Are you planning on installing or remodeling shower surrounds but confused in between Glue Up Vs. Direct to Stud Shower Surrounds?
Well, you’re in the right place. As I’ll tell you everything you should know about these best shower wall surrounds.
There are many differences between these two showers surrounds like materials, quality, installation method, transition, durability, and many more.
Therefore, let’s acknowledge you with Glue up and Direct to Stud details. So, you can easily choose the best shower surround for you.
A Quick Comparison Table
To learn about the best glue up and best direct stud Shower surrounds, here is a comparison. By going through this you’ll quickly know the basic difference between these shower walls surrounds.
| Specifications | Glue Up Shower Surrounds | Direct to Stud Shower Surrounds |
| Material Type | Composite, Vinyl, Acrylic, Drywall, PVC, Plywood, and Laminated | Acrylic, reinforced Fiberglass, Marble, Ceramic, Cement, and so on. |
| Enclosure | Comes with thin wall panels | Comes with a shower pan and three wall panels |
| Quality | Moderately average | Amazing |
| Durability | Overall on balance | Excellent durability |
| Shower Surround Variations | Vast color variation | Vast style, design, type, and materials variation |
| Installation Method | Easy installation kit | Direct and requires installation hardware |
| Transitions | No transition on drywall | Expensive ones provide a better transition |
| Service | Feasible | Long-lasting |
| Availability | Medium | High |
| Pricing | Inexpensive | Both Expensive and Inexpensive |
| Adhesiveness | Adhesive | Nonadhesive |
Key Differences Between Glue Up And Direct To Stud Shower Surrounds
To know what’s different and whatnot, you need to know the foremost basic outlook of these two shower surroundings.
As well, you need to get proper ideas and knowledge about basic aspects of an ideal shower surround.
That’s why we will now discuss the essential characteristics and features of Glue up and direct to stud shower surround.
So, you will get even a clearer exposure to which shower surround offers better according to your preferences and needs.
- Construction Material
The build material of any product plays a very significant role. As it ensures efficiency in almost everything like quality, performance, durability, and so on.
Of course, every one of you wants a shower surround that will last your lifetime without any inconvenience. Therefore, the first thing one should look out for about the shower surrounds is the build material.
Both Glue up and Direct to Stud Shower surrounds come with a large variety of materials.
The Glue Up provides shower surrounds with varieties of materials like Painter’s Tape, Composite, Plywood, Laminate, and others. And it comes with three wall panels
All of the elements are sure to give you a quality experience with shower wall surrounds. However, Glue-Up shower surrounds made of Acrylic, Fiberglass, or PVC materials offer the most optimum performance.
On the other hand, the Direct to Stud shower surround also comes with tons of varsity of materials and types. Just like Glue Up, this shower surround also consists of Acrylic, Cement, Ceramic, reinforced Fiberglass, Honed Marble, transition molding drywall, and so on.
Direct to Stud can be overwhelmingly excellent as the materials are integrated and can be mixed.
The best direct to stud shower surround is developed using Acrylic with reinforced fiberglass which also makes it a high-end composite.
, this shower surround is very sturdy, long-lasting, watertight, and low maintenance.
In my opinion, Direct to Stud Shower Surround wins here.
- Quality and Design
Glue Up and Direct to Stud are both capable of providing amazing and top-notch shower surrounds. To be honest, these two shower surround types have created a new versatile of shower wall surrounds from PVC to Acrylic and Fiberglass reinforced materials.
Thereby, these authentic materials can easily withstand wear and tear, moist, heat, cold, insulation, and many more.
But when it comes to the varieties of aesthetic colors and styles Glue Up sure has so many stylish shower walls.
Well, then if you are up for minimalist colored yet elegant and classy design shower wall surrounds then Direct to Stud shower surround will never disappoint you.
Glue Up shower surround seems to have the upper hand in this segment.
- Product Variation
In this criteria, Direct to Stud offers more variations than the Glue Up shower surround. If you think carefully Direct to Stud consist of acrylic, marble, and fiberglass shower pan and three acrylic or fiberglass shower panels.
In the build section, we saw Glue Up has fewer material types as well. Also, the advanced variations of materials along with exclusive designs and styles of the best Direct to Stud shower surround made the shower wall more efficient.
Most of the Direct to Stud shower wall surrounds are acrylic and Fiberglass. But other materials like Marble, Cement, Ceramic, and many others.
Direct to Stud shower wall surround is the winner here.
- Sturdiness and Durability
In case of durability, you can expect no less from both Glue Up and Direct to Stud shower wall surrounds. You will surely experience sturdiness, long-lasting efficiency, and additional resistance which are amazing.
According to users’ perspective, Direct to Stud’s rough and tough for its acrylic, fiberglass material. Plus, it has transition molding and other necessary features that make it an extraordinary shower surround.
Glue Up shower surround is also moderately sturdy, watertight, and efficient. With its thin wall panels with cool adhesiveness, it becomes affordable and cost-effective.
Nonetheless, for the longevity and sturdiness part Direct to Stud shower wall surround becomes the winner.
- Service & Maintenance
Shower surrounded with fantastic service facility, and great maintenance support are a must-do.
Generally, shower surrounds are quite hard to fix or repair and also cost a lot upon replacement. That is why proper servicing and low-maintenance shower surrounds are always preferable by most of us.
Moreover, the best Direct to Stud shower surrounds are highly low maintenance. Also, they provide both residential and commercial warranties for a long duration. Also, faulty products can be repaired or replaced by the manufacturer accordingly.
On the other hand, Glue-Up will offer only a residential warranty and doesn’t seem to have many service points.
Thus, we can see that Direct to Stud seizes the utmost area of Service and maintenance.
- Pricing Variation
Just like other key specifications, the pricing variation criteria are also quite essential.
Why is cost variation is necessary?
It is due to the overall cost that comes with both product and installation charges. For example, you got the best direct to stud shower surround on a low budget. But what about the installation service charge which can be more expensive than the price.
Well, to tackle these situations, you need to be prepared with precise knowledge of price and charge.
Direct to stud shower surround kits start with $500 to $1300. The acrylic or fiberglass with shower tub ones can be the expensive ones. Also, the installation charge can vary depending on the state of your shower, which is still much costly.
Glue Up surrounds tend to be more expensive. Although you can do the DIY installation, you still need to spend about $1100-$1400.
To be honest, cheaper ones are thinner and crack up very easily. So, when it comes to shower surrounds you should go medium or best ones rather than the cheaper ones.
In this factor, both can be winners depending on the budget and the type of shower surround you are getting.
Which Shower Surround Is The Best Choice for Your House?
We already provided all the details of all the prime factors between Glue Up and Direct to Stud shower surrounds.
Therefore, it is time for you to easily narrow down your choices and find the right shower surround for you.
Both Glue Up and Direct to Stud comes with a large collection of shower wall surround kits with a variety of size, design, colors, with extra features.
In case you prefer stylish and high-end designed shower surrounds at an inexpensive price, you can go for Glue Up shower surrounds.
However, if you have enough budget to afford high-quality, and best-performance shower surrounds, go with the Direct to Stud.
Furthermore, according to my and other customers’ opinions Direct to Stud offers better superior features, performance, service, and support than Glue Up shower panels.
Pros And Cons Of Glue Up And Direct To Stud Shower Wall Surrounds
Some significant pros and cons comparison between Glue Up Vs Direct to Stud shower wall surrounds will help ease your leftover confusion.
Pros of Direct to Stud Shower Wall Surround
- Thicker wall panels, Durable, and long-lasting
- Great transition to molding and other parts
- Let’s attach drywall seams that can work as studs (drywall backer is not necessary)
- Although installation requires hardware the process is fast and easy (no preparation is required)
- Great waterproof and caulk seal quality to minimize leakage, molds, and residues
- Amazing soundproofing as the installation leaves no gaps
Sounds cool? Watch how you can install Direct To Stud shower surround.
Cons Direct to Stud Shower Wall Surround
- Requires hardware kit for installing
Pros of Glue up Shower Surround
- Wall is flatter, with minimal warping
- Doesn’t require an installation kit and is easier to install (requires drywall or extra preparation on the walls)
- No transition in the Drywall prep backer
- Direct installation can be done in DIY (requires insulation, plush-in, glue up preps)
- Doesn’t need extra installation hardware.
Cons of Glue up Shower Surround
- Will leave gaps in the seam which may cause water echo noise.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
I prefer the best direct to stud shower surround with acrylic and fiberglass materials more. Glue up shower surrounds aren’t 15 to 20 years long-lasting and need regular maintenance.
For adhesive shower surrounds drywalls can go behind the tub surround. But for direct to stud shower wall surrounds, drywalls will hinder access to the studs.
According to the Glue Up instructions it is mandatory to apply polystyrene compatible glue or adhesive on the wall studs and panels.
To fill the gap between the shower wall surround and drywall you can drill a few holes on the flanges to let the mud get a better grip. Or you can also drill a set of screws every six inches in the center to secure the gap.
Last Words
Our detailed and thorough comparison between Glue Up and Direct to Stud Shower Surround is hopefully useful to you. With all these, you must not get issues with choosing your go-to shower surround.
If you managed to choose the perfect one and are very happy with the final result then congrats!
Although there are many indistinguishable Shower surrounds about quality, variation, and pricing. You will always find some to be more superior than others like the best Direct to Stud shower surround.
Lastly, please be aware of the fraud sellers, and best of luck!