How Do You Install Cultured Marble Shower Wall Panels Step by Step?

Cultured marble shower wall panels are installed in a fixed order: the shower base is set and its drain connected first, the wall surface behind the panels is checked, each panel is trimmed to its wall with a masonry blade in a circular saw, and the panels are then glued up, joined at their factory finished edges and finished with caulk or trim wherever a cut edge shows. Because the panels are molded in stock sizes, with the back panel topping out at 60 inches wide by 96 inches tall and side panels in 30, 32, 34 and 36 inch widths, a shower that is not a standard size is handled by ordering the panel that meets or exceeds each wall and cutting off the excess. Cultured Marble Shower Wall Panels: Stock Sizes, Cutting to Fit, and Finishing the Edges covers the sizes and the cut in detail; this page puts the whole job in order from the first measurement to the last bead of caulk.

Step 1: Measure the Walls and Choose the Panels

Measure each wall at the top, the middle and the bottom, and use the largest figure, because walls are rarely square. For each side wall pick the stock width that meets or exceeds that figure, and confirm the back wall is no wider than 60 inches. A side wall that measures 29 inches deep, for example, is covered by the 30 inch side panel with 1 inch removed, which is a quick straight cut. A panel that is too small cannot be stretched to fit, so when a wall falls between sizes, go up. Note any windows, valves or niches the panel must be cut around. Writing the three measurements down also tells you how far out of square each wall is before the saw comes out. The table below lists the largest panel in each Ella wall line and whether it can be cut down.

The differences come down to height, depth and what gets cut. Cultured marble stops at 96 inches tall and 36 inches deep on a side wall, so a taller alcove or a deeper side wall points to the acrylic kit instead. The wall surround is the only component trimmed on site. The base is never cut, so an odd footprint is handled by ordering a custom base, as explained in Can shower pans be cut to size or ordered custom?. Shower products are sold per item rather than as one bundle, availability of each wall line changes over time, and the panels do not come in custom sizes, so confirm every panel size with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 before the order is placed. Where Can I Buy Cultured Marble Shower Walls, and Is Acrylic Better? covers how the panels are ordered and how the two materials compare.

Step 2: Set the Base and Prepare the Wall Surface

The pan and the walls go in sequence. The base is set first, on a floor prepared so the drain line lands where the drain sits on the pan you ordered, and the drain is connected before any wall panel goes up, because the walls land on top of the pan. The second video on this page shows Ella's cultured marble shower bases, which come in three sizes with a glossy gel coat finish and a slip resistant textured floor. Those bases are heavy and need at least two people to install, unlike the wall panels, which one person can carry and install. Next, check the surface the panels will bond to. The panels glue over drywall, plaster, painted walls, Durock or even existing tile, so the room does not have to be stripped to the studs, but whatever is behind the panels has to be sound, clean and dry before any adhesive goes on.

Step 3: Cut the Panels to Fit

Cultured marble is a natural quartz and granite composite with a gel coat surface, which is why it is treated as a masonry cut. The tool list is short: a masonry blade fitted to a standard circular saw, a flat surface that supports the panel fully while it is cut, a marked cut line before the saw starts, and eye protection and a dust mask. No specialty equipment is called for. Cut the excess off the panel that meets or exceeds the wall, and cut around any window, valve or niche you noted in Step 1. The full cutting walkthrough, including how to plan a short straight cut, is in How Do You Cut Cultured Marble Shower Walls Cleanly and Safely?.

Step 4: Glue the Panels, Join the Edges and Finish the Cuts

Glue each panel in place and join the edges. The edges are factory finished for seamless panel joining, so an uncut edge meeting another uncut edge needs no cover. A cut edge does not need to be polished. The simplest finish is a bead of caulk along the edge, which can be painted over to match the wall. Where a more finished look is wanted, a 2 inch trim piece is applied over the edge. Ella carries a 1 inch corner trim in 96 inch lengths that suits inside corners and the ceiling line, and a 2 inch by 3/4 inch flat trim that covers the gap at the tub. The first video on this page shows the travertine surround and the multi-piece eight, six or four panel sets going into a remodel, with the edges joined for a seamless look. Once the panels are up, your contractor mounts any grab bars and other accessories on the finished walls.

Who Does the Work

A local licensed contractor, usually a plumber or a remodeling contractor who does bathrooms, installs both the base and the panels, because the drain connection is plumbing work and the panels bond to the existing wall surface. Ella molds the base, makes the panels and ships them as finished pieces, and supports your contractor by phone and email with manuals and live video help, but it does not send technicians or perform installations. If you do not have a contractor, the team can refer installers from its nationwide network. Who installs acrylic shower walls and shower pans in my bathroom? explains how to line up and brief the person doing both.

Watch: Cultured Marble Reversible Shower Base with Low Threshold for Safer Bathing | Ella’s Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

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