The Ultimate Shower Showdown: Acrylic vs. Fiberglass – Which Is Better and Why?
Whether you’re building a new home and planning the design of your bathrooms or looking to replace an existing shower in your Nashville, Tennessee, home, you’re probably wondering which kind of shower to go with – acrylic or fiberglass. While fiberglass showers are quite attractive to homeowners given their lower price tag, affordability may be the only area in which fiberglass wins out.
Acrylic showers, though more expensive, generally last much longer than fiberglass showers. The difference in durability between these shower types has a lot to do with how they are manufactured. Acrylic showers are made from heated plastic-like materials that are stretched into a mold and then vacuumed to form the final shape. This mold-and-vacuum manufacturing process of acrylic showers produces shower stalls that are incredibly strong, scratch-resistant, and non-porous. Fiberglass showers, on the other hand, are made by pouring a liquid material into a gel-coated mold. The gel in the mold adheres to the fiberglass and protects it from water damage and bacterial growth. However, underneath the gel coating, the fiberglass is porous and, as the gel coating wears away over time, the fiberglass frame is exposed to water, which can cause cracks, rotting, mold, and a host of other problems.
That said, if you plan to stay in your home for a significant length of time, and would prefer a shower that will look great, require little maintenance, and serve you and your family well for many years to come, an acrylic shower is likely your best bet.
Stunning Bathroom Renovations from American Home Design
Since 1977, American Home Design has been the preferred bathroom remodeling company of Nashville homeowners. In our more than 40 years of business, we’ve helped countless residents increase the comfort, appearance, functionality, and safety of their bathrooms by installing top-of-the-line products that perform optimally and stand the test of time.
To learn more about partnering with us to have a new acrylic or fiberglass shower installed at your Nashville-area home, contact American Home Design today.
