Bathroom remodel question.

[nekvermont]

We live in a 1830's farmhouse and our bathroom is in desperate need of a makeover. My wife and I have been looking at shower bases and walls and are overwhelmed with the number of choices. We are kinda leaning toward "Swanstone" or "Corian". This is a huge investment for us and I want to be confident in our decision. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with either one of these products or can give us some other Ideas. Thanks.

 

[Bull Barrel]

Whatever product you choose ensure it is well supported underneath to prevent flexing.
I will contact a friend who used to be in the bidness.

 

[BearBio]

We have one in Swanstone but haven't installed it yet. We are doing all three bathrooms (ONE at a time). We'll be finished with the first one as soon as they refinish the cast iron tub.

 

[Bull Barrel]

My friend says go with the Swanstone. Good stuff but not inexpensive. I figure you already know that.

 

[Bull Barrel]

BTW avoid the textured finish as it is harder to keep clean.

 

[gramps]

As you are dying, will you think of the new bathroom fondly? Or think, I should have bought ..... to spend more time with the family? Good luck!
gramps

 

[blume357]

You get what you pay for. As mentioned.... you don't want the base flexing... buy good and make sure it is supported well under it.... thin set leveling mortar is best....

 

[Kevin]

An 1830's farmhouse? That must be awesome! When was the last time the bathroom was updated? Up in Vermont can you do what you want to a house that age or are there restrictions to keep it more or less original?

In Boise, Idaho our apartment was there in the North End in these two houses from the 1890's. I was told they were originally ice houses of some kind. Not sure. Then the first house we bought was a farmhouse from 1912. That was in Carnation l, Washington. I love those old houses....lots of character.

Good luck with the bathroom. We are going to be redoing our kitchen very soon. Costs add up in a hurry. We are putting in a Silstone sink, made by Blanco. They are like crushed granite and resin of some kind. Very nice texture.

 

[redhawker]

We have Corian countertops in the kitchen. So far they've held up well. I believe we've had them at least 8 years but I could be wrong a couple of years either way. (I know it's been more than 6 as the date has faded from memory). Ours are a plain off-white (no pattern). One thing that they told us, that we haven't had to do so far, was if we got a stain that wouldn't come out we could use fine sandpaper to take it out and, supposedly, you'd never know the stain had been there of that you sanded it off. But, like I said, we've never had to try it so take that with a grain of salt.

 

[Bull Barrel]

My bathtub repair friend specifically said Corian is for countertops.
Go with Swanstone.

 

[RSIno1]

I've worked with corian at work with our cabinet maker. It's heavy and there is an art to making the seams disappear. I'll second that it needs to be fully and well supported.

 

[nekvermont]

An 1830's farmhouse? That must be awesome! When was the last time the bathroom was updated? Up in Vermont can you do what you want to a house that age or are there restrictions to keep it more or less original?

In Boise, Idaho our apartment was there in the North End in these two houses from the 1890's. I was told they were originally ice houses of some kind. Not sure. Then the first house we bought was a farmhouse from 1912. That was in Carnation l, Washington. I love those old houses....lots of character.

Good luck with the bathroom. We are going to be redoing our kitchen very soon. Costs add up in a hurry. We are putting in a Silstone sink, made by Blanco. They are like crushed granite and resin of some kind. Very nice texture.

Kevin, the old house may be awesome but it's a handful, always something to do on it. I'm not sure when the last time it was updated. It has an old [built into the corner] cast iron tub but still has lath and plaster walls and a wide pine plank floor. Most people would call the place rustic. :lol: There are no restrictions on modernizing these old houses, a lot of them sit on a decent size piece of land and are bought by rich out of staters that spend a lot of money to make them into something that is far from being a quaint old house. We used to live about a half mile from here and moved into this house 34 years ago. Can't imagine living anywhere else.

 

[powder smoke]

Which ever product you decide on Swanstone or Corian both are heavy and need proper
installation. Personally I like Corian been around many years and proven durable.
Can be cut on a Table saw with carbide blade. Routed shaped even sanded. A very versatile product.
With many choices of colors. Another option maybe a shower pan copper I recommend
with Durrock wall and tile. Good luck with your project! Remember by sq. ft. Bathrooms
are expensive endeavors do it right the first time. My first house was an 1860's vintage
New Englander I understand what your going thru.

Feel free to pm me I'll speak to you more about the shower pan install it you decide
to go that route. ps