DIY Network

Soft Contemporary (1 of 3): Tub Surround From "Bathroom Renovations" episode DBTR-106

	This outdated bathroom with its old yellow sink, tub and toilet ...
	is renovated with a soft -- and smart -- contemporary style ...
	with an accent on luxury.

Materials for Demolition --

Gloves
Safety goggles
Hammer
Pry Bar
Reciprocating saw

Materials for Prepping Tub for Re-Bath --

Putty knife
Screwdriver
Utility Vacuum

Materials for Bath Installation --

Marker
Template tool
Jigsaw with medium-tooth blade
Drill with spade bit
Primer
Butyl tape
Silicone tape

Materials for Surround Installation --

Tape measure
Jigsaw
Safety goggles
Thermal expansion adhesive

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Surround Installation

1. The homeowner (Jake) had to remove the tiled wall where the leak was and he put up green board. The other wall still had the tile. Putting up the surround will be no problem, although there are two different surfaces, because they are solid walls. The tile did not go all the way to the ceiling on the wall with the tile, so a quarter-inch piece of plywood was placed above the tile to even out the surface.

   
   

2. To install the surround, measurements of the height and width of the wall were taken. Once the size was determined, the panel was cut with a jigsaw (figure A). A medium tooth blade was used so that the acrylic wasn't chewed up.

   
   

3. In order to install the panels, a thermal expansion adhesive was applied to the entire wall in a zigzag pattern (figure B). The adhesive allows for expansion and contraction, and it will prevent the panels from separating from the wall. For the best application, the adhesive needs to be two to three inches apart.

   
   

4. Center the acrylic on the wall. It is best to smooth out the panel by hand; you don't want to create any uneven surfaces.

   
   Tip: To clean acrylic surfaces, do not use any abrasive or any caustic cleaners (cleaners that are capable of burning, corroding, dissolving or eating away by chemical action). An all-purpose cleaner should be fine.

   
   

5. After the panels were put in place, it was sealed with silicone. Once the new tub and surround are in, you would never know there was an old yellow bathtub underneath (figure C).

RESOURCES :

Tub and Wall Surround (Re-Bath)

Re-Bath Tub
Color: Biscuit
Brand name: Biltmore Style

Re-Bath Wall Surround
Color: Biscuit
Brand name: Gloss Surround
Where available: Visit the Re-Bath website, link below.
Re-Bath, LLC
Website: www.re-bath.com

GUESTS :

John Heckenlaible
Retro-Fit Tub Expert
Re-Bath, LLC
1055 S. County Club Dr.
Mesa, AZ 85210
Toll-free: 800-228-4882

Ron Cobb
Owner, Re-Bath of Minnesota
6316 Bass Lake Rd.
Crystal, MN 55428
Phone: 763-537-1355