[Greenbuilding] Ecological shower enclosure options

[George J. Nesbitt]

A long time ago I decided to do something about tile maintenance.
I started to use a squeegee to remove the remaining water on the shower 
walls and the tub after taking a shower.
No water on grout, no mold in grout, no need to clean.

If you do tile use larger tiles with small grout joints and an additive, 
plus use an additive, and clean after taking a shower.

I have to admit, I like the Idea of a shower/tub wall that is seamless, 
or has minimal seams.
I have used plastic laminate on 2 occasions.
The 1st was installed by a specialist on a 2 wall tub, with no seams.
The 2nd I installed myself on a 2 wall shower with a seam in the corner.
You might be able to get a laminate fabrication shop to bend one piece 
without seams.
I am not sure what the largest size plastic laminate comes in.
Plastic Laminate is relatively cheep, and uses a minimal amount of 
materials.

I did work on a project that the shower was finished with cement stucco.
But I would worry that it is too porus, and you would have to use toxic 
sealers.

Solid surfacing is expensive.
Cultured marble is less expensive, but I don't like the looks of most 
patterns.
Richlite/paperstone are possibilities, they are just thick plastic laminate.
Of course these use lots of binders.

Clarke's glass option sound interesting, can you elaborate or send pictures?
How does it look, because the substrate would show through?
Of course you could see If you have a leak.
You couldn't cut it because it has been tempered.

I tore my tub/shower apart 3 years ago and have thought about how to 
finish the shower walls too.



Clarke Olsen wrote:

>I have used 34" x 76" tempered glass panels salvaged from failed patio 
>door units as shower enclosures.
>Clarke Olsen
>
>On Aug 11, 2006, at 4:49 PM, josephbecker at riseup.net wrote:
>
>  
>
>>Hello all,
>>
>>In seeking options for an ecological shower enclosure, I came up short.
>>    
>>
>
>
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