Swanstone Wall Kits and Panels Product Warnings Safety Guidelines Kit Contents Required Tools Preparation Tips Installation Procedure Cleaning & Maintenance Surface Repair Warranty Information R ea B da ef n or d e Un In d st er al s lin ta g nd Register your warranty at www.swanstone.com.
The Swanstone 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 Swanstone Wall Systems and Panels, 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 IMPORTANT NOTICE CAUTION IMPORTANT NOTICE: Indicates that equipment or property damage can result if instructions are not followed. CAUTION: Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, may result in injury. It may also be used to alert against unsafe practices. Read and Understand the Manual It is the responsibility of any individual who installs or maintains this product to fully understand and follow proper installation and maintenance procedures.
Safety Guidelines Cutting Hazard The installation of the Swanstone product may require using power tools. Keep hands away from the cutting edge of any tool used in the installation of our product. Placing fingers in or around the cutting blades could result in serious personal injury. WARNING WARNING: Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in serious injury or death. Sharp Edge Hazard After cutting the edge of a Swanstone panel, it can be sharp.
Safety Guidelines General Information General Information WARNING Required Tools WARNING: Continued Circular saw with 60 to 80 tooth carbide blade Saber saw (straight up and down travel) with bi-metal blade (14 teeth per inch) Power Tool Hazard To prevent personal injury or possible death, always follow the electrical safety recommendations of the power tool’s manufacturer. Do not use power tools in an unsafe manner.
General Information Unpackaging Preparation Tips Use care when opening the box so that you do not damage the panels. Measure the width of the back wall (with green board) installed. This measurement cannot exceed the width of the Swanstone back panel. If the wall opening is too large, other methods or two panels will be required to cover the wall. This product is shipped to you or your retail center after careful inspection.
Installation Procedure Swanstone panels can be installed over a variety of products. If you intend to apply the panels to any surface other than those described, consult with a professional contractor. Use the following sections when installing this product over: Old Tile Depending on the condition of the existing wall surface, additional silicone may be required to ensure contact between the substrate and the wall panel.
Installation Procedure Followed carefully, these installation instructions will result in an easy, trouble-free installation of your Swanstone product. Any deviations, additions, and/or deletions from the prescribed installation, without prior written approval, will void the warranty covering this product. Not following the directions could also result in personal injuries, water damage, and other damage to floors, pipes, walls, and other portions of your building or home.
Installation Procedure 2. Apply a coat of water or oil-based primer/sealer to all the surfaces of the cementboard or greenboard (follow the manufacturer’s instructions). Allow the primer to dry thoroughly before applying any silicone. Wallboard Installation If the installation of the wall panels is covering an existing wall surface, proceed to the next section. 1. Cut out openings for the shower faucet(s) and shower head.
Installation Procedure 2. Place the back wall panel, finished side facing up, on a flat surface. Place the template over the wall panel and carefully trace the outline of the template. 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). 3. Remove the template and place pieces of masking tape over the area where the saw contacts the Swanstone panel. 5. Dry fit the back panel, and make any necessary adjustments.
Installation Procedure 3. 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). Left Side Cutting the side panel to precisely fit the back wall is not necessary if the corner molding supplied in most kits is used. This corner molding will cover gaps up to 1/2”. If the front panel does not require cutting to size, proceed to Step 4. 1. Place the panel on top of the shower base and slide it against the back wall panel.
Installation Procedure 6. 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. Right Side If the panel does not require cutting to size, proceed to the next section. 1. Place the panel on top of the shower base and slide it against the back wall panel. Scribe (mark) the panel, as shown.
Installation Procedure 3. 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). Panel Installation WARNING 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 Apron Strips (optional) WARNING If the wall and wall panel extends beyond the shower base, adding apron strips will provide a finished look to your installation. This process is not recommended for the do-it-yourself homeowner. The two small apron strips can be cut from scraps of a panel. When cutting these apron strips, make sure the finished edge of the panel is facing outward. Using hot melt glue in place of bracing requires application by a qualified installer.
Installation Procedure 4. Place silicone on the back side of the apron strips. Temporary Bracing Install temporary bracing to hold the three panels in place until the silicone is completely set (usually 24 hours). This will allow proper curing of the silicone. IMPORTANT NOTICE To ensure contact between the panels and walls until the silicone sets, install temporary bracing after completing installation. The bracing should be constructed from lengths of 2 x 4’s.
Installation Procedure 1. Place two or three braces against the back wall. Place two braces on panels that are 48” or less and three braces on panels greater than 48” wide. 3. Install (wedge) three horizontal braces (six total) against the left and right wall braces. 4. Insert small blocks between the front to rear panel braces and the back panel braces. These will apply pressure to the back panel to hold it in place. 2. Place two braces against each left and right wall. 5.
Installation Procedure 2. After marking the height, draw a 4” level-line on both walls. These lines will be used to align the top edges of the soap dish. Soap Dish Installation (Optional) The soap dish is a corner mount design. The soap dishes can be stacked in one corner or placed in opposite corners. Note: The current production 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.
Installation Procedure 5. Align the soap dish with the level-lines and press it into place. 6. Hold the soap dish securely in place and wipe off excess silicone. You will want a uniform bead on both top and bottom. 7. Temporarily secure the soap dish with masking tape, as shown. Remove the tape after approximately two hours. Do not place anything on the soap dish for at least 24 hours.
Installation Procedure 1. Measure and cut the corner moldings to length. 3. Clean the surface of the panels and the back of the molding with denatured alcohol or another non-oil based solvent. 2. Dry fit the corner molding. 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. 4. Apply a 1/8 to 1/4” bead of silicone to the back of the corner molding in an S pattern, as shown.
Installation Procedure 6. Place at least three pieces of masking tape on each corner molding to hold it in place until the silicone adheres to the wall panel. 2. Apply white silicone sealant, as shown. This white silicone sealant is non-paintable. Final Caulking Apply a bead of the color-matched 100% silicone sealant and white silicone sealant (included in the kit). The installation is now complete. DO NOT discard these installation instructions. PLEASE LEAVE THEM WITH THE HOMEOWNER.
Maintenance & Surface Repair Care and Cleaning 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. DO NOT use a cleaner if the label indicates it should not be used on solid surface acrylics.
Warranty LIMITED WARRANTY FOR RESIDENTIAL APPLICATIONS LIMITED WARRANTY FOR COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS If a Swanstone 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.
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.
