Construction Notes – Store Aqua Tile indoors, with all sides fully exposed to the air (24 hours above grade and 48 hours below grade) before installation to allow it to adjust to room temperature. Skim-coat the walls using a trowel-type waterproof wall adhesive, and trowel the back of the panel with adhesive using a ³/₁₆-inch notched trowel. You can get an appropriate adhesive from ABTco. When the adhesive gets tacky, position and press the panels into place. Of course, you already know not to apply any adhesive until after a trial fitting!

When combined with color-matching tub shelf corners, Aqua Tile makes a good candidate for a budget bathroom remodel. The molded plastic shelf takes up 7 inches on either side on a 5-foot wall, so you only need to use one 4-foot-wide panel on the back wall. To guarantee an outside finished edge, always cut the panel so the cut points to the inside corner and toward the top of the tub. Once caulked, you'd never know the sheet was cut. Apply caulk to all edges and joints after the adhesive has cured. As always, follow all manufacturer's recommendations.

Manhours – These manhours are based on a two-man crew, but there may be times when the job may be too small to support two, or you think you can handle it on your own. If that's the case, be sure to adjust the figures accordingly.

• To install ¹/₈-inch x 4 x 8-foot sheets: 0.034 manhours per square foot.

• Add for panel adhesive: 0.008 manhours per square foot.

• Labor for a standard 5-foot tub enclosure: 0.043 manhours per square foot.

• Installing moldings: 0.034 manhours per linear foot.

• Caulking: 0.004 manhours per linear foot.

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