We are in the middle of switching gears, changing from our original plan for a Swanstone shower to one covered in tile. After I ordered the Swanstone, with all the accessories, and it sat in the garage for over a year because of construction delays and life just getting in the way, DH told me that he really wanted tile instead. Grrr. Now I have a Swanstone shower that I can't use. Maybe someone else will want it. I could make 'em a great deal. :)

Anyway .... back to the topic .... because I'm tiling the shower myself, it will cost significantly less than the Swanstone. Our shower is the same size as yours, so here's how ours breaks down:

$40 for 4 sheets of 1/4" Hardi-backer (to go over the sheetrock),
$41 for a bucket of Redgard,
$200, approximately, for the 3 x 6 subway field tile
another $100 or so, I think, for trim tiles and bullnose tiles,
$50 for assorted thinset and grout stuff
for a total of about $450, I'm guessing. (I have to order the tile later this week.)

I imagine there would be a considerable labor savings with the Swanstone surround, if you can get it past your DH ... I couldn't.

Connie

We figured the same thing - the pretty beadboard swanstone shower panels I wanted were WAY more than tile. We went with the solid surface pan (corian in our case since it had to be custom but I would have been happy to use swanstone) and tiled shower. We tiled it floor to ceiling including ceiling with niche, kerdi, a bit of complexity (herringbone and borders) and it was $4k for tile labor including the floor with border and 4' high tile wainscot in a large bathroom. I LOVE my shower... it's the total perfect compromise for me.

We also looked into both, and ended up going with tile. There are so many beautiful tiles out there, and many aren't very expensive. Final numbers on our reno aren't in yet, but I do believe we saved overall, even considering tile labor costs.

The other thing that swayed us was actually looking at the swanstone. When we went into the showroom and saw it, it really looked, well, hotel-y, so to speak, and not as nice or special as we wanted for our family bath. So I think it's also a matter of taste.

Bottom line, I would also go with a solid surface for the pan and tile the rest.

Thanks to all....so it's 3-for-3 so far, go with tile walls but solid pan. A friend tells me that Swanstone and other solid surface products are connected directly to the framing, that you do NOT use cement board behind them. Is that so? I guess you'd also save on the board, then, but I'm still worried about water intrusion at seams and corners.

The good thing about the shower pan is that not only is the floor unquestionably waterproof and (presumably) easier to keep clean, but the corners are solid, which has to be cleaner (???)

I should probably start a new thread, but has anyone had experience with stainless steel pans? I wonder if that makes more sense than the acrylic/Corian units. (But wouldn't it be loud?)

We remodeled a bath a few years ago with Swanstone panels and pan. It cost around $1700 for the materials, as I recall, but it was super easy to install (cuts with a saw, glues to the studs). We put a cove molding on the corner and caulked it to keep the water out.

I don't have anything really new to add to the comments above, other than you have to decide what's more important to you in the mix of cost, look, ease of maintenance, watertightness (SS wins on the latter two). Whether tile costs more than SS depends on what tile you pick. I don't know what install labor costs, as we're DIY-ers. But generally I think tile (materials + labor) should cost less than SS.

Thanks again to all.....had a contractor out yesterday, and it is true that if it's just down to cost, a decent tile with simple design (e.g., one listello trim) combined with solid surface pan will be less than Swanstone beadboard panels by far. As weedyacres put it, the Swanstone wins on maintenance and watertightness, and I like the beadboard look -- but with cost not a factor, given that this is the master bath, I think we'll go with tile. Thanks for your input, as I was able to ask the right questions when discussing with the contractor.

For others with the same question, I can also tell you that the cost difference between a solid surface pan installed vs tile floor installed is about $1500 additional for the tile floor. (At least that's what I was quoted; living in Washington DC metro area.) While I love the look of the tile floor (especially that pebblestone posted recently!), this is a place where we can save and have easier cleaning and maintenance.

We did a cultured marble shower; 2 walls 4 X 4 X 96" height, with pan, a large 13" X 18" shampoo niche = $1,600.

Frameless, water repellant treated, thick glass, 2 full walls = $2,550.

Total $4,150.

Included were a brushed grab bar, draincover, a towel bar and shower door handle. They also installed the shower bar, the faucets and hand spray.

Certainly not cheap, but oh, so easy to clean!

One thing that helps prevent what you called Icky is make sure that who ever installs your tile seals it. Another thing that causes this issue is after many people shower they close the bathroom door, which leave the steam closed up and causes mildew and mold.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fiveash Renovations

I am also a contractor with bathroom adventures, both tile and solid surface. Swanstone, Tere-stone, and the new Kohler Choreograph. As per the previous contractor you must install MR drywall or cement board behind the solid surface walls. Moister resistant drywall has always been my choice.

I think tile can be quite beautiful. But for ease of maintenance we went with cultured granite surrounds (already had a Corian granite-look sink vanity) and for the shower, a cultured granite showerpan. Contractors used cement board.

Due to high labor costs in our area going with Swanstone or CG worked out to be cheaper than a professional tile installation. With CG the cost included installation, no small matter. It took three strong men to move in a 38" custom neo-angle pan!

We considered Swanstone - we have Swanstone kitchen countertops and sink - but they did not do custom sizes, so we went with the CG which looks similar. Most people, even contractors, think it's Corian. It's very slightly shinier than Corian due to the gelcoat.

My spouse loathes tile. If we bought a house with a tiled shower surround the first thing we would do is rip it out; he will not tolerate it in bathrooms or kitchens (he went to hotel & restaurant mgmt school so he's big on the whole non-porous idea).

We have had the CG surrounds for 13 yrs and they are almost effortless to maintain. We don't even have to squeegee it. Just spray after use, maybe 2x/yr I run a wet sponge over the walls before I exit. Still look brand-new, too. Recently my spouse remarked it was the best of all the changes we've made to our home in the 25 yrs we've been here.

We went for custom tile, with a pebble-tile/mortarbed floor, in 2 baths (and 1 more to do next). Costs were between 2k and 3k for a very simple design - 2 colors of the same porcelain tile, with a strip of inexpensive trim in between. In our 2nd-story bath, the tile floor was necessary because we have radiant in-floor heating, and on the 2nd story the pex tubing sits on top of the subfloor (under the finish floor). I would do it again - and plan to in our 3rd bath!