Swanstone Shower 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.
Safety Guidelines IMPORTANT NOTICE 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 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 Electrical Shock Hazard 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 STMK96-3636, SQMK96-3636 Three flat panels Two soap dishes Four tubes of clear silicone Two tubes of color match silicone Preparation Tips 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. Turn off the hot and cold water supply.
Installation Procedure Remove or reattach any loose ceramic tiles. Old tiles and front edge ceramic tiles should be reset for appearance only. 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: Remove any tile accessories attached to the walls.
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. Filler Boards 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 2. 3. 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. Place the panel, finished side facing up, on a flat surface. Using a pencil, lightly mark the center of the back panel. 6. Take several measurements, bottom-to-top, from the center line to each wall surface.
Installation Procedure Side Panel (with shower controls) WARNING If the side panels do not require cutting to size, proceed to Step 5. 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 well-ventilated area. To keep the area wellventilated, open windows and use exhaust fans. Always use an OSHA approved dust mask when cutting, drilling, or sanding Swanstone products. 8.
Installation Procedure 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. 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). 5. Measure the openings for the shower controls and shower head. 7. Cut clearance holes using a router, saber saw, or hole saw. Drill or cut from the finished side of the panel.
Installation Procedure 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. 3. Clean the backs of each panel with denatured alcohol or another non oil-based cleaning solvent.
Installation Procedure 1. WARNING This process is not recommended for the do-it-yourself homeowner. 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). Using hot melt glue in place of bracing requires application by a qualified installer. This temporary bonding method must hold the panel to the wall during the 24 hour curing time of the silicone adhesive.
Installation Procedure 4. 2. Place two braces against each left and right wall. Attach the apron strips to the wall. 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. 5. Remove the braces after 24 hours.
Installation Procedure Installation of Corner Soap Dish 1. 4. Apply silicone to the edge of the soap dish. 5. Align the soap dish with the 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. 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. Apply color-matched 100% silicone sealant, as shown. 2. Apply white silicone sealant, as shown. This white silicone sealant is non-paintable. The installation is now complete. DO NOT discard these installation instructions. PLEASE LEAVE THEM WITH THE HOMEOWNER. Attaching Shower Doors and Accessories 1. Follow the mounting instructions that come with each accessory. 2. Drill pilot holes, where fasteners pass through the wall panels, slightly larger than the fastener. 3.
Maintenance & Surface Repair Warranty Care and Cleaning Warranty The Swanstone products are stain and abrasion resistant; however, the finish requires reasonable care. If a Swan 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.
NOTES The Swan Corporation – Swanstone 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.
