Better Materials; Better Quality

Grout-free shower systems have become the standard for homeowners who are done regrouting and rescrubbing mildew lines every year. The two most common systems on the market are Sentrel, a PVC composite panel, and Acrylic, a thinner ABS-capped panel used by most national brands (Vikrell is a common example). We install both, but after 400+ projects across the Puget Sound, we recommend Sentrel to almost every client - here's exactly why.

Here at Oasis Bath Solutions, we strongly believe that Sentrel offers a superior value than acrylic for tub to shower conversions, walk in showers and bath remodels.

Let's start with some quick aspects that they share in common:

1. Both are 100% waterproof and 100% non porous, easy to clean and resistant to the growth of bacteria.

2. Both systems come as large panels that can be fabricated to any size on site, and use silicone to seal the seams between panels.

3. Both come in a variety of colors and styles and offer a line of matched accessories.

When we examine the differences between the systems, Sentrel’s superiority begins to stand out:

1. Sentrel is twice the thickness of acrylic products. Acrylic panels on the market are ⅛” thick, Sentrel is a full ¼” thick.

2. The image quality on Sentrel’s panels is vastly superior to that of Acrylic, in fact the stone or marble pattern is an 800 megapixel image!. This is due to Sentrel’s manufacturing process wherein super high resolution scans are taken of real natural stone slabs which are then printed onto the panels; this results in the truly authentic look of natural stone (see photo below).

   

Looking deeper into the system and parts we find more differences:

1. Sentrel’s parts and accessories are built of a superior quality. Corner shelves in a Sentrel system are screwed into the wall and then siliconed on, whereas acrylic shelves are held up solely by silicone limiting the weight they can bear (see photos below).

2. If you order a custom pan from Sentrel, it is constructed out of solid PVC and is extremely rigid, it will never bow or bend; whereas, depending on the installation method, acrylic pans may not be as sturdy. 

3. Sentrel is always installed with a Quad-lock system meaning there are multiple layers of waterproofing to ensure a leak proof installation.

   

Summary:

Between the two, Sentrel is the stronger choice for nearly every Puget Sound bathroom - thicker panels, real stone imaging, and hardware that won't loosen over time, often at the same price as acrylic or less. If you want to go a step further with an authentic stone slab look, ask us about Tyvarian - our premium tier above Sentrel.

Ready to make the switch? Call (206)-972-1479 for a no-cost consultation, or get your free quote below.