Swanstone Shower Wall Kits and Panels www.swanstone.
Safety Guidelines The Swan Assurance — if our product is properly installed and maintained, as stated in these instructions, it will not leak. Remember – Safety First IMPORTANT NOTICE The Swan Corporation, the makers of the Swan products, cannot anticipate every possible circumstance that might involve a potential hazard during the installation of our product(s). The warnings and instructions in this installation guide are, therefore, not all-inclusive.
Safety Guidelines WARNING Lifting Hazard According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the recommended maximum safe lifting weight is 51 pounds, with all lifting conditions perfect— minimal forward reach, steady load close to the body, straight back, load between knees and shoulders, and good grips. To avoid personal injury, always use these proper lifting techniques and use two people to move cartons weighing more than 51 lbs.
Safety Guidelines General Information Contacting live electrical wiring with power tools or hand tools can cause serious injury or death. Make sure all related circuit breakers are turned OFF. Test for live circuits or wiring inside any wall where installation of the Swanstone product requires cutting into a wall.
General Information Installation Procedure Installation Procedure Helpful Hints mR ead these instructions carefully and familiarize yourself with the various parts of the kit. mT he variety of installations possible for this kit may require procedures other than those shown. Ensure construction is correctly sized, plumb, and square. mS ave the large cardboard box for protection of the shower floor during the installation process and to use as a template for cutting the back shower wall panel.
Installation Procedure Filler Boards mR emove or reattach any loose ceramic tiles. Old tiles and front edge ceramic tiles should be reset for appearance only. If an existing wall covering (i.e. tile) does not extend to a height equal to the height of the panel, it will be necessary to install a filler board to that height. The filler board must equal the thickness of the existing wall covering (tile). Usually, 1/4” masonite or similar material is adequate.
Installation Procedure Note: For more information on installing apron strips, refer to the Apron Strips (optional) instructions in the Installation Procedure section of this manual. 2. If the shower base is not perpendicular to the wall, use a level and draw a line around the alcove on all three walls. Measure the distance from the line to the top of the shower base. 3. Transfer these measurements to both side panels and the back panel. Cut the bottoms of the panels.
Installation Procedure 5. WARNING Place the panel, finished side facing up, on a flat surface. Using a pencil, lightly mark the center of the back panel. Dust Hazard When cutting or drilling the Swanstone product, use a dust collection method which prevents dust particles from going into the air. Always work in a wellventilated area. To keep the area well-ventilated, open windows and use exhaust fans. Always use an OSHA approved dust mask when cutting, drilling, or sanding Swanstone products. 8. 6.
Installation Procedure Side Panel (with shower controls) 3. Note: On subway tile and square tile panels, the side panels are marked with labels in the top, right-hand or left-hand corner of the panel. The edge closest to the label is the outside finished edge and should not be cut. 4. Cut the panel using a circular saw with a 60-80 tooth carbide blade or a saber saw with a bi-metal blade (14 teeth per inch). If the side panels do not require cutting to size, proceed to Step 5.
Installation Procedure 7. Cut clearance holes using a router, saber saw, or hole saw. Drill or cut from the finished side of the panel. For best results, when drilling, place a scrap of wood beneath the hole to ensure a clean cut. 3. Place the wall panel, finished side facing up, on a flat surface. Place pieces of masking tape over the area where the saw contacts the Swanstone panel.
Installation Procedure WARNING Panel Installation WARNING This process is not recommended for the do-ityourself homeowner. Fumes Hazard The fumes from the silicone and solvents used by the installer can be harmful if used in an unventilated room. Always work in a well-ventilated area. To keep the area well-ventilated, open windows and use exhaust fans. If adequate ventilation is not achievable or practical, use respiratory protective equipment. 1.
Installation Procedure 1. Measure the distance from the top of the shower base to the outside of the panel. Cut two pieces of the Swanstone material to fit in this area. 4. Attach the apron strips to the wall. Note: This illustration shows the recommended 1/2” gap between the wallboard edge and the front of the shower floor (helps prevent water damage due to wicking effect).
Installation Procedure 2. Place two braces against each left and right wall. For corner shower wall installation use the following illustrated bracing design. ATTENTION: Additional bracing may be required if the Swanstone brand panel does not make full contact to the wall it is adhered to. Attach this board to the wall 3. Attach this board to the wall Install (wedge) three horizontal braces (six total) against the left and right wall braces.
Installation Procedure Corner Soap Dish Installation 4. The soap dish is a corner mount design. The soap dishes can be stacked in one corner or placed in opposite corners. Note: Either clear or color matched silicone can be used for attaching the soap dish. Note: The soap dish is molded with a square corner (as shown in the illustrations). This shape requires installation of the optional corner molding after installation of the soap dish. 1.
Installation Procedure 1. Measure and cut the corner moldings to length. IMPORTANT NOTICE Do not use oil-based cleaners, such as mineral spirits, to clean the panels. The oil in the cleaner will prevent the panel from adhering properly to the wall. 2. 4. Apply a 1/8 to 1/4” bead of silicone to the back of the corner molding in an S pattern, as shown. 5. Press the corner moldings into place. Remove any excess silicone. 6.
Installation Procedure 1. Maintenance & Surface Repair Care and Cleaning Apply color-matched 100% silicone sealant to all of the inside seams, as shown. The Swanstone products are stain and abrasion resistant; however, the finish requires reasonable care. IMPORTANT NOTICE Because cleaning products change over time, always check the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure it is compatible with solid surface acrylic or with fiberglass reinforced polyester.
Warranty Warranty NOTES If a Swan Corporation product covered by this warranty is found to be defective in materials or workmanship, after inspection by an authorized Swan Corporation representative, we will repair, or at our option, exchange the product for a similar model. This warranty extends for a designated period of time, so long as it remains in use in its original place of installation.
Swan 18 800-325-7008
Save these Installation Instructions for future reference. They provide important information on cleaning, maintenance, and surface repair of the Swanstone Wall Systems and Panels. www.swanstone.
