Happy New Year and welcome back to the American Bath Remodeling blog! In the new year you have opportunities to change aspects of your home and make it nice and new again. Maybe you’ve been thinking of renovating your closet or your garage, but why not renovate your bathroom? Find a way to impress your family and friends with a new acrylic or fiberglass shower giving your home a sophisticated feel!
People spend most of their time in a bathroom whether they are showering or getting ready throughout the day. Putting a little bit of renovation money into your bathroom goes a long way. We will give you a quick rundown of what fiberglass showers versus acrylic showers are, how they are different from one another, and which may be best for you.
Fiberglass: What It Is
Fiberglass is much more common than you may expect. This is an item that is used in multiple items such as the pink insulation in your attic. Once the fiberglass is made and woven together different resins can be added to create different shapes and uses. Items you may not expect to be made of fiberglass include sports gear, doors, swimming pools and spas, and exterior automobile parts.
It is important to note though that fiberglass is not the same as carbon fiber or glass – reinforced plastic. While these may be similar fiberglass is cheaper to manufacture but may not be as strong as carbon fiber.
Fiberglass vs Acrylic Shower
If you are renovating your bathroom you may be debating between an acrylic shower or a fiberglass shower – these have a few key differences. Acrylic is made with fibers of glass, resin, and large sheets of acrylic. The process of acrylic is heating the sheets and drawing them into a mold using a vacuum process. However, similarly to fiberglass acrylic is seamless and low-maintenance.
Fiberglass showers are a low-cost and low-maintenance alternative to ceramic and stone tiles. This type of shower is easier to install, less expensive to acquire, and much easier to clean. Oftentimes fiberglass showers are created with a resin made of polyester. When made with a polyester resin it is mixed with woven glass fibers and poured into a mold. In the end this creates a seamless, clear door.
These two materials can be used for shower pans, shower doors, and fixtures. Acrylic is built to last through many showers, pressure of water and weight of a person, abrasive soaps, hair products, and other cleaning products. They are easy to install and rarely show scratches on the surface. On the other hand, fiberglass is cheaper than acrylic and often a more popular option. Fiberglass is also able to withstand a lot of pressure and many showers being durable. It is made to fit into inconvenient areas and shapes – shower seats are often made with fiberglass. However, fiberglass can corrode easier under extreme heat and acidic cleaning products.
Considerations
Now you have a little knowledge on how fiberglass and acrylic showers are different from one another, but it is time to choose the right one for you. It can be hard deciding which may be best for you ten years down the road. Keep in mind that spending a little more money now on a good acrylic or fiberglass shower will help to prevent replacements so soon after. If this explanation helped you figure out if you should go with an acrylic or fiberglass shower contact us today. We’d be more than thrilled to work with you to rebuild your bathroom!