When you are in the midst of a bathroom renovation, you have a lot of small choices to make. From metal finishes to lighting fixtures, there is a lot for you to choose from. While you pick between all of these bathroom upgrade options, you may want to consider whether to go with a tile or solid surface shower. 

While solid surface showers are not new, you may not know much about this bathroom upgrade and why it is a great choice for your home. However, to make an informed decision for your home, you must understand the benefit of each. In this blog, our Surface Bella team will go over these two popular choices, the benefits of each, and which we think would be the best choice for your bathroom. 

Tile Showers

Many people are accustomed to the appearance of a tile shower, as they are an incredibly common bathroom shower option. Tiles come in a variety of sizes and can be applied in a variety of directions to allow for full customization of your shower stall. Tiles are incredibly durable, easy to clean, and long-lasting, making them a great option for your bathroom.  

Solid Surface Showers

Solid surface showers are made of non-porous materials and come in larger sheets. A solid surface shower is a much more durable option for homeowners who have struggled with fragile tile showers in the past. They are fully customizable and can fit a variety of bathroom aesthetics. At Surface Bella, we use The Onyx Collection solid surface showers to create a perfect bathroom for every homeowner. 

What We Recommend

When having to choose between tile and solid surface showers, it is important to choose the most reliable option. There are so many factors you may need to consider before selecting the best option for your home.

For many homeowners, tile showers seem like the safe choice because they have experience with them in their homes before. They may also understand the installation and care process of tile showers. However, when choosing from the two, we believe a solid surface shower is a better choice for many reasons. The benefits associated with solid surface showers include the following:

• No More Grout Cleaning: Because solid surface showers are made with large sheets of material, you don’t have to worry about cleaning grout every time you clean your bathroom. These shower systems are held together by trim systems that don’t require any caulking or grouting.
• More Durable: While tile showers are incredibly durable, a solid surface shower provides you with more protection from potential leaks. This protection is due to the single surface, allowing for fewer cracks or openings between tiles for water to seep in, leading to less water damage. 
• Less Wear And Tear: While it is possible for anything to wear down over time, you don’t have to worry about repairing broken tiles or mold growing in solid surface showers. While scratches are still a concern with a solid surface shower, you can restore the surface by lightly sanding.  
• Faster, Easier Installation: When placing individual tiles for your tile shower, installation times can become much longer than you have anticipated. However, you don’t have to worry about lengthy installations with solid surface showers. You also don’t have to worry about tiles breaking and having to replace them, making this process much easier on you. 
• More Customization: While there is a great deal of customization available with tile showers, solid surface showers come in a variety of colors and finishes, making them a great investment for your bathroom. You may even choose a solid surface shower that looks like tile or stone without the headache of cleaning grout. 

Ultimately, a solid surface shower will elevate the appearance of your bathroom in ways that a tile shower cannot. Because these shower systems aren’t as well known, your bathroom will stand out. If you are looking for an upgrade to your bathroom that many others don’t have in their home, a solid surface shower is the way to go. 

Getting A Solid Surface Shower With Surface Bella

Solid surface showers are a major investment, and if you are interested in getting one for your home, you should work with a team of reliable professionals you can trust. Our team at Surface Bella has years of experience and is confident that we can create the new bathroom of your dreams. 

In addition to solid surface showers, we provide vinyl siding services and custom patio and deck builds. If you are interested in getting a solid surface shower or would like to speak with a member of our team about other services we provide, reach out today. 

There are many benefits associated with taking baths. But for some, the use of a standard bathtub may be difficult. If you hope to get back into the habit of taking baths, you may consider installing a walk-in tub in your home. 

Because it is a significant investment, everyone should understand the benefits associated with a walk-in tub before they take the leap. Our team at Surface Bella knows firsthand just how impactful the installation of these tubs can be on a person’s life. 

1. It Improves Safety

A walk-in tub provides you with the knowledge that you, or your loved ones, will be safe from potential slip-and-fall accidents in the shower. The convenience of the walk-in tub door eliminates any need to climb over the wide lip of a standard bathtub, keeping you and your loved ones out of harm’s way. 

In addition to the door, walk-in tubs come equipped with handrails, anti-slip flooring, anti-scald valves, and a built-in seat. The built-in seat is textured, helping to prevent users from slipping off when it’s wet. Many of the top walk-in tubs on the market were created in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act standards, certifying that they are accessible to all. 

2. It’s More Comfortable

With a walk-in tub, bathing can become more comfortable, especially if standing for extended periods is difficult. These tubs have a built-in seat, allowing you to rest comfortably while bathing with the attached handheld shower head. Additionally, these tubs are much taller than a standard bathtub. Because of this added height, you’ll experience a full-body soak. The built-in seat and added height of a walk-in tub make bathing a more comfortable experience for everyone who uses them. Walk-in tubs also drain much faster than a standard bathtub, meaning anyone using it doesn’t have to wait too long for the tub to empty.

3. It’s Great If You Have Limited Mobility

If you’re experiencing mobility issues, including struggling to get over the wide lip of a standard bathtub, a walk-in tub might be a good option for you. A walk-in tub’s lip is between 1 and 6 inches high compared to the standard bathtub, which can have a lip between 14 and 16 inches high. Because of this smaller lip, anyone with mobility issues should be able to get into the tub without too much difficulty. 

There are also walk-in tubs that accommodate those using walkers, wheelchairs, or scooters. With these tubs, users can get right up to the seat and easily maneuver their mobility device out, allowing them to enjoy the comfort of their bathtub. 

4. They’re Luxurious

Many walk-in tubs come with jets. These added jets make bathing in a walk-in tub a more luxurious experience than in a standard bathtub. These jets, situated on the backrest and in the footwell of the tub, will provide users with a comfortable massage as they bathe. The walk-in tub jets can relieve muscle pains and aches through a massage-like experience.  

5. Maintain Independence

One of the greatest benefits of a walk-in tub is the ability to maintain independence. Users with mobility issues or who tire easily won’t need to rely on the help of their family to bathe. With the added safety features, family members won’t have to worry so much about their loved ones getting injured while trying to care for themselves. 

The handheld shower head also allows users to reach any part of their body that isn’t submerged in water. Users won’t have to worry about moving throughout a shower stall to ensure their entire body is getting clean. A walk-in tub gives users and their families the peace of mind that they can bathe themselves without fear of injury or overexertion. 

How To Choose A Walk-In Tub

With so many walk-in tubs on the market, choosing one that fits your lifestyle may take time and effort. If you’re looking to install a walk-in tub, it is best to keep all impairments in mind, as well as your bathroom’s layout. Walk-in tubs feature inward and outward swing doors. An inward swinging door tub may be a better choice if you have a smaller bathroom. 

You’ll also need accurate body measurements to ensure the tub fits you comfortably once installed. To get proper measurements for your walk-in tub, measure the width of your hips and shoulders straight across and the length of your legs when seated. 

Get A Walk-In Tub With Surface Bella

Our Surface Bella team believes everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy the luxury of a bath. No one should have to miss out on this joy. Our experts are authorized to install Ella’s Bubbles’ Walk-In Tubs, which are high-quality, therapeutic tubs. 

If you aren’t sure which of our walk-in tub options is best for you or would like to schedule an appointment to talk about getting one installed in your home, contact our team today.