You’re ready to replace your shower, but you need it to withstand some serious wear and tear. Whether you have kids, you’re renting out your property, or you simply value your money and want to get the most out of your tub or walk in shower cost, durability should be a top consideration. What do the experts recommend?
ZINTEX Remodeling has completed thousands of shower remodels across eleven different states, and we’ve become shower material experts in the process. Use this guide to discover how popular shower materials perform over time and how to design a highly durable shower.
Table of Contents
- How to Measure the Durability of Shower Materials
- Shower Wall Materials and Durability
- Shower Accessories and Durability
- Building a Durable Shower: Which Materials Are Best?
- Learn More About Your Shower Material Options
How to Measure the Durability of Shower Materials
When you’re looking for something durable, what does that actually mean? How are manufacturers and contractors measuring durability? Here are some of the most important and practical ways that durability can be measured.
Shower Material Longevity
Longevity is one of the easiest ways to measure durability. Longevity refers to the average lifespan of a material, meaning the number of years you can reasonably expect that material to last before requiring replacement. Keep in mind that when contractors or manufacturers talk about longevity, they are anticipating that you will perform as-needed maintenance to prevent fast deterioration.
Shower Material Maintenance Requirements
Any well-rounded discussion of durability will also factor in that as-needed maintenance mentioned above. The more durable a material is, the less maintenance it will require to stay in good condition.
For example, a highly durable shower base material won’t crack if you drop something like a full shampoo bottle. It also won’t require constant resealing or heavy-duty cleaning to prevent problems like water damage and mold growth. Sure, you’ll need to stay on top of cleaning and may need occasional professional servicing, but it shouldn’t be a constant financial, physical, or mental drain.
Shower Material Wear and Tear
Even the most durable shower materials will reach the end of its functional life cycle, regardless of how committed you are to as-needed maintenance. This is because all showers will sustain wear and tear, but the more durable the material, the less drastic that wear and tear will be. For example, durable shower materials aren’t going to scratch, crack, rust, or corrode easily.
Shower Wall Materials and Durability
Your shower wall materials are the biggest component of your shower, no matter the design, style, or size. Let’s take a look at how acrylic, tile, and solid surface walls perform in the durability category.
Acrylic Shower Walls
First up is acrylic, also known as high-tech polymer. Acrylic shower walls:
✅ Last an average of 15-20 years
✅ Provide 100% waterproofing for your shower area without resealing or regrouting
✅ Don’t easily crack
✅ Don’t require specialty cleaning supplies or a lot of elbow grease to keep clean
❌ Can be scratched if scrubbed with an abrasive material like steel wool
❌ Can sustain discoloration if cleaned with bleach
❌ Will require full panel replacement if severely damaged
Tile Shower Walls
Next up is tile, one of the most traditional materials used to create shower and tub walls. Tile shower walls:
✅ Last an average of 15-20 years
✅ Don’t easily crack
✅ Can be repaired piecemeal (rather than having to remove and replace entire walls)
❌ Require frequent grout resealing to maintain waterproofing
❌ Require specialty cleaning supplies and elbow grease to clean
❌ Can become a hotbed of mold growth if not properly cleaned and sealed
Solid Surface Shower Walls
Finally, let’s look at solid surface, a type of shower wall that is typically made of luxury materials like marble, quartz, and other types of natural stone. Solid surface shower walls:
✅ Last an average of 15-30 years
✅ Don’t easily crack
✅ Are easy to wipe down to prevent soap scum buildup
❌ Require specialty cleaning supplies to prevent surface damage
❌ Require professional resealing to maintain waterproofing
❌ Will require full panel replacement if severely damaged
Shower Accessories and Durability
Shower accessories contribute to the functionality of any shower, and you don’t want to waste money and time installing accessories that aren’t built to last. Here’s a quick look at how storage and safety accessories will hold up over time.
Storage Accessories
If you’re customizing your entire shower, you can incorporate accessories that are built into the design from the start. The materials will often match your shower walls. For example, an acrylic shower may have an acrylic recessed soap niche built directly into the wall. These types of accessories should be installed with a water-resistant sealant that will protect your shower area from water damage and mold growth.
Alternatively, you may have shower shelves and other accessories with metal components. These are usually made from stainless steel, aluminum alloy, or brass, all of which are rust and corrosion-resistant. Likewise, any hardware needed to screw these fixtures into the shower wall will also be rust and corrosion-resistant.
DIY or add-on shower storage accessories typically aren’t sealed to the wall. For example, shower caddies may hang from the faucet or a suction cup. Without a proper seal, water can get trapped between the accessory and the wall, contributing to mold growth and soap scum buildup.
Safety Accessories
Safety accessories are another feature you can include in a custom shower design. This is going to include things like grab bars and bench or fold-down seating. Once again, you’re looking at a combination of materials like stainless steel or aluminum alloy (perfect for grab bars) and acrylic (ideal for built-in seating). When installed properly, these accessories should last as long as your shower and bear weight with ease.
What about DIY safety upgrades? You can purchase these types of safety features separately and install them yourself. There are even renter-friendly options that don’t need to be screwed into the shower or tub wall. The problem isn’t just that these store-bought safety features may be lower in quality than professionally installed options. The bigger issue is that lower quality or improper installation could compromise your safety.
Building a Durable Shower: Which Materials Are Best?
If you’re looking to combine durability with affordability, acrylic is going to be the top contender. Acrylic and tile are tied for longevity, but acrylic is much easier to maintain and simple to customize with storage and safety accessories.
If you’re looking for durability at a luxury price point, solid surface is the winner. Solid surface is similarly easy to clean, but it tends to require more professional maintenance over time.
A professionally constructed shower is almost always going to be more durable than any DIY installations or add-ons. This is an especially important consideration for weight-bearing safety features. The last thing you want is for your grab bar or seat to break or fall while in use.
Learn More About Your Shower Material Options
When you design your new shower, you want to know that it can withstand wear and tear so you can get your money’s worth without the hassle. Now, you know which materials bring the most durability, with acrylic taking the budget-friendly lead and solid surface coming in at a higher-priced second place. What do those prices really look like?
At ZINTEX, our goal is to help you make the most informed decision possible, and that includes demystifying the cost of walk in shower and bathroom remodels. Take a look at how different shower materials will impact your budget so you can design the shower that checks every box.
FAQs About Shower Materials
Q: Which shower materials have the highest ROI?
Measuring ROI isn’t an exact science, and no real estate expert has accounted specifically for different shower materials. That said, statistics repeatedly show that luxury bathroom remodels don’t recoup as much value upon resale as mid-range remodels. As a result, acrylic and tile will probably yield a higher ROI than solid surface.
Q: Should I choose shower materials with a warranty?
Picking shower materials with a warranty is another great way to protect your investment. Even high-durability materials can have manufacturer defects. Warranties allow homeowners to address these problems without paying more on top of their original bathroom remodel price.
Q: Is durability the most important factor when choosing shower materials?
Only you can decide which factor is most important when choosing shower materials. It’s often helpful to look for materials that check multiple boxes. For example, acrylic is durable and cost-effective. Tile isn’t as durable or cost-effective, but it offers more design versatility. Solid surface is highly durable and creates an unparalleled luxury feel, but it tends to cost the most.
Topics:
