How to choose panels for bathroom tiles?

To decorate the bathroom, panels are often used - plain or decorated with prints and patterns. Claddings imitating expensive materials are especially popular. Panels for tiles are in great demand. Let's take a closer look at these popular bathroom cladding materials.

The panels produced for wall decoration in the bathroom must meet certain requirements. This applies not only to their design, but also to the degree of practicality, durability and reliability.

Let's consider in detail what are the basic requirements for tiles for finishing a bathroom.

• Materials must be resistant to moisture. Wall decoration in the bathroom will be exposed to moisture on a regular basis. Excess moisture should not lead to swelling and soaking of the panels. Otherwise, they will not last long and will soon lose their visual appeal.
• Panels should not be afraid of temperature extremes... The front side of the finishing materials in question will experience temperature changes regularly. If the panels are not designed for such loads, they will inevitably begin to deform soon.
• Hygiene indicators are also important. The walls in the bathroom come into direct contact with the household when they are taken to bath procedures. The health of users will also depend on the ability to maintain the cleanliness of the finish.

If the wall panels are of high quality, they will withstand repeated cleaning. For these materials, it is possible to use regular cleaning procedures even with the use of special products. The panels should not contain hazardous chemical compounds that can be released under the influence of high temperatures. The latter can cause poisoning, and they have a negative effect on health in general.

In building materials stores, you can find a huge assortment of wall panels for tiles. They have a different basis. Can buy PVC, plastic options. Such products have their positive and negative qualities, which should be taken into account if you decide to turn to such wall cladding.

Panels for tiles have a number of advantages.

• They are not afraid of the impact of negative external factors. They do not absorb moisture into their structure, do not undergo deformation. When water gets on them, these materials do not lose their positive qualities and original appearance.
• Trouble-free operation. Modern tiles for tiles are recognized as one of the most convenient and hassle-free to use. They allow you to keep warm, and when water gets on them, they do not become slippery.
• Aesthetic qualities. Tile-like panels look stylish and attractive. These materials are presented in a huge range. Buyers can find options for themselves with different colors and textures.
• Unpretentious care. Wall panels are renowned for their ease of cleaning. Their surface does not retain dirt. To provide care for these materials, you do not need to buy expensive special chemicals - any usual means will be appropriate.
• Little weight... The weight of the panels is negligible, especially when compared to the conventional tiles they imitate. However, materials designed for laying the floor turn out to be heavier than wall options. It is not recommended to glue floor products to walls or ceilings, because on such bases they may simply not last long.
• Ease of installation. To lay ceramic tiles in the bathroom, specialists are usually hired, and their services cost a lot.

Now let's look at the shortcomings noticed behind this material.

• The main disadvantage of many models of panels (especially polyvinyl chloride) is poor resistance to certain chemicals. For example, if acetone is spilled on the surface of such a finish, then a noticeable mark will remain after it, which cannot be repaired in the future.
• Another weakness of such a finish is not the highest level of environmental friendliness. This disadvantage is especially noticeable when comparing panels with natural materials.
• No matter how well the slabs imitate tile, they will in any case be inferior to it in their external qualities. Despite the chic assortment, it can be problematic to find the best option that looks really expensive and stylish.
• Panels for tiles cannot boast of high impact resistance. Such materials will withstand minor loads, but more serious ones are unlikely. Mechanical damage on the panels remains very easy, and it is impossible to get rid of them in the future.
• Some users notice that during the first days, an unpleasant, specific smell emanates from such a finish. This disadvantage primarily concerns coatings of not the highest quality.

Panels that imitate tiles are different. For example, the most popular PVC models are divided into several types, with different shapes and resistance classes.

According to the shape, PVC panels are divided into two main options.

• Leafy. Polyvinyl chloride sheets are easy to install. They are installed on the bases with an adhesive composition. Visually, they are very similar to plywood.
• Square details. These materials have a clear, strict form. The design here can be varied. The layout is carried out with alternation of different shades or an original drawing is created.

PVC tiles, in turn, may differ depending on the type of fastening provided.

• With a lock-type connection. Such materials are installed thanks to the tenon and groove joints. Before installing such products, you have to resort to preparatory work.
• There are popular options that are attached to the bases with adhesives. Here, a special glue is used, which is applied to the back surface of the panels, after which they are pressed against the base and rolled with a roller.
• A large assortment of self-adhesive panels / tiles... One side is sticky and covered with a paper layer. To install these materials, you do not need to purchase additional products or adhesive solutions. It is enough to remove a layer of paper from the part and apply it to the base. In most cases, these options are turned to if you need to bring interesting decorative elements into the setting.

Tile panels for bathroom decoration are usually based on PVC. Modern plastic products are in great demand, since this material has all the characteristics necessary for finding in a bathroom.

Plastic panels differ in the following operational parameters:

• they are characterized by resistance to the harmful effects of dampness and moisture;
• hide flaws, drops and irregularities on the walls;
• do not require complex care;
• are relatively inexpensive;
• presented in a wide range.

Choosing plastic panels that imitate tiles, it is important to remember that they contain chemical constituents that make them environmentally friendly. In this matter, such materials cannot compete with real ceramic tiles, which do not contain hazardous substances.

If PVC panels are not of high quality, they will not withstand temperature changes, therefore it is important to select only high quality specimens. We must also remember that the level of strength of these products leaves much to be desired - they can be easily damaged.

There are many options for decorating a bathroom with PVC tiles.

• Interiors with color combinations of similar finishes look very nice and modern. These can be black and white or black and red plastic coatings with a glossy finish. Of course, other colors are also permissible - it all depends on the style and the entire environment as a whole.

• Panels with different images will look spectacular in the bathroom. These can be flowers, dolphins, tropical motifs, ships and other suitable options. Drawings can only be present in certain areas, diluting the monotonous finish.

• A win-win solution - plain panels. They can be combined with coatings that differ by a couple of tones without adding patterns.

• An interesting design detail is PVC mosaic. It can be made in different colors. It can be used to decorate both the entire bathroom and only certain surfaces of it, making a kind of accent.

• Seamless PVC panels look harmonious, complemented by a border that matches the design and design.

When choosing panels for tiles for walls or floors, it is necessary to build on a number of basic criteria. Let's get acquainted with them.

• The quality of the material. If you plan to buy popular PVC copies, you should not save on them. Such a finish is already inexpensive, and too cheap options can turn out to be even more toxic and harmful, and they will not last long. The material should not have a pale yellowish tone.
• Volume / quantity. You should calculate in advance how much materials you need. It is advisable to buy PVC panels with a small contingency margin.
• Base. It should be remembered that you need to buy wall panels for the walls, and floor panels for the floor. These materials should not be confused, since PVC floor panels are heavier and are not designed for installation on walls or ceilings - they can simply fall from there.
• Design. The range of panels for tiles is simply huge. You can choose the right product for any setting. It is necessary to decide in advance in what colors the bathroom will be maintained and in what style it will be executed in order to stay at the best option.
• Manufacturer. Only buy branded plastic bathroom trim panels. Thus, the firms Tarkett, Forbo, and Rinotyle have a good reputation.

Let's take a look at a few recommendations for laying plastic panels in the bathroom.

• Most often, PVC panels are installed on a crate prepared in advance. The frame can be made from a metal profile, plastic or wood blocks. If a tree is chosen, it must be smeared with antiseptics.
• The battens are usually fixed perpendicular to the direction of the panels themselves.
• Finishing on the frame should start from one of the corners of the room or from the door leaf. First, put the starting corner. They attach it either to nails or to special staples.
• The panels on the frame are placed end-to-end, continuing to do so until the next corner.
• At the end of the work, the finishing corner is fixed. The joints should always be treated with a sealant.
• You can attach the panels to special clips. For this, you also need to make a frame. Here, too, they begin to act from the corner or space from the door. So, they put an inner corner, and then put the first plate in the profile.
• If the bathroom is small, you need to choose a frameless installation method. If the surfaces of the walls are uneven, they must first be leveled, and then the finishing materials must be glued to them. The adhesive mixture must be special. Simple options will not work as they contain solvents.
• For pasting, the base must be dried; you can use a heat gun.
• The glue is applied to the panels themselves, making indents from the edges, then they are pressed to the base and kept for 5 minutes.
• Parts for the floor or ceiling must be attached with dowels and supplemented with skirting boards.

Polyvinyl chloride tile coatings must be properly maintained. There is nothing complicated here. Even if dirt appears on the surface, you can get rid of them in the shortest possible time.

Removing dirty stains from PVC panels, it is allowed to use cleaning agents that contain abrasive ingredients. If in the future it is planned to install a variety of plumbing accessories - lamps, hooks or dryers, then you can always easily drill the necessary holes in the plastic.

You should not wash PVC panels with products that contain solvents - they will badly affect the appearance of the materials.

For information on how to choose panels for the bathroom, see the next video.