
want leaks to be a problem.

The book I looked at said to use a heavy plastic liner. I know in the old
days they used a lead liner. What's the current thinking in that area? Any
other tips for installing a tile base?

Thanks for your help.

Ken

whoops, needed to spell check my subject line!

"KenM" wrote in message
...
I'm going to re-do our shower, using tile. It has an acrylic shower base
which I want to replace.

Should I go with acrylic again, or do tile? What are issues regarding
durability, lifetime, leaks, ease of keeping clean?

For acrylic, I've found info on Jucuzzi and American Standard. Can you
recommend one of these, or another?

Judging by the instructions I've pulled of the web, installation of
acrylic
looks pretty straightforward. Any useful tips?

I've done a half-dozen floor/backsplash tile projects, so I'm pretty
comfortable with doing the shower walls. But a tile base is another
story.
Looking in a tile book, it doesn't seem too difficult. Is this something
that takes some experience to get right, or could I reasonably expect to
get
it right the first time? This is on a second floor, so I definitely don't
want leaks to be a problem.

The book I looked at said to use a heavy plastic liner. I know in the old
days they used a lead liner. What's the current thinking in that area?
Any
other tips for installing a tile base?

Thanks for your help.

Ken

To me, tile base means grout joints--the smaller the tile the more of them.
They need maintenance, get dirty and might eventually leak. I had a
terrazzo base that lasted 30+ years; got an acrylic shower now and it's so
much easier to maintain.
MLD

KenM wrote:
I'm going to re-do our shower, using tile. It has an acrylic shower
base
which I want to replace.

Should I go with acrylic again, or do tile? What are issues
regarding
durability, lifetime, leaks, ease of keeping clean?

Good to see you are spending a bit extra and going for the acrylic.
Much stronger than the cheaper shower bases that are made from
plastic and easier to repair than fiberglass bases.

Tile is nice, but can fail very easily to a bad installation.


For acrylic, I've found info on Jucuzzi and American Standard. Can
you
recommend one of these, or another?

Doesnt really matter, I forgot the brand that I used, but mine
was about 400.00+ and is 60" x 34"


Judging by the instructions I've pulled of the web, installation of
acrylic
looks pretty straightforward. Any useful tips?

It is pretty easy to do, just make sure to use something like
structolite underneath the base to make the thing SOLID.


I've done a half-dozen floor/backsplash tile projects, so I'm pretty
comfortable with doing the shower walls. But a tile base is another
story.
Looking in a tile book, it doesn't seem too difficult. Is this
something
that takes some experience to get right, or could I reasonably expect
to get
it right the first time? This is on a second floor, so I definitely
don't
want leaks to be a problem.

Between the lead liner (or other material) or using a tar to seal up
the place, angling it to the center drain etc etc.... to me it was
just easier putting the base in and its done.


The book I looked at said to use a heavy plastic liner. I know in
the old
days they used a lead liner. What's the current thinking in that
area? Any
other tips for installing a tile base?

Lets face it, tile DOES look nice. But it will fail at some time and
point. Whether or not you have to replace it again in the future is
entirely up to your talents. The shower base is REALLY straight
forward. Just follow the instructions, make sure its level when
installed and just set it something like thinset or even better
something like structolite.


Thanks for your help.

Ken

An acrylic base won't fail after a dozen years like a tile base will.

If you do tile, I suggest doubling or tripling the liner. It will fail
at some point. (I don't know if doubling or tripling works, by the
way. I just think off the top of my head it's a good idea.)

Note you can get "pages" of tile. That is tile that is already
"grouted" together into "pages" that are perhaps 3 feet by 3 feet.
That might make things easier.

If you tile, be sure your backing board on the walls is concrete board
and not regular plaster board, as the moisture in the shower will
soften the latter over time.

KenM wrote:

I'm going to re-do our shower, using tile. It has an acrylic shower base
which I want to replace.

Should I go with acrylic again, or do tile? What are issues regarding
durability, lifetime, leaks, ease of keeping clean?

For acrylic, I've found info on Jucuzzi and American Standard. Can you
recommend one of these, or another?

Judging by the instructions I've pulled of the web, installation of acrylic
looks pretty straightforward. Any useful tips?

I've done a half-dozen floor/backsplash tile projects, so I'm pretty
comfortable with doing the shower walls. But a tile base is another story.
Looking in a tile book, it doesn't seem too difficult. Is this something
that takes some experience to get right, or could I reasonably expect to get
it right the first time? This is on a second floor, so I definitely don't
want leaks to be a problem.

The book I looked at said to use a heavy plastic liner. I know in the old
days they used a lead liner. What's the current thinking in that area? Any
other tips for installing a tile base?

There are lots of fine points. I used a book from Home Depot, _Tiling
1-2-3" which made it look simple. It's not. Getting the floor pitched
right is really hard because you can't stand back and look at it. I got
two slight slight dips that take awhile to dry out. And the drain was
hard. Cutting the floor tile matrix to fit around the drain took 4
tries until I figured how to do it. Luckily, somebody told me to use
expoxy grout because it will never fail or mildew.

MLD wrote:
"KenM" wrote in message
...

I'm going to re-do our shower, using tile. It has an acrylic shower base
which I want to replace.

Should I go with acrylic again, or do tile? What are issues regarding
durability, lifetime, leaks, ease of keeping clean?

For acrylic, I've found info on Jucuzzi and American Standard. Can you
recommend one of these, or another?

Judging by the instructions I've pulled of the web, installation of

acrylic

looks pretty straightforward. Any useful tips?

I've done a half-dozen floor/backsplash tile projects, so I'm pretty
comfortable with doing the shower walls. But a tile base is another

story.

Looking in a tile book, it doesn't seem too difficult. Is this something
that takes some experience to get right, or could I reasonably expect to

get

it right the first time? This is on a second floor, so I definitely don't
want leaks to be a problem.

The book I looked at said to use a heavy plastic liner. I know in the old
days they used a lead liner. What's the current thinking in that area?

Any

other tips for installing a tile base?

Thanks for your help.

Ken


To me, tile base means grout joints--the smaller the tile the more of them.
They need maintenance, get dirty and might eventually leak. I had a
terrazzo base that lasted 30+ years; got an acrylic shower now and it's so
much easier to maintain.
MLD


Hi,
If the base is solid. My shower is 10+ years old with acrylic with tile
wall with latex grout. Still in like new condition. It's upstairs.
Tony

Sexytom976 wrote:
KenM wrote:

I'm going to re-do our shower, using tile. It has an acrylic shower

base

which I want to replace.

Should I go with acrylic again, or do tile? What are issues

regarding

durability, lifetime, leaks, ease of keeping clean?


Good to see you are spending a bit extra and going for the acrylic.
Much stronger than the cheaper shower bases that are made from
plastic and easier to repair than fiberglass bases.

Tile is nice, but can fail very easily to a bad installation.


For acrylic, I've found info on Jucuzzi and American Standard. Can

you

recommend one of these, or another?


Doesnt really matter, I forgot the brand that I used, but mine
was about 400.00+ and is 60" x 34"


Judging by the instructions I've pulled of the web, installation of

acrylic

looks pretty straightforward. Any useful tips?


It is pretty easy to do, just make sure to use something like
structolite underneath the base to make the thing SOLID.


I've done a half-dozen floor/backsplash tile projects, so I'm pretty
comfortable with doing the shower walls. But a tile base is another

story.

Looking in a tile book, it doesn't seem too difficult. Is this

something

that takes some experience to get right, or could I reasonably expect

to get

it right the first time? This is on a second floor, so I definitely

don't

want leaks to be a problem.


Between the lead liner (or other material) or using a tar to seal up
the place, angling it to the center drain etc etc.... to me it was
just easier putting the base in and its done.


The book I looked at said to use a heavy plastic liner. I know in

the old

days they used a lead liner. What's the current thinking in that

area? Any

other tips for installing a tile base?


Lets face it, tile DOES look nice. But it will fail at some time and
point. Whether or not you have to replace it again in the future is
entirely up to your talents. The shower base is REALLY straight
forward. Just follow the instructions, make sure its level when
installed and just set it something like thinset or even better
something like structolite.


Thanks for your help.

Ken


Hi,
Level? drain is in the center and water should flow towards it, level base?
Tony

I used a book from Home Depot, _Tiling
1-2-3" which made it look simple. It's not.

That's the kind of info I'm looking for. Like you said, the book makes it
look simple. You gave it some realism.

Judging by this and other replies, it seems like acrylic is the way to go.

Ken



"William W. Plummer" wrote in
message news:Jymwd.205127$V41.50614@attbi_s52...
KenM wrote:

I'm going to re-do our shower, using tile. It has an acrylic shower
base
which I want to replace.

Should I go with acrylic again, or do tile? What are issues regarding
durability, lifetime, leaks, ease of keeping clean?

For acrylic, I've found info on Jucuzzi and American Standard. Can you
recommend one of these, or another?

Judging by the instructions I've pulled of the web, installation of
acrylic
looks pretty straightforward. Any useful tips?

I've done a half-dozen floor/backsplash tile projects, so I'm pretty
comfortable with doing the shower walls. But a tile base is another
story.
Looking in a tile book, it doesn't seem too difficult. Is this
something
that takes some experience to get right, or could I reasonably expect to
get
it right the first time? This is on a second floor, so I definitely
don't
want leaks to be a problem.

The book I looked at said to use a heavy plastic liner. I know in the
old
days they used a lead liner. What's the current thinking in that area?
Any
other tips for installing a tile base?

There are lots of fine points. I used a book from Home Depot, _Tiling
1-2-3" which made it look simple. It's not. Getting the floor pitched
right is really hard because you can't stand back and look at it. I got
two slight slight dips that take awhile to dry out. And the drain was
hard. Cutting the floor tile matrix to fit around the drain took 4
tries until I figured how to do it. Luckily, somebody told me to use
expoxy grout because it will never fail or mildew.

Yep Level...

Most shower bases do have drains in the middle (you can custom order
left or right drain too for those instances where you are ripping out a
bathtub)

But with a center drain unit you need to make sure it is perfectly
level!
Why you ask? Easy one, the angle that it drains towards the center is
not that steep at all. If you set it in and its off, it'll just pool
on one side and drain well on another. So what is normally done is
1x2's are used on the left and right side of the base. Make sure how
you set it up is nice and level. Once done pick up the base and make a
structolite donut. Careful not to put too much around the center (dont
want it squishing around and up the drain (never get the rubber seal to
work then))

Put down the base, pressing it slowly down until it rests on the 1x2's.
Take your last look at the level and let it dry. If you like you can
even take a 1 foot level and read it from a few areas around the drain.
Cheap are ya? then take a cup of water and make sure it flows towards
the drain.

No pooling? no problem!

Tom

P.S. make sure to cover that acrylic base when you working with tiles
etc.
Acrylic is not very scratch resistant. Sucks scratching it up before
its first offical shower.


Hi,
Level? drain is in the center and water should flow towards it, level
base?
Tony

Remember the base has to be rock solid and not move or flex when you are
stepping in it. Can (does happen) if the floor is not exactly level. One
easy fix, recommended by the manufacturer, and one that I had to use, is to
use foam. Comes in a can--using the nozzle that comes with it, spray under
the base, it'll expand and will start oozing out all over the place. Don't
be skimpy, you may need more than one or two cans. When it hardens just cut
off the excess. Does a great job.
MLD

M" wrote in message
...
I used a book from Home Depot, _Tiling
1-2-3" which made it look simple. It's not.

That's the kind of info I'm looking for. Like you said, the book makes it
look simple. You gave it some realism.

Judging by this and other replies, it seems like acrylic is the way to go.

Ken



"William W. Plummer" wrote in
message news:Jymwd.205127$V41.50614@attbi_s52...
KenM wrote:

I'm going to re-do our shower, using tile. It has an acrylic shower
base
which I want to replace.

Should I go with acrylic again, or do tile? What are issues regarding
durability, lifetime, leaks, ease of keeping clean?

For acrylic, I've found info on Jucuzzi and American Standard. Can
you
recommend one of these, or another?

Judging by the instructions I've pulled of the web, installation of
acrylic
looks pretty straightforward. Any useful tips?

I've done a half-dozen floor/backsplash tile projects, so I'm pretty
comfortable with doing the shower walls. But a tile base is another
story.
Looking in a tile book, it doesn't seem too difficult. Is this
something
that takes some experience to get right, or could I reasonably expect
to
get
it right the first time? This is on a second floor, so I definitely
don't
want leaks to be a problem.

The book I looked at said to use a heavy plastic liner. I know in the
old
days they used a lead liner. What's the current thinking in that
area?
Any
other tips for installing a tile base?

There are lots of fine points. I used a book from Home Depot, _Tiling
1-2-3" which made it look simple. It's not. Getting the floor pitched
right is really hard because you can't stand back and look at it. I got
two slight slight dips that take awhile to dry out. And the drain was
hard. Cutting the floor tile matrix to fit around the drain took 4
tries until I figured how to do it. Luckily, somebody told me to use
expoxy grout because it will never fail or mildew.

While it might cost a few bucks more, consider a terrazzo base. There is no
grout to worry about and if the floor is solid and you set in in a thin
mortar base it will never crack. Acrylic is nice and smooth but time will
take it's toll. Sooner or later someone will take cleanser to it and scratch
the snot out of it.

For the walls tile is good especially if you take the time to make sure
your walls are dead plumb and square. Be sure to do a good job on the vapor
barrier and you should be fine.

Another thing to consider is installing a vent light combination right in
the stall. This is definitely worth the price of admission.
--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.
"KenM" wrote in message
...
I'm going to re-do our shower, using tile. It has an acrylic shower base
which I want to replace.

Should I go with acrylic again, or do tile? What are issues regarding
durability, lifetime, leaks, ease of keeping clean?

For acrylic, I've found info on Jucuzzi and American Standard. Can you
recommend one of these, or another?

Judging by the instructions I've pulled of the web, installation of
acrylic
looks pretty straightforward. Any useful tips?

I've done a half-dozen floor/backsplash tile projects, so I'm pretty
comfortable with doing the shower walls. But a tile base is another
story.
Looking in a tile book, it doesn't seem too difficult. Is this something
that takes some experience to get right, or could I reasonably expect to
get
it right the first time? This is on a second floor, so I definitely don't
want leaks to be a problem.

The book I looked at said to use a heavy plastic liner. I know in the old
days they used a lead liner. What's the current thinking in that area?
Any
other tips for installing a tile base?

Thanks for your help.

Ken

Ken,

I'm going to re-do our shower, using tile. It has an acrylic shower
base which I want to replace.
Should I go with acrylic again, or do tile? What are issues regarding
durability, lifetime, leaks, ease of keeping clean?

A prefab acrylic base will certainly be easier to install. No debate there.
But, you will be limited to a choice of sizes and shapes, and they can be
fairly easy to scratch. They also don't "feel" very solid.

Since you are tiling the walls anyway, I would choose to tile the floor
too. I built a large (6'x6') curbless shower area with a sloped mortar bed
and 2x2 mosaic tiles. It looks great, is very durable, and I would not have
been able to find a prefab base for that. I used a waterproofing system
called "Kerdi" which is fairly easy to install and works very well. It goes
right under the tile and keeps the moisture out of the sloped mortar bed,
so you don't have problems with mold and mildew.

Grout can stain and discolor over time, but regular cleaning and periodic
applications of grout sealer can help with that.

With either option, it's usually the caulking that mildews and discolors.

Check out the John Bridge Tile Forum at
http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/...d=1&daysprune=

There's a lot of great folks there who can offer lots of great advice.
Somewhere deep down in the forum you can find the thread "Anthony's House"
which details my tiling experiences on our home.

Take care,

Anthony