Bathtub surrounds are a simple, economical and great way to upgrade your tub and bath and give it a new look. A bathtub surround, also known as a wall kit or tub wall, is a kind of a wall that is installed from the tub end to the ceiling. As the name suggests, surrounds encircle the tub from three sides, leaving one side from which to enter the tub.

Benefits of Bathtub Surrounds

• They provide a good way to make your bathroom look new.
• A bathtub surround provides a watertight barrier around your tub which protects your walls from water seepage.
• Bathtub surrounds are easy to maintain.
• They can be installed over most surfaces such as cement, plaster, drywall, bathtub tile, etc.

Installing Bath Tub Surrounds

It is important that it is installed properly so that it provides adequate water proofing and does not come loose. Here are the basics involved in putting up bathtub surrounds:

• Get the walls ready by removing all the fixtures such as taps, showers, soap dish, etc, from the walls.
• Repair the surface if need be to make it flat and solid.
• Measure the size and location of the fixtures and cut out the appropriate holes in the wall surround panels.
• Fix the panels on the wall temporarily and see that the holes for the fixtures are in the correct place and that the panels are aligned properly.
• Once the placement is absolutely perfect, attach the bathtub surround with the use of adhesive. Use enough adhesive but not too much. Some panels also have peel-and-stick tape that you can use to attach the panels of the bath tub surround to the wall. Let the adhesive take hold, which may take up to 24 hours.
• After that fix the fittings, and you are done!

Most bathtub surrounds come with specific instructions for installation. Refer to these and follow the guidelines for proper installation.