Choosing the Best Alcove Shower Kit for Your Needs
Alcove shower kits are smart and stylish solutions for making the most of space in your bathroom. This remodeling project can give you plenty of benefits, including an increase in resale value. However, to enjoy all the advantages of adding an alcove shower to your home, you must pick the right kit.
In today’s guide, we’ll help you understand alcove shower requirements. You’ll also learn the main things you need to consider to get the best results for your home.
How to Choose the Best Shower Alcove Kit
Like every home remodeling project, taking a look at your space and home requirements is important. Here are the factors you need to understand before buying an alcove shower kit:
Look at Your Bathroom Space and Measurements
The first thing you need to do when buying a new shower stall kit is to identify your space needs. Measuring your bathroom is essential.
Pay close attention to width, depth, and height. These measurements will help you find the right kit for your space. The more accurate your bathroom measurements are, the easier it will be to install an alcove shower kit.
Keep Compatibility and Ease of Installation in Mind
Your alcove shower kit must adapt to your bathroom design, style, and overall look. That’s why choosing the right colors, materials, and other elements can make the installation process easier and faster.
Colors and materials are not the only things you should focus on. Accessibility and functionality are just as important. For instance, walk-in showers are the most popular option for households with seniors and people with disabilities.
Storage space is also important for homeowners. Built-in shelves might not be the first thing that comes to mind with alcove showers. However, they can make or break your bathroom.
Drain Location Is Important
Another important requirement is the drain location. If you’re starting from scratch, you need to design the shower with the proper drain location in mind.
For remodeling projects, you must consider where the drain is located before buying an alcove shower kit.
4 Factors to Consider When Selecting a Shower Alcove Kit
Choosing the best alcove shower kit for your bathroom can be tricky. However, once you’ve considered the most important factors, like size and material, the rest is up to your professional installer.
These are the four main things to keep in mind when choosing a model for your bathroom:
Material and Durability
As we mentioned before, it’s important to find the best materials for your shower alcove kit. These materials will be durable. They will also fit the decoration and overall theme of your bathroom’s interior design.
Here are the most common materials for shower alcove kits:
- Acrylic: Lightweight, versatile, and affordable are just a few benefits of acrylic shower alcove kits. This popular option keeps heat better than most materials, providing a comfortable experience. Additionally, acrylic is easy to maintain and clean.
- Fiberglass: Alcove shower kits made of fiberglass are durable, affordable, and resistant to scratches. Acrylic and fiberglass are the most popular options because they are budget-friendly without giving up style and durability.
- Solid surfaces: We recommend solid surfaces for a more modern alcove shower kit. This material is a non-porous composite created from mineral dust (usually alumina trihydrate) mixed with resins and pigments. It is resistant to stains, thanks to its non-porous surface. This makes it easier to clean. Plus, they offer a more elegant look than acrylic or fiberglass.
- Tiles: The classic and classy bathroom look can be achieved by choosing tile alcove shower kits. They offer endless design possibilities. Their versatile design allows you to adapt your alcove shower kit to any bathroom color or pattern style.
Design and Style Options
Shower alcove kits come in many designs and styles. Picking the right option for your bathroom can determine its overall look and feel.
For instance, a classic subway tile look won’t fit a modern bathroom with a metal hardware theme.
Minimalist and modern bathroom designs usually use solid surface alcove kits. Meanwhile, a chic bathroom style can benefit from fiberglass or acrylic.
Quality and Warranty
Remember that picking the right material is just half the battle. The other half is making sure the manufacturing and designing processes are done correctly.
That’s why we recommend choosing a reliable shower alcove brand that offers a good warranty and durable products.
Waterproofing and Leak Prevention
Waterproofing and leak prevention are important features of high-quality shower alcove kits. Good waterproofing makes sure your bathroom will last for longer. It also keeps your home safe against damage created by water.
Remember that water damage can lead to manu issues like structural damage. These problems can result in heavy repair expenses. At the same time, these damages can reduce the value of your home.
The Best Installation Tips for Your Shower Alcove Kit
Installing a brand-new shower alcove kit can be a long, hard process. It’s even more difficult if you have no experience with remodeling projects. However, there are some things you can do to make the installation process easier and safer.
Here are some of the best tips for installing shower alcove kits yourself:
Read the Instructions Provided by the Manufacturer
It might sound obvious. However, many homeowners skip this important step, which often leads to problems during installation.
Depending on the material and type of alcove shower you chose, the whole process can be different than you might’ve thought.
Prepare the Area and Yourself
When starting the installation process, the best thing to do is to make sure the area is ready. This means cleaning, drying, and removing debris.
When it comes to your preparation, you need to make sure you have the right tools and safety equipment before you do anything.
Double-Check Your Measurements
Accurate measurements are important to make the alcove shower kit fit within your bathroom’s available space. That’s why double-checking your measurements can help you prevent problems down the road.
The Right Adhesive Is Key
Depending on the material you choose for your alcove shower kit, you’ll need to pick a type of adhesive. Acrylic requires a different adhesive than fiberglass or tile. If you are unsure of what adhesive to get, we recommend contacting your shower alcove kit manufacturer.
Allow Proper Drying Time
Commercial adhesives are powerful and reliable. However, they need to dry properly before they can handle exposure to water. We recommend waiting for an hour or so before using your new shower for the first time.
Test for Leaks When Necessary
Once you’ve finished installing your shower alcove kit, you should let the adhesive do its job. We also recommend testing the shower for leaks. It’s better and easier to redo the adhesive work than having to pay for water damage later.
Clean Up Right Away
Installing an alcove kit with a glass shower door in your bathroom will create debris and residue. You need to clean up right away so that it doesn’t have a negative impact on your health. This will also avoid stains on the shower pan and bases.
Find Everything You Need to Upgrade Your Bathroom with American Bath Enterprises
Are you looking to upgrade your bathroom with the most stylish bath enclosures and shower systems? Look no further than American Bath Enterprises.
We have everything you need to turn your bathroom into the relaxing space of your dreams. Contact us at (888) 228-4925 for more information about our shower enclosures and other products!