When designing a new bathroom, the shower is the centerpiece. The material you choose for its walls defines the room's look, feel, and how much time you'll spend cleaning it.

For years, Pittsburgh homeowners have faced a frustrating dilemma:

1. Choose Traditional tile, which offers a beautiful, high-end look but comes with the endless chore of scrubbing porous, stain-prone grout lines.
2. Choose a one-piece acrylic surround, which is easy to clean but can often look and feel less luxurious, potentially lowering a home's perceived value.

What if you didn't have to compromise? What if you could have the premium, beautiful look of real tile without the dreaded maintenance?

Beauty vs. Maintenance

There's a reason people are drawn to tile. It offers limitless design possibilities and a tangible sense of quality and craftsmanship. A tiled shower feels permanent and luxurious and raises your home value way more than an acrylic surround.

But the weak link has always been the grout. Standard cement-based grout is porous. This means it absorbs water, soap scum, and grime, making it a perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. It requires regular sealing to protect it and diligent, often frustrating, scrubbing to keep it looking clean. For busy families, this constant upkeep is a major drawback.

On the other end, you have basic acrylic surrounds. While they eliminate the grout problem, they introduce a new compromise: aesthetics. They lack the depth and character of tile and can be prone to scratching and yellowing over time. For homeowners who value quality, it often doesn't feel like a worthy upgrade.

The Enlightened Solution: The Express Shower System

After hearing the same frustrations from clients for years, we developed our own "happy medium" that delivers the best of both worlds: The Enlightened Express Shower.

Our system is not a solid surface surround. It is a cutting-edge approach to porcelain tile that combines two key innovations to solve the grout problem without sacrificing beauty.

Innovation 1: Large-Format Porcelain Tiles

The logic is simple: bigger tiles mean fewer grout lines. We use large porcelain tiles to create a clean, expansive look. This minimizes the amount of grout in your shower by up to 75% compared to standard subway tile, creating a sleek, modern aesthetic that is inherently easier to clean. You get the authentic, high-end feel of real tile because that's exactly what it is.

Innovation 2: Stain-Proof Epoxy Grout

This is the true game-changer. Unlike traditional cement grout, epoxy grout is a non-porous, resin-based material.

• It’s 100% Waterproof: It doesn’t absorb water or stains, meaning grime, soap scum, and hard water minerals simply sit on the surface.
• It Never Needs Sealing: Its durable, sealed surface lasts a lifetime without any additional maintenance.
• It’s Incredibly Easy to Clean: A simple wipe-down is all it takes to make it look brand new. No more harsh chemicals or scrubbing with a toothbrush.

The Best of Both Worlds: Your Perfect Shower

With the Enlightened Express Shower System, you no longer have to choose between a beautiful shower and an easy-to-clean one. You get:

• The Beauty of Real Tile: The premium look and feel that enhances your home's value.
• Drastically Reduced Maintenance: Minimal grout lines, and the grout itself is stain-proof and effortless to clean.
• Incredible Durability: The proven strength of porcelain combined with the resilience of epoxy grout.
• A Smart, Modern Investment: The perfect solution for homeowners who value both their time and the quality of their home.

As local bathroom contractors with deep roots in the community, we understand Pittsburgh homes inside and out. Our mission is to be the best bathroom renovation company in Pittsburgh by combining innovative design with uncompromising craftsmanship, ensuring every detail of your project is handled with precision and care.

Contact Enlightened Remodeling today to learn more about the Enlightened Express Shower system and get your free, no-obligation estimate!