Waterproof panels for bathrooms

How To Choose Bathroom Wall Panels

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Looking for an alternative to traditional bathroom tile? Bathroom wall panels are an attractive, DIY-friendly alternative that won't break the bank.

Like a new British invasion, bathroom wall panels have been steadily making inroads from the United Kingdom to the North American market. They offer a less expensive and easier-to-install alternative to tile, which has been the go-to bathroom wall covering for so long it can actually look dated.

Not so with wall panels. They’re available in an array of designs and colors that can complement even the most modern and innovative bathroom furnishings.

Designers aren’t the only ones who adore bathroom wall panels. DIYers love them for their price, ease of installation and application — they go on directly over existing tiles or drywall. Although some products require professional installation, others come in DIY kits with instructions, channeling and everything else you need except the tools.

If you’re planning a bathroom renovation and you’re new to bathroom wall panels, familiarize yourself with what they are and what types are available. You might find a lot to like.

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What Are Bathroom Wall Panels?

Bathroom wall panels are large decorative sheets glued directly to the bathroom walls. Those installed in the shower, around the tub and anywhere else exposed to direct moisture are called wet wall panels, and they’re 100-percent waterproof. Panels for other parts of the bathroom don’t need to be waterproof, just moisture resistant. P.S. While you’re at it, take a look at these best shower kits, too.

Types of Bathroom Wall Panels

Wet wall panels are generally as large or larger than a sheet of plywood. They come in various thicknesses. Depending on the thickness and material, can be lightweight or heavy. Available materials include:

Fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP): Lightweight and generally less than one-tenth of an inch thick, FRP comes in 4×8 sheets. It scratches easily and the color fades over time, so it isn’t for the design-conscious. If you’re looking to do a quick bathroom upgrade for a rental, however, this is the most economical choice.
Pure fiberglass: Slightly thicker and more expensive than FRP, fiberglass panels come in standard sizes and are generally fastened to the studs. Like FRP, fiberglass is prone to scratching and discoloration.
Acrylic: Unlike FRP or fiberglass, acrylic panels won’t turn yellow and they’re more scratch resistant. They must be installed over backerboard or moisture-resistant drywall, and may also be installed over tile. Standard acrylic panels cost about twice as much as FRP. Top-of-the-line high-gloss acrylic panels that complement a high-end contemporary Euro-design bathroom cost much more.
PVC composite: PVC lends itself well to texturing and design stamping to give the impression of stone or tile. With an average thickness of one-quarter inch, PVC bathroom panels are generally installed over drywall or an existing wall covering such as tile.
Solid surface: A combination of resin, filler and pigments. Solid-surface materials like cultured marble or Onyx (a brand combining resins and alumina tryhydrate) are three-eights inches thick and available in lengths up to 96 inches.
Laminated MDF: A vinyl coating pressed onto a medium-density fiberboard core. Laminated panels are manufactured with a tongue and groove to make for a seamless installation. Laminated panels are three-eights inch thick and click together like laminate floor boards.
Natural stone: Far pricier than other options, marble or granite wall panels are strictly for the luxury-minded. They require professional installation, adding to their cost.

In areas where wet panels aren’t needed, material options can include MDF and wood. Painted MDF offers a clean and inexpensive option for wainscot. Various wood species, especially cedar, make great accent walls and back splashes.

Bathroom Wall Panel Pros and Cons

Tiles and wall panels are competing options for shower stalls and other water exposure areas. Tiles are the traditional go-to because they offer abundant design possibilities, but bathroom wall panels compare favorably.

Pros

Easy to clean. Materials are non-porous and mold resistant. No grout lines to scrub.
Easy to install, depending on product. Each panel takes the same space as 20 or 30 tiles and simply sticks to the wall.
Cost effective. The cost to panel a shower stall can range from $400 to $2,000, compared to Fixr‘s estimated cost of $800 to $5,000 for tile.
Plenty of design options. Synthetic panels can be smooth with a matte or gloss finish, and be made to look like stone, tile or wood.
Can be installed directly over tiled walls.

Cons

Longevity varies. The most expensive can last the life of the bathroom, but budget products may need replacement in 10 to 15 years.
Installation isn’t always DIY. Stone, some solid surface and some high-end acrylic panels require professional installation. Also, some dealers won’t sell panels without an installation contract.
Faux-tile or faux-stone wall panels will never look exactly like the real thing.
Panels can be unwieldy and difficult to maneuver through the bathroom and set in place.
Because panels aren’t flexible, they’re difficult to install on curved walls.

How To Choose the Best Bathroom Wall Panels

Homeowners sold on the idea of bathroom wall panels should consider these points when shopping:

Cost

At the low end of the cost scale, the FRP and fiberglass panels you need for a shower stall cost between $200 and $450. At the high end, solid surface and laminated panels cost up to $2,000. Real stone can cost four times as much.

Waterproof

All wet panels are waterproof. Most wood and MDF panels have limited water resistance and must be coated with a moisture repellent finish.

Ease of installation

Wet panels at the low end of the price range are generally DIY friendly. Weekend warriors can also install higher priced panels, but professional installation may be a better idea depending on the bathroom configuration and panel size. That will add $1,000 to $2,000 to the cost of the project.

Availability

Any products not available through a local dealer can usually be purchased online. Higher end panels made from solid-surface materials and laminates can all be measured and cut onsite. But for an expedient installation, it’s usually better to send measurements to the distributor to custom-cut the panels. Stone panels are always custom-cut and professionally installed.

Faux Stone, Brick & Wood Waterproof Bathroom Panels

DIY Friendly Décor Options for the Bathroom of Your Dreams

Is your bathroom décor in need of an update?

While renovations can be costly, making simple upgrades — like installing water resistant faux wall panels — is an affordable way to completely transform the ambiance of your bathroom.

Faux Wall Panels for Bathroom Décor

Whether the bathroom of your dreams features a stacked stone shower or a brick accent wall, with Texture Plus faux wall panels you don’t have to sacrifice style for functionality.

Durable, amazingly realistic and water resistant, our faux wall panels can be used anywhere in your bathroom including:

As an accent wall
Along the base of the bathtub
Inside or outside of the shower

Order Free Samples of Our Faux Wall Panels

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Which Material is Right for Your Bathroom?

Faux stone shower walls, natural brick accent walls, ceramic tiling and beyond — there are a variety of material options for your bathroom décor:

Material	Pros	Cons
Faux Panels	Easy to Install Interlocking Design Durable Lightweight Available in Many Colors/Styles	May Require Framing
Ceramic Tiles	Easy to clean Durable	Requires Grouting Difficult to Achieve a Consistent Look
Glass Tiles	Easy to Clean Sleek Look	Expensive Complex Installation
Natural Stone	Durable Elegant Aesthetic	Expensive Hard to Clean Can Easily Crack Requires Annual Resealing Heavy Material Complex Installation
Natural Brick	Durable High-Value Aesthetic	Expensive Heavy Material Complex Installation Requires Grouting

Water Resistant Faux Bathroom Wall Panels Available in Brick, Stone, Wood & More!

Texture Plus faux bathroom wall panels are available in more than 850 designs:

ShopFaux Stone Panels ShopFaux Brick Panels ShopFaux Wood Panels ShopFaux Bamboo Panels ShopFaux Metal Panels ShopFaux Slate & Tile Panels ShopFaux Concrete Panels

We make it easy to transform your bathroom in just a matter of hours.

Our faux wall panels are:

Designed for both designers and DIYers
More affordable than natural materials
Lightweight and easy to cut
Easy to install and maintain
Resistant to rot, mold and mildew
Backed by a 25 year warranty

Faux Wall Panels Material Needs & Costs

Our faux wall panels are 2’ x 4’ and the lightweight design allows them to be easily cut to fit any space.

By taking a few measurements to determine the square footage, you can use our Material Needs Calculator to get an estimate of the number of panels you’ll need. You can also contact one of our design specialists for assistance.

Pricing for our faux bathroom wall panels is outlined in our store.

For project requiring 150 panels or more, please contact us for a custom quote.

Quick, Simple & Mess Free Installation

We developed our products with DIY enthusiasts in mind. You don’t need specialized equipment or professional masons to install our faux wall panels. All you need to complete your bathroom makeover are a few tools that are found in most household toolboxes:

Screws
Construction adhesive or glue
A drill or a screwdriver
Sandpaper
Caulking gun (with Texture Plus color-matched caulk)
Safety glasses
Measuring tape
Level

To make alterations, you can use a utility knife or a table saw.

See the Easy Installation Process

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Bathroom panels, important nuances of choosing this material

At present, it is difficult to choose a material such as bathroom panels, as they are represented on the market by a wide variety: plastic, MDF, acrylic, glass, laminated. A unique design will help create a mosaic or aquapanel that not only hides the pipes, but also decorates the room. Each material has its advantages along with disadvantages. You must first decide on your preferences, and then choose the right material.

Content

Types of bathroom panels
Production material
Trim - for walls, floor, ceiling
Bathroom trim with SIP panels
How to choose

Types of bathroom panels

There are a wide variety of bathroom claddings. To determine which is better, you need to know their pros and cons. MDF, plastic, false, glass and aquapanel are used to mask pipes on a wall or floor. With their help, you can create a unique interior design. The following types of panels are distinguished depending on the type of manufacture:

type-setting rack panels;
type-setting tile products - different tiles look interesting, beautifully decorated on the wall;
sheet canvases - used for facing a large room.

Panels, depending on the installation area, are divided into wall, ceiling and floor panels.

Material

Panels can be made from a variety of materials, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Plastic

PVC panels have the following advantages:

aesthetics;
practicality;
antistatic;
resistance to temperature changes, moisture;
resistance to deformation;
quick and easy installation;
the ability to hide pipes and other defects.

There is no need to level the walls before installing the PVC - it is mounted on the installed rails. Sheet PVC panels are interconnected with a special fastener.

The main disadvantages of this material:

the impossibility of creating a pattern using PVC;
brittleness of the material - PVC sheets can be damaged by inaccurate pressure.

You need to choose high-quality PVC cladding panels for the bathroom - a cheap analogue quickly loses its appeal.

PVC sheet products may vary:

in appearance - glossy and matt;
according to the drawing method - printed and film;
along the seam - seamless and seam.

GlossyMatteSeamlessSeamless

Seamless Plastic

A highly sought-after cladding that allows for quick and cost-effective repairs. These bathroom panels are available on the market in different colors and at different prices. Seamless products have a sheet width of 25 cm. They do not have connecting grooves. During installation, they are tightly joined, trying to make the gap as small as possible.

Key benefits:

economy;
easy installation;
easy care;
great choice.

MDF

MDF is compressed wood dust and has several advantages over PVC:

high resistance to high humidity;
MDF panels are very durable;
MDF - good heat, waterproofing material;
MDF is an environmentally friendly canvas.

Glass

Glass panels look fashionable in the bathroom. The main advantages of the material:

aesthetics;
uniqueness;
resistance to external influences;
hygiene;
glass panels are easy to clean;
quick assembly;
glass sheets last a long time with proper operation and installation;
visual increase in volume.

Glass panels have disadvantages:

heavy weight;
brittleness;
risk of injury;
installation complexity;
high price.

Glass sheets can be decorated with a pattern. You can also hide pipes behind glass - for this it is better to choose matte or colored panels. Glass walls are dangerous if there are children at home, because there is a risk of injury to them.

Acrylic

Acrylic bathroom panels - innovative cladding. Different concentrations of additives affect color and transparency. The gloss level of acrylic exceeds even MDF panels, not to mention PVC.

The advantages of this material are as follows:

high strength;
increased resistance to mechanical damage;
lightness;
abrasion and UV resistance;
environmentally friendly product;
easy care;
large selection of shades;
fully waterproof.

The only drawback is the high price, which does not allow such a facing material as acrylic panels to completely replace ceramic, PVC or MDF counterparts. Only aquapanel can compete with acrylic.

Acrylic panels based on MDF

Mosaic

Mosaic will help create an attractive design. Mosaic tiles have the following advantages:

aesthetics;
wide range of color shades;
high wear resistance;
environmental friendliness;
easy installation;
easy maintenance.

Mosaic is able not to heat up at high temperatures and retain heat. Mosaic cladding in combination with a mirrored ceiling can create a unique bathroom design.

Laminate

Laminated sheets are made from fiberboard impregnated with a special composition to increase moisture resistance. Laminated fabrics do not provoke the development of mold.

Advantages of this type of material:

easy care;
resistance to external influences;
waterproof;
aesthetics;
UV resistance.

Laminated sheets can be installed without batten installation - they are glued to leveled walls.

Aquapanels

Aquapanels for the bathroom are the perfect solution. Aquapanel is a fiberglass mesh filled with weightless expanded clay.

The main advantages of this material:

high moisture resistance;
resistance to temperature extremes;
easy care;
aesthetics;
aquapanel can be bent.

Attach the aquapanel with a special adhesive and screws to a pre-installed frame.

Panels or tiles

The preference for one type of finish over another is due to some features of their use.

Advantages of such panels:

simple, fast assembly;
easy care;
easy repair;
economy;
original design.

Advantages of this type of tile:

better moisture resistance;
high strength.

Acrylic and aquapanel have good moisture resistance and strength, so tiles are increasingly ignored when decorating a room.

PanelsTile

Ceiling decoration

The upper part of the room requires special finishing, because it is strongly influenced by humidity and different temperatures. Ceiling sheets made of a special material are used for its decoration.

Advantages of this type of material:

ceiling sheets are coated with a special water-repellent compound;
due to the smooth surface of the ceiling panels do not allow the growth of harmful microorganisms;
ceiling cloths do not emit harmful substances under the influence of any factors;
ceiling panels are resistant to deformation and damage;
ceiling sheets last a long time with proper use;
ceiling panels are made in different colors, which allows you to create an interesting design for every taste.

Bath front panel

The design of the bathroom and the concealment of the pipe underneath is also important when decorating the room. The front panel for the bath will allow you to hide pipes and other unnecessary elements. When choosing a panel for a bathtub, it is worth considering the dimensions and contours of the bathtub. It is better to use acrylic canvases; a mosaic will also help to decorate the bath.

Decorative fabrics have such advantages as:

ease of installation or dismantling;
reasonable price;
a large selection of colors and textures, which allows you to create a unique design for the entire room.

An indispensable detail will be a panel in front of the bath to hide pipes and internal shelves. Glass, laminated, MDF, aquapanel, tiles and other finishes will help hide any imperfections in the room.

Trim - for walls, floors, ceilings

Trim panel allows you to hide defects in walls, ceilings or floors, as well as hide pipes in the bathroom. On the market, false canvas is represented by a large number of colors and patterns, so it allows you to create any design in the house. Ceramic tiles, brickwork, wood can be replaced with false sheets, which are created from any material lined on one or both sides. For the bathroom, you need to choose waterproof sheet panels for walls, floors and ceilings.

You can decorate false canvases as part of the room, as well as the whole room. Often they decorate a section of the wall next to the bathroom, and a special tape is attached at the joining points, which does not allow water to drain onto the floor. When installing a bathroom with false panels, ventilation must not be closed, because highly humidified air contributes to the formation of mold.

Wall false sheets are assembled in the same way as plastic ones and are mounted on pre-fixed horizontal rails. Ceiling canvases and floor design involves the initial leveling of the surface. The assembled sheet panels are already attached to it.

The canvas is fixed tightly to the floor so that it does not deform from constant pressure.

False windowWall false panels

Finishing the bathroom from SIP panels

After all communications in the house from SIP panels, you can proceed to the interior decor of the room. You can pay attention to such finishing materials as:

tiles - for its laying, moisture-resistant drywall is first installed on the SIP panel. Then all the seams between the SIP panels are carefully sealed to prevent the passage of moisture into the walls. Sealant is also processed floor SIP linen, pay special attention to the junction of the wall and floor;
agglomerate - for wall cladding of SIP material, artificial stone is also used, which is created using different minerals held together by a cementing composition. Stone - a large thin tile - decorated in various shades. The agglomerate is decorated with a small mosaic or other materials. This tile is warp resistant. The plasticity of the stone determines the possibility of cutting it, and at high temperature even bending. This allows you to veneer with it even curved surfaces made of SIP material. Durable, lightweight, resistant to external influences, the agglomerate will create an interesting room design. In addition, it holds well on SIP panels;
mosaic is a finishing material that can not only be used to veneer SIP floor and wall panels, but also to finish niches or built-in shelves. Mosaic tiles can hide pipes and create an interesting room design.

In a house made of SIP panels, it is possible to install panels from other modern materials.

SIP panels

How to choose

Choosing the best material for decorating a room and masking pipes and other flaws in a house is difficult. It is important to consider the following points:

integrity of the package - in case of damage, it is better to refuse the goods, because the sheets may be damaged;
lack of arcuate bulges;
belonging to one party. Products from different batches may differ in shades, which will complicate the design of the bathroom;
color - light glossy sheets will help to visually increase the area of a small room;
quantity - it is necessary to provide for the possibility of replacing sheets damaged during installation;
canvas size - should optimally match the size of the room so that there is less waste after installation;
density of joining panels - no noticeable gaps if the panels are seamless.

To make the best choice, you must first decide on the type of facing material: tiles, glass, MDF, laminated sheets, mosaic, false or aquapanel. It is important to determine the purpose and installation area, and in addition to choose the optimal size of the paintings. It is necessary to pay attention to color design in order to create a uniform design throughout the house. For a longer operation of the product, you should contact a specialist, because proper installation prolongs the life of the finish.

Moisture-resistant tiled bathroom wall panels

Renovating a bathroom is an expensive and time-consuming undertaking. A lot of money requires wall decoration. But there are materials that allow you to quickly and inexpensively put everything in order. One option is moisture-resistant wall panels for the bathroom. They are of different types and in different forms of release. General - the speed and ease of installation and low cost (when compared with tiles).

Tile plastic looks good

Content of Article

1 What are

Based on high pressure MDF.
Fiberboard laminated with moisture resistant film.
Chipboard coated with PVC film.
PVC sheet panels.

Bathroom wall panels are most often designed to look like tiles or mosaics. It is understandable - the most common design. The pattern also imitates the seams - they are slightly recessed, dyed in a different color. All as in the original. With good performance, you can’t immediately understand whether the tile is in front of you or the wall panels are tiled. The difference is in the degree of gloss. The panels are very light. But in recent years, the use of matte ceramics for finishing bathrooms has become increasingly popular - it is easier to care for it (traces of water are not visible). Here it is really difficult to catch the difference without touching the surface.

You can also find options imitating stone (marble, wild stone), brickwork, wood, leather, and other natural materials. If we talk about the appearance, the choice is wide, and there are very interesting designs.

Wall panels based on MDF, fiberboard and chipboard are produced in three types:

In the form of planks (battens), which are joined with a lock.
In the form of square or rectangular tiles. The sizes can be different - 50 * 50 cm and 100 * 100 cm. They can be joined using locks, special profiles or end-to-end.
sheet panels. This is more than a plate, with which you can immediately finish the entire height (or almost all) of the wall. Width usually 120 cm, height 250 cm or 270 cm.

Moisture-resistant panels in the bathroom can be in the form of rails or slats

An interesting form of release - plates of different sizes

Sheet moisture-resistant wall panels - a quick way to decorate a bath or toilet

The release form is chosen depending on the design you want to get. Please note that the method of installation depends on the form of release. Rack wall panels are mounted on the crate, the other two types can also be on the frame, or you can directly on the wall. In this case, the choice depends on how curved the walls are.

Brief description

Although all materials have the same name, their properties are different. First of all, the degree of moisture resistance differs. PVC can safely endure direct contact with water, MDF and fiberboard - provided that the cuts are properly sealed and the integrity of the laminating film. Chipboard-based panels are most exposed to moisture, so, if possible, they are best used for finishing the toilet, kitchen, corridor and other rooms with relatively normal operating conditions.

PVC sheet panels

Of all the listed 100% waterproof PVC panels. This is a sheet of plastic a few millimeters thick (usually 3 mm) on which a pattern is extruded. An image is applied to the front of the panel using special abrasion-resistant paints. These moisture resistant bathroom wall panels can be used without any hesitation. They are definitely not afraid of water.

: PVC wall panels for tiles - ordinary decor

: More interesting option

: Lots of mosaic options

: In the form of a panel of tiles

: This is what the bath looks like after gluing PVC tiles under the mosaic

They are mounted directly on the walls - they are glued to a moisture-resistant composition. Moreover, the walls do not have to be perfectly flat. Plastic hides irregularities well, especially notches, but it is better to remove sharp protrusions. Such panels are cut with scissors or a sharp knife, glued end-to-end. The joint can additionally be passed with a moisture-resistant sealant - transparent or matched.

For corners, there are also special plastic profiles that both join the material and give the joint a finished look. All in all, a good option for a budget bathroom renovation.

MDF wall panels

MDF wall panels can be used in areas with high humidity and direct water ingress. For this material, high pressure technology is used, as a result of which the plate is very dense. The wood particles are pressed so tightly that water practically does not penetrate between them. To improve the performance, additional binders and impregnations are added to the composition, which make the base almost waterproof. As a result, moisture-resistant MDF wall panels feel more like plastic to the touch.

: There are different options

: Sheet MDF panels

: This is what the wall looks like after finishing with tiled wall panels

A patterned laminate is applied to this base and the whole is covered with a thin layer of clear, dense polymer. This film is an additional barrier to water and it is thanks to it that moisture-resistant wall panels for the bathroom can be used even in the area of direct water ingress.

This type of finishing material has a feature: to make the finish waterproof, the joints are coated with sealant. They also pass the junction to the floor and ceiling. To prevent moisture from entering the material through the cuts. This method of installation is a guarantee of a long service life of the finish, even in wet rooms.

When choosing a material, be careful: in a large number of stores there are MDF wall panels for dry rooms. Installing them in the bathroom is a mistake, as they will warp very soon.

Fibreboard panels

Fibreboards are made using a similar technology, only wood fibers have a larger fraction and a lower density. Accordingly, they are more susceptible to moisture - they can swell. To eliminate this drawback, the material is impregnated with moisture-resistant compounds. The best for bathrooms are fiberboard panels impregnated with bitumen, which are also called hardboard.

Next, the fiberboard is laminated with a film, on top of which a protective coating is applied. This material is also called laminated hardboard or hardboard wall panels. As in the case of MDF, the film is an additional protection against moisture and it must be intact. During installation, it is also necessary to coat the joints and cuts with sealant.

Based on chipboard

Chipboard wall panels are made from even larger pieces of wood - shavings and small chips. Ordinary material is afraid of water ingress. At high humidity it swells and after drying it does not return to its normal state. For wall panels, a moisture-resistant version is used - with the addition of additional binders. As in other cases, the surface is laminated. But even after that, you should not use such a finishing material in the bathroom. The exception is special waterproof panels. But their cost is almost the same as that of moisture-resistant MDF, and if you choose between the two, then MDF is clearly better.

Chipboard wall panels are well suited for finishing a toilet, corridor or hallway. They are rigid to withstand the load and significant mechanical stress. So in these rooms they showed themselves well. But when choosing, pay attention to the formaldehyde emission class. In the production of this material, synthetic binders are used that release formaldehyde. This parameter is normalized and controlled. In documents, it is indicated by the Latin letter E and numbers next to it. The lowest emission class E0 is no higher than that of wood. Safe - E1. From such materials it is even allowed to make children's furniture. It is better not to take other materials - they cannot be used for residential premises.