Wall panels in the bathroom: what are they and how to choose?

As a finishing material for bathrooms, wall panels compete confidently with tiles, and even surpass them in some parameters. Consumers are increasingly paying attention to an inexpensive and practical way of decorating premises, which allows them to carry out repairs with little money and in a short time.

High consumer demand and the growing popularity of panels are due to a number of important advantages of this material.

• Bathroom panels are available on the market in a wide range. This greatly facilitates the choice of the desired option and allows you to purchase a coating of any color and design. There is a large selection of panels on sale that very naturally imitate tiles, wood and natural stone. With the correct selection of shades and proper combination of textures, it is very difficult to distinguish such surfaces from the original.
• Bathroom panels are waterproof and are not prone to accumulation and retention of moisture. This completely eliminates the risk of mold and pathogens.
• Due to the flat and smooth surface, the panels fully meet the sanitary and hygienic requirementsapplied to the interior decoration of toilets and bathrooms. They are easy to clean, do not tend to build up static electricity and do not attract dust.
• Due to the fact that most of the models are mounted on a frame, there is no need to align walls and ceilings. This greatly simplifies the repair process, relieving the owners of the complex preparation of work surfaces before applying a finishing finish to them.
• The installation of the frame and the installation of the panels is a very simple process, to cope with which a person who has no experience in finishing work can do.
• Due to the composite structure of the panel surfaces in case of damage or breakage of a separate element, it is easily changed to a new one, without dismantling the entire cladding.
• In comparison with tiles, wall panels are lightweight. and do not create a significant load on the supporting structures.
• Due to its high wear resistance the service life of such a coating is 10 years or more.
• During operation, the material is not subject to deformation and retains its original shape throughout its entire service life.
• The price range of wall panels is very wide. This allows you to choose and buy both very unpretentious monochromatic models and a solid coating with imitation of expensive materials.
• Thanks to the crate a free space is formed between the panels and the wall, which allows placing electrical and water supply lines in it.

There are not many disadvantages to wall panels. These include tendency to fading of plastic models, a decrease in the usable area of ​​the room due to the installation of the frame and low resistance to mechanical and shock loads of PVC products. Another disadvantage is limiting the use of chipboard panels in places of intense water ingress, for example, near a washbasin or shower.

The classification of bathroom wall panels is made according to criteria such as design features and material of manufacture. On the first basis, there are several finishing options, a detailed description and technical characteristics of which are presented below.

• Rack-type panels are the most numerous group and are represented by lamellas up to 340 cm long, 10 to 30 cm wide and 8 to 12 mm thick. Each of them is equipped with a thorn-groove lock, which allows you to assemble the elements into a common surface like a puzzle. The long length of the models allows them to be installed in very high rooms without the need to form intermediate joints. Rack panels are available in a huge assortment of textures and colors, have a low cost and, when placed vertically, visually raise the ceilings.

• Square-type panels are separate elements, the side length of which varies from 30 to 98 cm. This allows you to do the installation yourself and not spend money on the services of craftsmen. Each square usually has a beautiful pattern that effectively accentuates the geometry of the bathroom. Such material is well suited for small spaces and fits organically into the interior.

Squares of different colors and textures can be combined in different variations, creating interesting surfaces. The advantages of square-typesetting models include low cost, simple installation, the possibility of fragmentary replacement of the damaged element without dismantling the entire coating and a wide selection of colors and designs.

• Flexible sheet panels reach 1.2 m wide and over 2.4 m long and are well suited for large bathrooms. The advantages of sheet material include the minimum number of joints and an absolutely smooth surface. Among the disadvantages are the complex installation due to the dimensions of the sheets, as well as the need to dismantle and replace the entire canvas in case of accidental damage to a small area.

The next criterion for the classification of bathroom panels is the material from which they are made. Currently used for their production MDF, laminated fiberboard, chipboard, PVC, acrylic and glass.

The most affordable bathroom wall decoration options are PVC models, well known as plastic panels. They are available in a wide variety of colors and designs and have long been top sellers in the budget finishing materials category. The plastic cover is absolutely moisture resistant and immune to mold and mildew.

Provided that the walls are perfectly flat, the installation can be carried out without building a frame by gluing the panels directly onto the wall surface. Such models are very well cut and bend, which allows them to decorate not only walls, but also use them to form multi-level curved ceilings.

Acrylic panels appeared relatively recently, but were immediately appreciated by the consumer. For their production, synthetic resins are used with various additives that affect the transparency and determine the color of the products. Acrylic panels create beautiful glossy surfaces that visually expand the space and make it unusually light.

Among the advantages of acrylic cladding are resistance to mechanical stress, light weight, easy maintenance, waterproof, wide range of colors and complete environmental safety. There is only one drawback of such panels - this is their price, which is much higher than the cost of other materials for wall decoration.

For the decoration of bathrooms, laminated fiberboard (fiberboard) is often used. Wood boards are pre-impregnated with a special water-repellent compound and laminated on top. The best option for wet rooms are panels impregnated with a bitumen composition and called hardboard.

Installation of such panels is carried out directly on the wall and requires preliminary leveling of the surface. However, there is also a positive point in this: provided that the walls are flat, work can be completed in the shortest possible time, and the absence of a frame has a beneficial effect on the size of the room.

For the decoration of bathrooms, moisture-resistant chipboards are used, which, like the previous material, are pre-impregnated and laminated. But if there is a possibility, then it is better to give preference to other materials, since chipboard panels in conditions of high humidity have very low operational properties... In addition, synthetic substances that release formaldehyde are used as a binder in their manufacture. And although the content of this element is seriously standardized, it is still better not to risk it.

This material is environmentally friendly and has high performance properties. It is absolutely not hygroscopic, tolerates temperature fluctuations well and does not deform over time. In addition, MDF is considered a good heat and sound insulator, it is resistant to mechanical stress and easy to clean.

To the touch, the material resembles plastic and is available in a wide variety of textures. This allows you to simulate the finish with natural and artificial stone, wood and tiles. Due to the presence of a thin transparent and very durable polymer film MDF panels can be used in areas of direct water ingress.

Moisture resistant glass panels are also used for bathroom wall decoration. For their manufacture, high-quality quartz glass is used, which is highly shock-resistant and has an attractive appearance. Among the disadvantages of glass finishes are high cost and the need for constant washing of the walls. The latter requirement is due to the fact that dried water drops, dirty spots and fingerprints are very clearly visible on the glass surface.

For the manufacture of such models, a fiberglass mesh filled with expanded clay is used. This composition makes the surface resistant to moisture and temperature extremes. Externally, waterproof aquapanels look very aesthetically pleasing; they are installed on the frame using glue or self-tapping screws.

Modern technologies make it possible to impregnate wood with a special composition, which allows it to be used in wet areas of the bathroom. For the manufacture of wall panels, maple, alder, oak, cedar and wenge are used. Wooden panels make the space very attractive and solid. From above, the surface is coated with varnish, wax or oil for greater confidence, which perfectly repel not only water, but also dirt.

Moisture-resistant wall panels for bathrooms are available in a wide variety of colors and textures. The most popular design is imitation tile, which exactly repeats even the seams: they are slightly recessed and painted in a different color. The similarities with real tiles are so striking that it is almost impossible to visually catch the difference. Also popular geometric patterns, which do not require adjustment of the pattern, which simplifies installation.

This also includes mosaic-like design, also very popular in bathrooms. Modern technologies make it possible to apply photo printing to the panels, which makes it possible to obtain a wall covering with a panoramic view of a large city or an image of a flower.

Before purchasing bathroom panels, it is advisable to read the recommendations of professionals.

• All panels must be from the same batch, otherwise, slight discrepancies in shades are possible.
• The packaging must be intact and clean. If damage is found, it is better to refuse to purchase the material.
• If the packaging is missing, then you should carefully examine all the lamellas. If you find chipping or chipping, do not make a purchase.
• You need to purchase material with a margin of 10-15%, since the possibility of damage to the elements during installation always exists. In addition, if during the further operation of the room one of the lamellas is damaged, it can be easily replaced with a similar one.
• When buying chipboard panels it is necessary to make sure that the packaging is marked, allowing them to be used for interior decoration of wet rooms.

Bathroom wall cladding with panels can be done in two ways. In the first case, a frame made of a wooden lath with a section of 1x3 cm is installed on the wall, on top of which the panels are mounted. The frame is attached to the wall with dowels, and the panels themselves are attached to the crate with nails or a construction stapler. The correctness of the installation of each lamella is controlled by the level and, if necessary, a gasket is placed.

The gap between the panel and the floor (ceiling) should be 1 cm. Upon completion of the installation of the last element, the corner joints are closed with corners, the gaps near the door slopes with end moldings, and the gaps near the floor and ceiling with special skirting boards.When installing the battens, remember that when the lamellas are placed horizontally, the battens are fastened vertically and vice versa.

The second method involves installing panels directly on the walls and requires preliminary leveling and priming of the work surfaces. The gluing of the elements should start from the corners, which in the future will eliminate the need for complex adjustment of the corner elements. The installation of the first lamella is carried out at a distance of 1 cm from the ceiling, floor and adjacent wall. This panel will serve as a guide for further installation. The glue is applied to the panel in the form of a thin zigzag every 50 mm of the lamella width. Accidentally formed chips and dents larger than 2 mm are filled with cement mortar, putty and grinded.

Cladding the walls of the bathroom with panels allows not only to quickly and inexpensively decorate the room, but also makes it possible to implement the most daring design developments and bring to life unusual interior solutions.

PVC wall panels perfectly imitate modern tiles.

The possibility of using photo printing allows you to decorate the bath in any thematic style.

Glass panels give the room a stylish look and aesthetic appearance.

MDF cladding looks very elegant and noble.

Wooden panels in the interior of the bathroom - naturalness and nobility of style.

For information on what kind of bathroom wall panels are, see the next video.