Choosing the best frame for your shower or bathtub wall can be difficult. Should I install acrylic, a solid surface material like Swanstone, or use decorative tile? Will the quality of these products stand the test of time? Which one best suits your budget and tastes?

Learn 7 practical steps to determine which wall system is best for you.

Step 1 – Determine if you want to go over existing walls – To save money, it’s a good idea to fit a tub or shower wall frame over an existing surface. Specialty glue or butyl tape can be used to adhere acrylic or Swanstone solid surface materials over existing tile, as long as the current walls are not spongy or bowed. If you have a plastic or fiberglass system, it is not possible to put new walls on top of existing materials. In these cases, it will be necessary to remove the current system, install new backer board, and then put up new walls.

Step 2 – Think About Your Budget – If you’re like most, you want the most value for your money: a high-quality material that won’t break the bank.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive, easy-to-clean material, acrylic is a great choice. It’s warm to the touch, installs quickly, and comes with a lifetime warranty.

For a more elegant look (which is available in more decorative patterns and designs), consider a Swanstone solid surface wall. Swanstone is easy to maintain, has no joints to grout or seal, and comes in a wide variety of options.

Typically the most expensive product is tile (unless you have the ability to install it yourself and save hours of labor – tile is the most time consuming to install compared to sheet products like acrylic and Swanstone). There are unlimited options and price ranges for tiles and it also creates a stylish look.

Step 3 – Select your desired material, designs, colors and accents. Once you’ve selected between acrylic, Swanstone, and mosaic, you’re ready to choose your design and color(s).

Acrylic wall frames come in a multitude of colors, patterns, and finishes. There are solid, granite, metallic and also marble finishes. Additionally, the walls you select can be smooth, 4″ x 4″ simulated tile, 8″ x 10″ simulated tile, or even stone-look. Acrylic is no longer just a smooth-faced white wall.

Swanstone, while it has been known for its strength, consistent color and texture, grout-free quality, and the fact that it will not chip or crack, also has a wide range of decorative options. There are over 45 standard, high-gloss, and granite colors. In addition, there are decorative panels for building unique architectural designs called Pebble, Geometric, Beadboard, Tangier, and Barcelona. There are also designer trims and rosettes to create a finished look.

Tile offers the widest product options in terms of color, accents, borders, sizes, and thicknesses. Be sure to look for a high-density waterproof tile for your bathroom or shower.

Step 4 -Choose your board. Select the material to adhere the wall material to, and in the case of tiles, finish the face of the wall. What you don’t see in a tub or shower wall panel project is just as important as what you see. Use the correct materials behind the wall. Here are some recommendations:

Acrylic: If tile walls are in good condition, install over them adhering acrylic with butyl tape and color-matching sealer. This will save landfill costs, reduce project installation time, and save money. If the existing wall cannot be installed over moisture resistant greenboard or cement board.

Swanstone – Like acrylic, if the tile is in good structural shape, install it over the existing one. If not, Swanstone can be installed over greenboard or cement backboard using a special glue.

Tile: Poorly done tile installations have historically caused a lot of wasted money (cheap backer board may have been used, poor grout jobs, poor corner work are just a few of the issues). For tile installation, never use a green board: use a waterproof cement board or a waterproof Styrofoam board such as that made by Wedi Corporation. These boards need to be glued and bolted to your frame. In addition to using the proper backer board, consider investing in a urethane grout. This type of grout does not need to be resealed and is waterproof. Although it will cost you more up front, it will save you money down the road in needing to re-out, or worse, needing to redo your shower if you have any water damage.

Step 5 – Fix What’s Behind the Wall – The best time to fix an underperforming shower valve, a showerhead that’s sitting too low, or to add backing material to strengthen your fixture installation is when you have an open wall.

Step 6 – Identify the tub and shower fixtures you want to add functionality and style to your project. Have you always wanted a shaving leg trim, corner seat, curved shower bar to keep water in, hand shower, corner caddy, frameless shower door, shampoo or soap alcove, or grab bar? When you’re installing new wall framing, it’s the perfect time to customize your bath or shower to make it work for you and your family.

Step 7 – If the process sounds too difficult, call in a reputable contractor who isn’t a “one size fits all.” Let’s face it, there are many installation options and details that need to be done correctly to ensure a successful project. Calling a professional may be more expensive in the short term, but it will save you costs in the long run. Be sure to choose a contractor who won’t try to push you into the only type of bath or shower wall cladding system they sell (for example, a company that sells acrylic systems offers you this one solution). Look for a company that is trained and competent in multiple systems that will seek to understand your needs, budgets and tastes and provide you with different options.

Know that you are equipped with 7 steps that will serve as a good outline for planning your acrylic, Swanstone, or tile tub or shower wall cladding installation.