If you’re looking for an attractive, easy-to-clean alternative to tile that will last as long as your home…this is it!
We’ve built solid surface showers since 2014, and many of our clients LOVE them. These are very popular in guest bathrooms, as safety showers, and even as low-maintenance primary showers for empty nesters and retirees.
It’s easy to see why: with no grout, and no sealing required, solid surface saves you time and hassle, while looking great and feeling SOLID!
These are NOT flimsy fiberglass inserts or thin acrylic shower walls (which aren’t solid surfaces).
Our true solid surface has a few other benefits, as well:
Solid surface shower remodels can be built 40%-60% faster than tile.
Because it installs faster, solid surface showers usually cost less than tile.
You don't have to go to a tile store. We'll bring samples to you, and help you coordinate with the rest of your bathroom.
Solid surface lasts forever. This is NOT true of most tile showers - except, of course, those we build.
Solid surface is a thick, non-porous building material that’s ideal for bathroom remodeling – especially with the hard water in Houston. The non-porous nature of this product keeps microorganisms, dirt, and grime on top of the material, instead of allowing them to embed inside small holes, or “pores,” in the surface.
We sell and install two different solid surface products, both of which are Made in the USA. Our most recommended product is from The Onyx Collection. We nickname this “Onyx,” although it has nothing to do with the stone of the same name.
Onyx solid surface is formulated with a base of 63% alumina trihydrate, along with 37% polyester resins and other ingredients. This is the same base ingredient as DuPont’s Corian®, which you commonly see in kitchen and bath countertops. And while Corian is great, Onyx’s solid surface is easier to clean and has a better guarantee.
Here are some other key features of our solid surface:
In short, solid surface materials provide firm and substantial shower surfaces, without the “give” common to acrylic and fiberglass materials.
Our Houston hard water, along with soap scum, body oils, etc., are not a problem for this material.
You’ll never need to replace an Onyx shower we’ve installed, as long as you maintain it properly.
Onyx solid surface comes in over 40 colors, with everything from whites and creams, to grays, tans, and even black. Lighter colors are more popular for shower walls, but we often build two-tone Onyx showers with darker bases and lighter walls.
Shower walls can be ordered smooth, or with a grooved tile pattern (subway, 12″ x 12″ stone tile, shiplap, or “wavy” tile). We can also add a contrasting color stripe in the same material, or using real tile (which looks SHARP!).
Onyx shower bases are available in standard and custom sizes. There are three available curb heights, from a low of 1.75″ to a high of 4″. You can also have a a ramp piece added for wheelchair access. All bases include a non-slip texture, and your drain can be located almost anywhere, to avoid expensive drain movement.
Onyx is suitable for a variety of shower remodels, including kids’ and guest baths, ADA and accessible showers, tub-to-shower conversions, and large walk-in showers. You can also order matching Onyx countertops for your bathroom cabinets.
Check out Onyx’s shower design tool for a quick visual.
This option is great for those who lean more towards tile, but don’t want the hard maintenance of a tile shower floor.
With this approach, we pair the style and customized look of tile walls with an easy-to-clean, solid shower floor.
We offer Onyx Collection solid surface shower bases in almost any size, and in over 40 standard colors. These bases can be color-coordinated to pair with any type of tile design, or matched with porcelain or stone slab walls.
We also design and build solid surface showers as "hybrids," which include some tile - often as an accent stripe or custom soap niche.
This is a fantastic way to add pizzazz, without adding a ton of maintenance (since there isn't much tile!)
In the shower conversion featured at left (below), we added both a tile accent stripe and two custom tile niches, framed in solid surface. This shower is part of a secondary bath that gets used by a variety of guests, some of whom have safety concerns. For this reason, it also has a folding bench and grab bars.
The most requested solid surface showers we build are complete systems, with solid surface walls and bases, and no tile whatsoever.
This is for best for those who want a clean break with all tile, and the lowest possible maintenance. We build tub to shower conversions, shower remodels, tub surrounds, and walk-in-showers like this all the time, all over Houston.
This option offers the best price point and the fastest possible installation time.
We offer many soap dishes, niches, and shelves, including custom recessed niches - with or without LED lighting.
Hand-held showers, rain showerheads, body jets, and thermostatic controls can transform your daily shower.
Add color and interest with accent stripes, inlays, or trim made from real tile or solid surface, for some color "pop"!
We'll help you decide if a full bench or folding seat is best, and install as many stud-mounted grab bars as you'd like.
It may be possible to make your current shower larger, without removing or affecting any nearby items.
You will never have an easier time maintaining your glass, than with our optional ShowerGuard™ baked-in enamel.
If we are remodeling your master / primary bath, we can also replace the surround behind your tub so it matches.
Sometimes a foot rest, robe hook, towel bar, or premium door handle can make all the difference in your shower.
We can also replace your toilet, exhaust fan, countertop, and lights during the project - without a lot of extra mess!
Believe it or not, proper waterproofing is a good idea behind your solid surface.
At Simplicity, we waterproof the walls behind your new solid surface to guarantee your shower will LAST. This step ensures that if your silicone corners separate, you have an ultimate, moisture-repelling barrier standing guard. This extra layer of protection gives you peace of mind, and provides a “tacky” substrate for your solid surface walls.
See below for a closer look at our stepped process to create a waterproof layer behind your Onyx walls.
In brief, these steps are:
As you might imagine, this is not the fastest method of installing solid surface. Most contractors do not take the time to waterproof Onyx, because they want to build jobs faster.
Our pricing includes all materials, trade labor, company insurance, and your warranty.
There are, however, other components to your final price – and you need to be aware of them!
No matter what contractor you hire for your shower, these TWO important items, although rarely discussed, are always factored in:
The benefits you receive from professional pre-planning include design and color coordination, full discussion of options and accessories, and technical construction guidance. Rushing through or skipping these conversations isn’t helpful. Most Houston bath companies do a “one call close” with heavy fake discounting to sell you a project in one visit. This can result in important details and concerns being skipped in the name of speed. Our careful, detail-oriented planning process eliminates this concern.
Typical Houston shower companies use a lead installer system, where a worker is in charge of everything on-site. Most don’t have a project manager or company owner who visits jobsites every day. While this saves costs and lets them sell jobs cheaper, it also creates an environment where sub-optimal decision-making frequently occurs – the focus is “just getting it done,” NOT producing the best possible build. We do not operate this way.
You should consider proper project management a service you are paying for, and an integral part of your project.
When comparing “apples to apples,” here are some things to keep in mind:
For these reasons, a competitor’s quote on the “same” Onyx shower doesn’t mean they’ll build the same carefully-crafted Onyx shower as us.
We’re widely known as one of the most reliable bathroom remodelers in Katy & Houston. We aren’t willing to compromise our reputation – and your shower renovation – by cutting corners or using cheap workers. When you hire Simplicity, you’re getting a totally risk-free proposition.
With these factors in mind, the smallest solid surface shower we can build in Houston, without add-ons, starts at $10,000.
Most solid surface showers end up in the $15,000 – 20,000 range with all options factored in. Larger, fancier, and more complex Onyx showers can exceed this range.
By comparison, tile showers are usually a larger investment. This is because specialized labor must prep, waterproof, lay out, cut, set, and grout tile very carefully, for long-term performance.
Your shower investment is one you’ll either appreciate, or struggle with, for as long as you own your home. Hiring real pros is your best bet. Your cheaper options in the general Houston contracting space are not good – as many, many homeowners have found out.
We’ll discuss your unique shower project when you call.
No. The solid surface shower bases, countertops, tub decks, and wall slabs we install are made to order in whatever size, color, and configuration you pick. They are not sitting on a shelf in inventory waiting to be bought.
As mentioned above, this product is heavy, and does not have the flimsy feel and cheap look of prefabricated, one-piece plastic showers, and most acrylic shower walls.
Also note, your solid surface shower walls do not arrive ready to install; our team has to template, cut, prep, and set each wall carefully, for your unique application.
Yes. We follow TCNA (Tile Council of North America) guidelines when building with this material, which means we put up two coats of waterproofing membrane behind the solid surface, just in case water ever gets through the silicone seams (it shouldn’t, but this can happen). We call this the “belt and suspenders” method, and it gives you extra insurance for the future.
We’ve heard of other Houston contractors who simply throw up greenboard (a moisture-resistant, paper-faced sheetrock) and keep moving. This will certainly result in a faster install; however, greenboard is NOT code compliant for use in a wet area, and hasn’t been for many years. We aren’t willing to sacrifice durability for a faster, cheaper install.
Onyx Collection recommends a weekly (or so) cleaning with gentle, non-abrasive household cleaners such as white vinegar, or Eliminate, or any other non-abrasive cleaner. You do not want to use anything that feels gritty or any type of steel wool, or anything else of this nature. Many of our customers tell us they use only white vinegar, with great results.
Like everything else, this material is scratchable. Solid surface resists scratches better than acrylic, but not as well as tile or stone.
To avoid this, do not use metal squeegees or other metal implements in your shower or on your countertop (definitely don’t set paint buckets on your Onyx countertop!). While these are unlikely to damage the material itself, the protective gelcoat can be scratched by them, and will then need to be buffed.
If you do get a scratch, we’ll set up a service for you through the manufacturer, who offers free repair services. Most scratches are easily buffed out.
3-5 days is typical to carefully remove your old shower, take care of the plumbing and wall preparation (including waterproofing), and get the panels sized, cut, and installed properly.
This is not a “one day bath” product, because it is heavy and requires templating for best results.
Solid surface shower walls generally range from 1/4″ thick (Swanstone) to 5/16″ – 3/8″ thick (Onyx Collection). This makes them much thicker and heavier than acrylic shower walls. Acrylic walls are designed to be lightweight and easy to install, to keep installation costs low.
For your shower remodel, solid surface will feel sturdy and solid, without the “spongey,” plastic feel of thin acrylic walls. Solid surface will also add more resale value to your home. Both will eliminate grout and clean easy.
Solid surface definitely has a different “feel” than porcelain, ceramic, stone, or glass tile, particularly the gelcoat-topped solid surface from Onyx.
If you value ease of cleaning and no grout, but don’t want a plastic wall system like acrylic, solid surface is ideal. Solid surface will save money and installation time versus tile.
If the traditional feel and aesthetic of tile is most important, we have options to produce an easier-clean version of traditional tile shower systems. Tile generally costs more and takes longer to install than solid surface.
No, unless you’re living in a shack! Seriously, any stick-framed home, townhome, or condominium built to code in the last 100 years can support this product. It is heavy, but typically not more so than the tile or cultured marble that you may already have.
No. As with a proper tile installation, you will have a color-matched 100% silicone applied to corners and joints, not grout. Grout should never be used in joints and corners – it will always crack! 100% silicone is a special elastomer that is not like regular caulk, paintable caulk, or even acrylic siliconized caulk; it is completely inorganic and non-porous, which makes it perfectly suited to this application. As far as cleaning, simply wipe down the silicone in your corners and joints with the very same cleaners you use on the rest of your shower, as part of your regular cleaning.
No. An extra wax coating such as Gel Gloss can be used to help make your periodic cleaning even easier, but this isn’t required.
We also offer Swanstone® solid surface, which is a premium matte-finish product for shower walls, bases, and countertops. Swanstone® also has a lifetime guarantee, and we can often get it faster than The Onyx Collection. However, Onyx Collection’s gelcoat is the best-in-class when it comes to making your daily cleaning easier. While Corian and and Swanstone® are also non-porous, they do not have this protective gelcoat, so cleaning and maintenance can require slightly more effort than with a typical Onyx system. Whatever solid surface product you pick, these materials will provide a long-lasting, lower-maintenance shower or bathroom solution versus tile.
Yes, over a period of years, the silicone sealant in any shower may need to be replaced, depending on a variety of factors, including frequency of use. Even tile showers, if constructed properly, will have silicone in the corners (corners and changes of plane will experience movement, thus they must be covered with a “stretchy” material – which is what 100% silicone is best at).
Unfortunately, most bath companies and their salespeople will not tell you this. They often use terms like “maintenance-free” which is misleading and inaccurate; “grout free” does not mean maintenance free. Even though cleaning is much easier with a groutless, solid surface shower, all maintenance is not eliminated. However, ridding yourself of grout maintenance is certainly something that will make your shower routine easier!
We do not use blended caulks or “siliconized” caulks in your shower, because these products can be a food source for microorganisms. Instead, we only use 100% RTV silicone, as recommended by the manufacturer.
You can extend the life of your silicone through regular, gentle cleaning.
If your silicone needs replacement at any point, call us. We have the ability to strip and reapply your silicone through a service call.
Yes. Solid surface is a thicker, heavier material that normally requires two people to install properly. As skilled labor is typically the biggest cost for a shower renovation, this means solid surface will cost more than acrylic.
Simplicity Bath & Shower specializes in high-quality bathroom and shower remodels in Greater Houston, with a focus on careful design and craftsmanship.
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