Is it time to upgrade your bathroom? Is the bathroom wall behind the bathtub showing signs of peeling paint, mold, or mildew? Daily exposure to spraying water and steam can leave the wall behind your bathtub in bad shape. Fortunately, you don’t have to rip out the wall if there’s nothing wrong with the current bathtub. A simpler and more cost-effective solution would be to invest in bathtub surrounds.
With so many tub surrounds on the market, it might be time-consuming to find the right one. We’ve done the legwork for you and narrowed the various options down to five of the best tub surrounds available. Some important features include material used, installation process, and warranty. These features will ensure you have the perfect tub surrounds for your needs! It’s also important to read up on tub surround reviews to ensure you get a top-quality product!
More features: can be glued to the surface, two glass shelves for storage, easy to clean, trim-to-size design
This acrylic surround is a popular choice because panels can easily be glued to the existing surfaces. An attractive tile pattern creates a modern and stylish look with panels that are easy to maintain. Sidewall panels can be trimmed to fit existing walls. Two glass storage shelves are added for easy installation. This product also has a limited warranty of one year and is regarded by many as the best bathtub and surrounds option.
This model is perfect for remodeling an existing bathroom setup because the panels can easily be attached to existing walls or tiles. There’s no need to replace the bathtub since the panels are compatible with most rectangular-shaped bath sizes. That makes remodeling so much more cost-effective.
More features: non-porous material
This model is made up of solid surface material. It’s also non-porous with a modern finish where the color and pattern cover the entire surface. The panels are easily glued onto the existing walls or tiles, making it unnecessary to remove the existing wall.
This simple kit is the perfect solution for upgrading an existing bathroom setup. With two end walls, a 2-piece back wall, finish edge trim, bullnose trim, and installation materials, it’s super easy to install! The non-porous material prevents water from penetrating and creating mold and mildew build-up around the surrounds.
More features: mix of colors, glossy finish, 8 ml thick
This popular brand of mosaic tiles can be used as a kitchen backsplash as well as a tub surround. The box contains 10 square feet of glass tiles mounted on mesh sheets. Each individual sheet is made up of glass and stone pieces and provides a pop of color to any room. With the individual glass and stones that make up this option, this brand is often referred to as the best single-stone tub surrounds option.
These mosaic tile sheets are perfect for remodeling in a kitchen and bathroom area. They’re also available in 8 popular colors, making it easy to find a color that accentuates your current décor.
More features: panels can be trimmed, has six self-draining shelves, overlapping edges
Made from high-grade thermoplastic, this bathtub wall surround is the perfect option for upgrading your bathtub area. Panels can easily be trimmed to fit any sized wall area, including alcoves and shower areas. Adhesive easily mounts the panels to an existing wall, drywall, or tiles. Six large self-draining shelves are included for easy storage.
If you’re upgrading your bathroom area, this thermoplastic option is the perfect solution. Panels can be trimmed to accommodate any shape and size wall. Essentially, it’s a five-panel wall system incorporated with a seamless corner panel and overlapping edges. This creates the perfect watertight wall surround.
More features: great for remodeling projects, panels can be trimmed, has four large shelves
Made from high-grade, reinforced molded fiberglass, this surround offers maximum strength as well as impact resistance. Panels can easily be trimmed and modified to accommodate DURATRIM window kits. An added plus point is the textured and colorfast semi-gloss finish that easily resists scuffs.
Since this bathtub surround fits all Mustee Topaz Fiberglass bathtubs, it’s perfect for remodeling and existing bathtub areas. A plus point is that it also fits standard-sized tubs. Panels can easily be trimmed to size, and four large shelves provide easy storage for bath and shower supplies.
If you’re buying a tub surround for the first time, you might be wondering where to start. A simple internet search will overwhelm you with the many options available. Fortunately, we’ve simplified the process!
Our informative buyer’s guide will explain exactly what a tub surround is and highlight why it’s a good idea to invest in some panels for your bath or shower space. We’ll also cover the general features you should consider before making your final choice. Some of the features to consider include size, type of material, accessories, and installation methods. We’ll discuss these points in-depth in our feature section.
A bathtub surround can be defined as the covering of the area surrounding your bathtub space. The tub surround serves two primary purposes. The first is to prevent excess water from damaging the wall behind your bathtub and shower area. Since tub surrounds are non-porous, the water won’t get trapped inside. The second reason is for aesthetic purposes. No one wants a bathroom area with damp walls and peeling paint! Adding a tub surround can give your bathroom a much-needed facelift and, if installed properly, can even give your bathroom a spa-like feeling!
Adding tub surrounds to your bathtub or shower area have the following key benefits:
Bathroom renovations can be very costly. Since not all bathrooms are the same, renovations might require a lot of trimming and customizing. That means there are several different factors to consider before installing a tub surround. Considering the features we’ve listed below will ensure you don’t waste time and money buying the wrong product, leaving your bathroom space in a worse state. Read on to see the most common features you should consider.
Depending on the material you’re opting for, you could have a huge variety of styles, colors, and designs to choose from. Ideally, you want an option that accentuates the current décor in your bathroom.
Tub surrounds can add to the bathroom’s aesthetics, so keep that in mind when narrowing down your options.
Some of the styles available include mosaic and glass finishes such as the Bliss Spa Stone and Glass Linear Mosaic Tiles and solid panels such as the Transolid RBE6026 Tub Wall Surround. Another popular option is the Mustee 56WHT Durawall Fiberglass Bathtub Wall Surround which is a backwalls kit.
Depending on your particular bathroom, a backwalls kit might be the better option as it’s easy to stick the panels to an existing wall. With this option, the correct adhesive is provided as well as a list of instructions on how to attach the panels to each wall. It’s important to follow the instructions and make provisions for drying and setting times.
The most important feature to consider is the size of tub surround you’ll need. This is especially crucial if you’re installing the surround to an existing bathtub area. Measure the area BEFORE you start shortlisting options. Generally, most surrounds will vary between 30” – 32” wide by about 60” long. But this can vary considerably since bathtubs vary in length and width.
Ideally, you want to choose an option that can be adjusted to your dimensions.
Everyone knows bath and shower water end up everywhere in a bathroom. A great part of the allure of tub surrounds their ability to prevent mold and mildew from building up under the materials used. This is largely as a result of the materials they’re made from. Tub surrounds should be constructed from non-porous materials. These types of materials will prevent water from seeping under the surround panels and causing structural damage. Some of the more prominent surround materials include the following:
The most popular choice for bathtub surrounds is acrylic. Trusted Source The Advantages of Acrylic Plastic | Sciencing Acrylic is a tough plastic with half the weight of glass, and which can be colored or transparent. Applications include windows, aquarium tanks, outdoor signs, and bath enclosures. sciencing.com Not only is acrylic easy to clean, but it also looks aesthetically pleasing. Acrylic is also one of the more cost-effective options.
The majority of options are white, giving your bathroom a crisp spa-like feel.
The acrylic option is also easy to customize to your specific needs, and it’s super easy to install! An example of an acrylic tub surround is the DreamLine QWALL-Tub Backwall Kit.
One of the benefits of fiberglass Trusted Source What’s fiberglass, and how does the delicate material reinforce thousands of products? Among the objects that can be made from glass, jars and windows, made from soda lime glass, and kitchenware, made from borosilicate glass, are the older siblings of the family—the stalwarts. Fiber-optic cables, used to transmit nearly all our communications today, are the attention-grabbing youngest child. And fiberglass? It’s the middle child, of course—equally important yet often lost in the shuffle. cen.acs.org is that it’s free of grout lines which means it’s easier to clean. It’s important to be aware that fiberglass isn’t UV resistant which means it might fade over time. If you’d like to minimize the sound of running water, fiberglass is the best option as it’s also soundproof.
Our review list features the Mustee 56WHT Durawall Fiberglass Bathtub Wall Surround, which is made of high-grade fiberglass, making it one of the more durable options.
A tub surround made of stone requires each stone to be arranged into a concrete wall. Natural stone options can be beautiful but are also very costly.
Certain stone types will be prone to staining from soap and continuous water. If you’re going to opt for a stone surround, ensure you apply a special sealant when required to keep the tub surrounds appearance crisp and clean looking.
Available in a host of designs and colors means that glass tiles are often a popular choice to enhance an existing design. The glass tile is reflective because it’s coated with a special metallic coating. This means you can see out but not in. You can therefore have a modern glass look with the benefit of privacy.
Despite being easy to clean, certain types of glass tiles can become stained with continued exposure to hard water.
Well-known for their versatility, ceramic tiles are durable and simple to install. They’re available in virtually any color, design, and shape. The only downside to ceramic tiles is the grout between the tiles that will break down over time.
Grime and soap scum can become trapped, so cleaning can be quite a chore. Loose tiles can provide the ideal breeding ground for mold and mildew.
Chances are you don’t just want a tub surround. You might want a surround on which you can add accessories such as shelves, grabbing bars, built-in seating, and other safety features. Consider which accessories are included with the surround kits you’re buying. Some kits have space for the accessories on the surrounds, but the actual add-ons need to be purchased separately.
It’s important to remember that not all surrounds are installed the same since bathroom spaces differ in size and shape. Some surround kits can be glued to your existing wall. Others require the wall to be opened so that the tub surrounds can be attached to the wall studs.
The type of installation required will determine the costs that you need to include in your budget. Factor in the shelving and trim pieces that might need to be installed as well. The Mustee 557WHT Durawall Bathtub Wall Surround and the Mustee 56WHT Durawall Fiberglass Bathtub Wall Surround are examples of surrounds that can be trimmed to fit the space.
A product’s warranty says a lot about the faith the manufacturer has in their product. An item with no warranty leaves a consumer feeling like the product may be inferior.
On average, tub surrounds have a one-year warranty. It’s important to consider the product’s warranty as well as exactly what is covered. The Transolid RBE6026 Tub Wall Surround has a warranty of 10 years, which gives the consumer a real confidence boost in the product!
We trust that our review of the five best quality tub surrounds has provided you with an insight into the different options available. Still not sure which one is your favorite? Let’s recap our top three.
Our Editor’s Choice, the DreamLine QWALL-Tub Backwall Kit, which we rated 9.8, is our favorite because it’s easy to install and can simply be trimmed to fit any existing wall space. It’s the perfect option for a remodel or bathroom upgrade.
The Transolid RBE6026 Tub Wall Surround is our Premium Pick, rated at 9.6, and a strong contender because it has extension panels available. This makes it possible to cover a larger area. Its 10-year warranty and easy installation are also a huge plus point!
The Bliss Spa Stone and Glass Linear Mosaic Tiles are our Best Value option. We rated it 9.4, and we like it because it can be used in the bathroom and kitchen. It’s also available in 8 colors and makes remodeling quite a breeze! By using the information supplied in tub surround reviews and our in-depth buyer’s guide, choosing the best tub surrounds will be much easier!
