Grout Got you Down? Try a Shower Surround!

The shower surround is fast replacing conventional tile in bathrooms everywhere. Their ease of installation, low maintenance surface, and brilliant modern look make shower surrounds a great choice for remodels and new homes, alike.

Shower Surround Basics
Far easier to clean than traditional tile and grout, a shower surround is one continuous, smooth surface that can be wiped down with a fraction of the effort. The polished finish gives grime a less desirable surface to cling to and gives a bathroom a splendid new surface to look at.

Shower surrounds are often made of synthetic materials. They range in price from the very affordable models you can find at your local home improvement center to more expensive models you can order from manufacturers and wholesalers. For those with a taste for luxury, some shower surrounds can even be found made of solid granite.

While grout is porous enough to let moisture pass in between tiles, a surround is not porous and will keep water where it belongs. This is good news for the wall behind it.

Shower Surround Installation
Those who choose to have their shower surround professionally installed will be pleased to find out that the job won't take very long. This will save on labor costs (especially when compared to putting in tiles) and also get you into your new "surroundings" sooner rather than later. Instead of putting up tiles one-by-one, there are only two or three large pieces to install.

DIYs will like that shower surrounds are designed with them in mind. Most can be put in without the need for a crew and often come complete with instructions.

Bathtub Liners
Those looking to do a complete bathroom remodel should take a look at bathtub liners. Older tubs often have marred surfaces and stains that won't come out no matter how hard they are scrubbed. A bathtub liner is designed to provide the appearance of a new tub without paying the high price for removal and installation.

Instead of replacing a tub, a bathtub liner fits in over the existing tub. It gives the whole thing a new surface and updated look without the hassle of taking out the old one. Though the tub will still be there, when the operation is finished, it will look like an entirely different unit.

Your New Bathroom is only Minutes Away
Well, not minutes, exactly, but the time it takes to install a shower surround and bathtub liner is truly minute compared to the time it would take to put in new tile and a new tub. The price isn't bad, either. While shower surrounds can be a little more expensive than tile, a tub liner is a lot less pricey than a whole new basin. The quickness of the operation and the DIY-ability can save enough on labor costs to make a significant difference, as well.