[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Is your shower asking you to upgrade it? As a foundational element to your bathroom, the shower is a place to refresh and rejuvenate. But is it safe and functional for your family’s needs? Is it outdated? These are the top concerns that our customers tell us.
We know that a family’s composition may change over time, whether they add a little one in the home or an elderly parent. Some health conditions can also contribute to the need for a safer shower option.
To help you update your shower system, we have outlined our recommended shower wall surrounds, design selections, installation timeline, shower maintenance, and industry warranties. We want to make sure you have a SAFE, FUNCTIONAL, and STYLISH shower that will last for years to come![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Shower Wall Surrounds
There are a few great options for your shower wall surround. Our top recommendation will always be a solid surface wall surround since these are lower maintenance, non-porous and faster installations for our clients. Tiles is another option that provides a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes to suit our client’s design style.
Below are our top-selling wall surrounds.
Re-Bath Durabath™ SSP is a solid surface polymer that is non-porous, waterproof, and groutless. This makes it mold and mildew resistant and for a fast installation. This material is backed by a lifetime labor and material warranty, plus we give our clients free Re-Bath cleaner for life.
Re-Bath Natural Stone is another great option for your shower surround. The material comes straight from 3,000-year-old rock quarries across the globe, bringing a little piece of earth inside of your home. Natural stone is groutless, waterproof, and easy to clean. The unique veining and coloration won’t fade or discolor and is backed by a 10-year limited warranty. Keep in mind that this material will need to be sealed as needed.
Both the Durabath™ SSP and Natural Stone products can come in a variety of wall patterns.
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Solid Surface is another great option for your shower wall surround. Similar to Durabath™ SSP and Natural Stone, this is a manufactured wall panel that offers similar benefits. It is groutless, durable and easy to clean. There are a variety of designer colors to choose from and wall patterns. The wall patterns give the illusion of tile without the added hassle of maintenance.
Tile is another option that our customers love. It gives them flexibility in their design since there are many colors and materials to choose from. The various patterns available include subway, herringbone, chevron, straight, diagonal, offset, vertically stacked, and more. You can use small or large tiles or mix it up by adding a decorative tile.
Tile requires more diligence to maintain to prevent mold and mildew over time.
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Design Selection Overview
Besides your shower wall surround, there are a few design selections you will have to make. Our company provides Professional Design Assistance to select your products in the comforts of your home or at one of our design centers.
Shower Base: Our company uses a custom solid surface shower base that is hygienically sound and highly durable for years to come. The 3 main shower bases that are available are standard threshold, low threshold (ADA compliant), and curbless. We also recommend adding a slip-resistant layer to your shower base to help prevent any falls in the shower.
Showerhead: This is one of the most fun pieces to select for your shower upgrade. There are many styles of showerheads from modern to traditional in a plethora of finishes: Chrome, Brushed Nickel, Polished Nickel, Brushed Gold, Matte Black, and Oil Rubbed Bronze. Matte Black is our new favorite finish and is currently trending in homes across the nation. Features to look for are the size of the showerhead, handheld shower function, and of course the style of the unit.
Grab Bars: to install added safety features, you can strategically place grab bars in and around your shower. We recommend grab bars near the shower entrance/exit points, shower seats, and even a grab bar shelf that can also hold your shampoo and conditioner.
Shower Seating: Another SAFETY feature to add to your shower system is shower seating. This gives you a place to sit down, if needed or store your bare necessities. You can choose a built-in shower seat, fold-down seat, or a corner seat. Some clients provide a separate chair unit, which is great if you need to move the shower seat. We do recommend an attached seat for better stability.
Shower Shelving: You’ll need somewhere to put your toiletries, especially if you want to get rid of that shower caddy! Consider built-in niches, corner shelves, and dual-function grab bar shelves. Don’t forget to add a lower shelf for a footrest while you shave.
Shower Door Enclosure: To keep your splashes inside the wet zone, you will need a shower enclosure. Glass shower doors present a clean look while displaying the beauty of your new shower system. Your actual shower door can have a dual bypass door or a slider, as well as a pivot door. Most doors will come with a towel bar, handle and knob that comes in a variety of finishes. You will also want to consider the thickness of the glass to ensure your door is durable. We recommend going with a shower door that is at least ¼” thick. To protect your glass from water spots, we recommend investing in a glass shield treatment and a great squeegie.
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Shower System Installation
How long does it take to install your shower system?
Our team installs typical shower systems in 2-4 days. We demolish the current shower system and make sure to remove everything down to the studs. This ensures that there is no water damage, which could cause our customers huge problems down the road. We then install the new shower system for our client’s specific design. Keep in mind that our 2-4 day installation is for shower systems only, and do not include the other elements that a full bathroom remodel would have.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/5gSCp-n9ZaY”][vc_column_text]
Maintenance of New Shower System
Now that you have a new shower system, you want to make sure it lasts for years to come!
One of the greatest benefits to using Durabath™ SSP, Natural Stone, or Solid Surface is that it’s EASY-TO-CLEAN and groutless. You also don’t have to worry about mold and mildew growing in your wet area since the materials are waterproof.
Plus, our Re-Bath clients will receive Free cleaner for life. This cleaner has the “magic sauce” for cleaning bathroom wall surrounds and our customers love it.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Industry Warranties
In the remodeling industry, there are various warranties to consider when remodeling your home.
The first is the Contractor’s Warranty:
- Contractor warranty in New Mexico– According to NM Home Builders Association, “NM does not require a contractor to offer a warranty(1).” This means that if you hire a handyman or any contractor in NM, they do not have to guarantee any of their work in your home. This makes going with a reputable company even more important, and that you don’t use a contractor that will take your money and leave.
- Poulin Design Center Warranty- To ensure that our customer’s remodel will last, we offer a 2-year labor and material warranty. We send out warranty letters every 6 months during this time period as a friendly reminder to keep your remodel in tip-top shape. If needed, we will send down a team member to inspect any issues and resolve them.
The second warranty is the Product Warranty. Our company has searched hard to find reputable and reliable companies to work with that have the best warranties in the industry. All the products we recommend can be found in our Design Centers in Albuquerque and Santa Fe for our customer’s convenience. Below are the warranties provided for the shower brands we stand behind.
- Re-Bath Durabath SSP™- LIFETIME labor and material
- Re-Bath Natural Stone- 10-year limited warranty
- Swanstone Solid Surface- Limited lifetime warranty
Please note that to ensure your warranty, you will need to register your products per instructions.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Closing Thoughts
One of our greatest joys is to enhance our customer’s lives by installing a SAFER, more FUNCTIONAL and STYLISH shower space for them to enjoy for years to come.
Now that you know what to expect, you can start planning your new shower. If you’re ready to take the next step for a Free Design Consultation, click below or call us at 505-880-2500.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Free Design Consultation” color=”peacoc” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2FClosing%20Thoughts%20One%20of%20our%20greatest%20joys%20is%20to%20enhance%20our%20customer%E2%80%99s%20lives%20by%20installing%20a%20SAFER%2C%20more%20FUNCTIONAL%20and%20STYLISH%20shower%20space%20for%20them%20to%20enjoy%20for%20years%20to%20come.%20%20Now%20that%20you%20know%20what%20to%20expect%2C%20you%20can%20start%20planning%20your%20new%20shower.%20If%20you%E2%80%99re%20ready%20to%20take%20the%20next%20step%20for%20a%20Free%20Design%20Consultation%2C%20click%20below.||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
