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We are getting the en-suite shower re done and are trying to decide whether to go with shower panels in place of tiles. We've heard mixed opinions on the longevity of the panels and problems with the corner seals but then we have also had problems with badly done tiling so I thought I'd see if you gents had anything to share one way or the other.
we've had two showers/tubs done with the fiber glass remodels and have had no problems with quality. The only thing i dislike is the need to use caulk on the joints as it needs to be scraped and replaced occasionally since it eventually turns black with mildew. (get the best mildew resistant caulk you can find). My memories of tile are from childhood and i remember my parents complaining about the same issues with the grout (it was white). Tile, especially on the floor seems cold and hard to me so if i had to choose it would be fiberglass.
That’s really going to be up to your likes. Both are fine. Tile has been around forever and done right with the proper underlayment it’s permanent.
Truly as TC stated, any shower tiled with proper underlay and waterproofing will last longer than most of us. All of my bathroom floors have electric heat built into them to keep the chill off. Modern grouts are very good.
Ive played with both and have had to regrout and recaulk. Taking the grout out of tile is a pain and takes a lot longer but i like the looks of tile better. Cleaning up moldy caulk is easier, but you will do it many more times than grout. This is just what i have learned. Maybe a pro has better tools and can do the work easier. The trick with grout is to be sure and seal it properly. I even do it two or three times just to be damn sure. After all the work its worth the extra effort.
I had a shower redone a few months ago. I got rid of the tile. panels are the way to go. Get good ones. They have panels with Silver compounds built in so any little bugs will be inhibited. You may have to re silicon but if you get good stuff it should last many many years. Also if you go with panels get good virgin acrylic not remanufactured or recycled.
Thanks for all the opinions. I think I'm moving towards panels for easy cleaning and also it seems like they would be less skill dependent to fit well. Only one way to find out I suppose.
I’ve had a number of houses over the years with tiled showers, replacement acrylic panels and vacuum formed single-piece shower/tub units. Can’t say my experience with the panels has been very positive, but that may have been because of faulty installation - I did them myself.
We recently had a pro tiler with over 40 years experience redo a tile shower with proper underlay. It is beautiful with barn-door sliding glass panels. I watched as he worked and saw how much care and planning went into the job. It wasn’t cheap but it will last a long time.
For ease of maintenance, however, you can’t beat the single-piece formed units. The ones we have were installed when the house was being built and it looks like they would have to be cut apart if we ever want to replace them. No grout, no caulking, no seams, just wipe ‘em off and they are clean. Perfect for when the grand boy mud factories come to visit.