When it comes to old showers the question to ask is NOT “How do I love thee, let me count the ways,” it’s “How do I HATE thee, let me count the ways.”
And when I ask people what they DO NOT like about their showers, I’m prepared to get an ear full.
So, after researching (and polling) the top 15 things people hate about their showers based on consumer complaints, home improvement forums, and design feedback – the ‘usual, old shower, culprits’ were of no surprise to me. Of course (if you don’t know me) I’ll admit I’m a Bathroom Geek who’s been leading a bathroom products wholesale and bath remodeling business and blogging about the same for close to 20 years. Boy some people have the life!
However, what was interesting after analyzing the list was 6 of the 15 problems were the result of the wall surrounds in these showers. And respectively these shower wall problems came in as #3, #5, #6, #8, #12, and #13 in the top 15 shower problem ‘hall of shame.’
And if you’re wondering what the #1 problem was, it was weak water pressure.
And the #2 problem was poor drainage and clogged drains. I know that’s exciting stuff.
Since, in total, the biggest ‘pain points’ in shower systems were the shower wall surrounds I decided to focus this article on the following 6 annoying shower wall problems within the top 15 list of reasons you hate your shower.
And while it’s easy-peasy to list the problems (and their respective ‘stature’ …. that’s one way to put it…. on the list) this does you NO GOOD. No, what you really need isn’t knowing the problems it’s to have practical solutions to solve those problems.
Towards that end I’ll give you solutions to fix those problems below. And if you’d like to ‘vent’ your ‘issues’ and ask for a ‘life preserver’ (you could also say insights to fix your specific problems) write your comments and I’ll do my best to help you out. Let’s dig in.
Most HATED Shower Problem #3 (out of 15) – Hard to clean grout and tile
If you’ve been ‘fighting’ your shower tile grout joints for years, you may feel you’re in hopeless battle with no end in sight.
You might have tried these ‘common’ remedies:
Spraying the joints with vinegar.
Squeegeeing the shower walls and shower glass when you’re done (and hoping your family members do the same…..FAT CHANCE!).
Switching to liquid soap from bar soap.
Adding an exhaust fan to air out the bathroom.
Opening your window for more ventilation.
And while these remedies are moderately effective – grout joints and moisture ‘stick together’ (unfortunately) like peanut butter and jelly.
They’re stocked in multiple tile and stone patterns which look indistinguishable from tile EXCEPT you won’t have to clean them or deal with leaking problems from grout joints!
Most HATED Shower Problem #5 (out of 15) – Leaky – or cracked shower walls or a crack in a shower floor
Obviously, cracked shower walls or shower pans are a H-U-G-E problem! If the wall surrounds or shower base cracks you’ll get water behind the walls and/or under the pan. This leads to rotted subfloors and wall backer boards and/or the need to replace a ceiling in the floor below.
And with cracked walls and bases you’ll also have the ‘pleasure’ (sarcasm intended) of replacing the entire shower system. And this WILL NOT lead to good days, good weeks, or good months of remodeling.
However, these are actions you can you take to ensure you aren’t the ‘victim’ of cracked shower walls.
First, DO NOT install a plastic wall panel or base system. And I can’t emphasize enough you shouldn’t buy the cheapest shower you can get your hands on at your local home center if you’re planning to stay a while. They’re wafer-thin and have short warranties.
And if you’re wondering what to use instead of flimsy plastic wall surround panels here’s 2 smart options:
Option 1 – Thick solid surface shower surround panels – If you’re OK with the weight of moving these 3/8” thick wall panels around it’s comforting to know they’re built like a tank – and have long warranties. The biggest negative (IMHO) to these panels is they’re not the most exciting looking.
Option 2 –Click-lock shower surround panels – These click lock panels are more ‘modular’ to install than the 3/8” thick solid surface panels (and are also 3/8” thick). They only weigh 26 lbs. per panel. They’re rigid and have a lifetime warranty. And they won’t crack (ok, maybe they will crack if you have an earthquake, but if that happens you’ve got bigger problems than your shower surround panels!).
Most HATED Shower Problem #6 (out of 15) – The dreaded ‘M & M’ problem (not the tasty kind, but the ‘mold and mildew’ kind)
There’s nothing quite as yucky (or harmful to your health) as mold and mildew. And this type of ‘m & m’ pops up because bathrooms are small, they’re often poorly ventilated, and some were installed with the cheapest grout the tile setter could get away.
So, if you’re staring at mold and mildew, and looking for solutions to this problem what can you do? Here’s 3 ideas:
Idea #1 – Review the ‘common remedies’ in ‘hated shower problem 3’ above. While these aren’t ‘forever’ solutions, they can help you keep the pesky ‘m & m’ (‘err mold and mildew) problem at bay until you can afford a permanent solution.
Idea #2 –Regrout with a better grout – Most tile grout joints use sanded (or worse yet, unsanded) grout which absorbs moisture and is prone to cracking. To ‘elevate’ your grout selection, remove the old grout, and use either urethane or epoxy grout. Yes, these options are harder to place the grout, but they’ll do a far better job over the life of your shower than sanded grout.
Idea #3 –Install grout free shower surround panels – Remove old tile walls and replace them with a better looking wall panel system which isn’t porous and minimizes caulk.
Most HATED Shower Problem #8 (out of 15) – You’ve got no place to put your (ever-growing) shower and beauty products
I thought it was hilarious when my wife replied when I told her I thought we had more products in our shower than we had throw-pillows on our bed, “Mike, the time – and products needed – to go from wake up to pretty keep growing as the years go on! And, unlike you, I’m not always naturally beautiful (Ok, she DID NOT say that, but I wanted to test to see if you were paying attention).”
But in all seriousness, I’ll bet its true most everyone with a shower wishes they had more storage. And if you have a one piece fiberglass system with ‘shallow shelves’ (and use the term VERY lightly here) molded into the sides, and bottles are always falling off, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
So, if you’re looking to grow your shower storage but don’t have room for a larger size shower you may be wondering what you can do to increase storage without blowing a hole into your master bathroom to make it happen. Here’s 3 products to make this a reality (especially in a new shower):
Product #1 – A horizontal or vertical recessed niche – If you’ve got a rectangular shower (or are going to do a bathtub to shower conversion) horizontal shower niches allow you to use your unused ‘wall cavities’ to grow storage without impacting your already-too-small amount of elbow room. And if you have a tiny stand up shower, vertical shower niches can be a storage gift from god (ok, that was a bit dramatic!).
Product #2-Corner shelves – Corner shelves are a smart addition to a shower because they tuck into the corners which aren’t used, yet are perfect place for more storage.
Product #3 –Grab shelves – Grab shelves are a ‘BOGO’ product (buy one function, get another function ‘free’). They combine a storage basket with the added function of a grab bar.
Image Credits: JTEK Solutions
Most HATED Shower Problem #12 (out of 15) – The outdated shower (with shower wall ideas to add a ‘splash’ -bad pun intended- to your shower).
If your shower looks like it could have been used as the set of The Brady Bunch or if you’re REALLY OLD (and unfortunately I know this reference, but fortunately it was ‘before my time) Leave it to Beaver, you may be ‘hinting’ to your spouse or partner enough is enough with your out of date bathroom, tub, or shower.
And speaking of outdated showers I remember the bathroom in my first starter home with its pink 4” x 4” tiles and the gray tile vanity. Boy, my wife, and I were ‘trend-setters!’ (sarcasm intended).
And while there are many ‘elements’ which could bring your shower out of its time warp and into this era the 4 biggest shower elements include the shower pan, shower surround walls, glass shower door, and shower accessories, I’d argue the one thing which really sets the tone for the look of the shower are the shower walls (because, after all, they’re at eye level).
So – if you want to get a fashion boost from your shower walls you may be wondering what should you use? Here’s a few ideas:
‘Go Classic’ – The ‘classic’ look (whether you use tile, or shower surround panels) is never out of style. That’s why you’ll often see classic looks at 5-star hotels like The Ritz-Carlton’s. I like this Bianco Marble pattern wall surround for that reason. The pattern isn’t too busy, and since these are 3/8” thick wall grout free panels they’re still simple to clean. And they can even be used as bathroom wall paneling all around the room.
Get your ‘spa-look’ on – While whites and grays are still ‘in,’ it’s nice to know calming neutral tones are gaining popularity in spa-inspired bathrooms. It’s for this reason I love these ‘light wood shower surround panels.’ They’re relaxed. They’re simple to clean.
Re-imagine the traditional subway look – If you still love the 6” x 3” white horizontal (modern farmhouse inspired) subway tiles their look can be ‘elevated’ with matte black trim. Or if you want a cooler, trendier, subway look then check out the vertical subway tile designs which are ‘in’ today. This smokey blue vertical subway surround design will also help your bathroom command attention.
‘Go Moody’ (but not as in the Moody Blues) – If you’re not afraid of a dark colored bathroom, moody colors are in. Whether it’d be with a black hexagon or charcoal gray colors – it’s OK to be moody…..at least when talking about a bathroom design style.
Most HATED Shower Problem #13 (out of 15) – You’re desperately looking for more shower space
Do you hate being cramped in your tub/shower alcove, where your elbows are banging into the door, or those doggone seats molded into the shower base make you feel boxed in? However, you know you can’t make your shower bigger but are wondering what in the Sam Adams can you do to make a more spacious shower, here’s 3 shower ideas to improve your lot in life (or at least in your shower).
Shower ‘growth’ idea #1 – Remove the fiberglass one-piece wall surround with its space-eating molded shower seats and shelves and replacing it with a fold down seat and recessed niches– While it’s nice to have a place to shave your legs, or shower in a seated position – in reality shower benches or fixed corner shower seats – while nice in theory, can make standing in your shower a cramped experience. The way to enjoy the benefits of shower seating – without losing space is to use a fold down shower seat. It’ll work wonderfully for aging in place or accessible walk in shower – yet you’ll also gain room. And for even more room, insert recessed niches into the wall cavities.
Shower ‘growth’ idea #3 –Do a tub to shower conversion so you can eliminate the confining ‘bathing well’ of a tub – Shower pans provide a lot more room for standing than sloped tubs with their ‘angled sides’ (which is also known as the ‘bathing well’ of the tub).
So – what do YOU HATE about your shower? Can we offer solutions to fix these problems?
While this article focused on shower wall surrounds – and shower problems associated with them, I wish I could say these are the only shower problems making people pull their hair out (and yes, that’s assuming you still have your hair! Ha! ha!)
President of Innovate Building Solutions a nationwide supplier and regional (Cleveland and Columbus) remodeling contractors. Some of our product lines include glass counters, floors, backsplashes, glass blocks and grout free shower and tub wall panels
Ramon – we do have brochures – and for some product lines catalogues and/or lots of links, articles, videos and content. I’d recommend you call us at 877-668-5888 and tell one of our team the product(s) of interest to you and we can get you materials and/or content to assist you. And if you’d like one of our team to provide input on your job – we’d be happy to do it.
Mike Foti
Ramon – we do have brochures – and for some product lines catalogues and/or lots of links, articles, videos and content. I’d recommend you call us at 877-668-5888 and tell one of our team the product(s) of interest to you and we can get you materials and/or content to assist you. And if you’d like one of our team to provide input on your job – we’d be happy to do it.
Mike
Ramon Rosa
Do you have a catalog