Frequently Asked Questions

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  • Can waterproof wall panelling be used in kitchens?
    Yes. The easy clean nature of waterproof wall panelling makes it ideal for use in kitchens. Care has to be taken when installing the panels near sources of direct heat such as open hobs. Ceramic tiles or a stainless steel panel should be used in this area or anywhere where the temperature rises above 50deg C.
  • Should I fit the shower tray or the panelling first?
    The shower tray. Install the shower tray in accordance with the manufacturers instructions to ensure it is totally rigid (there needs to be zero movement when you stand on the tray). Completely seal the tray to the wall(s) so that no water can get down the joint, using silicone sealant. Next fit the waterproof wall panelling down onto the top of the tray surface, and apply a second bead of silicone along the joint between the panelling and the shower tray. If you are fitting the shower cubicle on top of the wall panelling make sure that there is enough adjustment in the frames to allow for the extra thickness of the panels.
  • Should I fit the bathroom suite or the panelling first?

    A bit of both. For a complete refurbishment the best installation order is:

    Install the bath

    Install the panelling

    Install the basin & toilet

    Remove the existing suite, install the bath in accordance with the manufacturers instructions to ensure it is totally rigid (there needs to be zero movement when you stand in the bath). Completely seal the bath to the wall(s) so that no water can get down the joint, using silicone sealant. Next fit the waterproof wall panelling, and apply a second bead of silicone along the joint between the panelling and the bath. Continue fitting the panelling around the rest of the walls. Then fit the wash hand basin and toilet.

    If you are using built in bathroom furniture,  fit this before the panelling.

    If using wall hung basins or wall hung toilets special procedures have to be followed. Contact us for more details.

  • Can bathroom cladding be used on ceilings?
    Yes. Most bathroom cladding can be used on ceilings, although some designs look better than others. Many designs are made with ceilings in mind. Some cladding such as large shower panels are not really suitable for use on ceilings as they are heavy and unwieldy. This makes them difficult to fit on ceilings. White panels tend to work best as they keep the room feeling light and airy.
  • Will bathroom cladding help with condensation?
    Yes, in as much as condensation will not form on bathroom cladding because it is warm to the touch. It will not stop condensation - the only way to eliminate condensation is to extract it, either by use of an extractor fan or using a dehumidifier, and bathroom cladding will help this process. If you have a condensation problem it can be worth hiring a dehumidifier for a few weeks to see how much moisture it extracts from the air in your property.
  • Is waterproof wall cladding cheaper than tiles?
    It depends. Waterproof wall panelling is designed to be better than tiles, not cheaper than tiles. Thee are some very cheap tiles available. But there are also very expensive ones, especially if you start looking at natural stone products. There are few factors that ensure that wall cladding will usually work out cheaper as well. Walls need to be thoroughly prepared to take ceramic tiles, and this can be a quite significant cost on top of the installation and purchase costs. Waterproof wall panelling is much more forgiving and will go up over a variety of substrates without any preparation. It can go straight over existing tiles without the need to hack them off. This saves money. But it also saves time and a lot of mess. It is also relatively easy to install so the average DIYer will be able to install wall panelling themselves.
  • Can the panels be used in a shower?
    Yes. They are ideal for use as  shower wall panels. They can be fitted inside an existing shower cubicle or around the shower area of a bath (if you are using a shower over a bath) . If the existing tiles are still secure the panels can be fitted over them. Before fitting over tiles in a shower, you should ensure that there is enough "play" to allow fixtures such as an existing shower mixer valve to be moved to allow for the extra thickness of the panel (most of our panels are 8mm thick, some are 10mm - details on the individual product pages).

Shower Panels

  • Should I panel all of my bathroom or just around the bath?
    Bathroom panels offer several benefits - easy to clean, no grout to go mould, no maintenance etc. The more cladding you install, the greater the benefit will be. If you only panel 20% of the room, you will only get 20% of the benefit!

If you have any questions or queries on waterproof wall panelling then we hope that this page of frequently asked questions will provide the answers – if not please give us a ring on 029 2056 0949 or get in touch via our contact us page and we will do our best to help.

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Further Frequently Asked Questions

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