Shower Resurfacing Vs Epoxy Sealant
Shower resealing, sometimes referred to as barrier sealant, is the process of coating the inside of your shower floor with a waterproof sealant, which is designed to prevent water leaks and other damage to the shower walls. Once this step has been taken, you are then able to apply the waterproof sealant to the outside of your shower floor, allowing it to fully cure for a good amount of time before applying any further tilework, grout or sealing the tiles themselves. Once this has been done, you can then apply the tiles themselves, allowing them to dry nicely and harden fully so they are ready for the final sealant application.
Barrier shower resealing offers many advantages over the alternative option of simply repairing the tilework on your own. For one, the cost advantage is obvious – it is a lot cheaper to simply purchase shower tiles instead of having to do the tedious job of renovating and repairing the grout, walls, and flooring. Also, if the original installation was done correctly, there should not be any leaks at all, or very few if any at all, which will drastically reduce the overall cost of the project. Of course, sealing the grout will seal it up against future water leaks, but in the long run this may not be the best solution. By replacing the tile, you are also effectively doing a more extensive remodeling job because you are essentially replacing the same grout with a newer, more expensive product.
Barrier shower resealing is a great alternative to simply repairing the tiles and grout, but it does have its drawbacks. Most importantly, it cannot restore tile surfaces that have been cracked or chipped, and in some cases it cannot restore a file to its pre-existing appearance. This is because if there are any flaws in the underlying materials, such as discolored cement or a cracked and chipped wall, these defects will be visible when these tiles are installed. In addition, epoxy sealants cannot be applied to all kinds of surfaces, including shower walls. Epoxy sealants are best suited for installation in places where a more complete remodeling can be done, such as the floor of a bathroom. Shower panels should only be replaced when they are damaged or stained beyond repair, otherwise the cost of a new shower panel can become quite high.