Tiles are the first wall covering people turn to although shower cladding is a much better option. Why? Well it does everything that tiles can do and has none of the drawbacks.
Ceramic tiles continue to be used in showers despite everyone knowing they have some real shortcomings. It is not the tiles themselves that are the issue rather it is the grout used to seal between them.
In the first photo above we can see that the cladding has been used in the shower and also around the rest of the bathroom. This is a choice that you will need to make when preparing your bathroom design. Limiting the amount of re-decoration might initially keep the cost down but in the long run extra maintenance can negate this benefit.
Photo 2 shows shower cladding being used above a bath. UK bathrooms have to resort to showering over a bath as there is not enough room for a separate cubicle.
The third photo illustrates the cladding used inside the shower and as a splash-back behind the basin. Painted plaster walls look great in conjunction with the panels but they will not perform as well over time.
Lastly we see inside a shower and can see the cladding meeting the tray. This is a notorious area for problems with leaks with tiles therefore cladding is a great problem-solving product to use here.
Will Shower Cladding Cure My Leaking Cubicle?
Yes.
Providing it is installed correctly. As commented above the joint between the tray and the shower wall is the most critical one. Shower trays move slightly when used and this flexing can crack grout. Water can then get through behind the tiles and cause havoc.
Bathroom cladding can cope with the small degree of movement a lot better than grout. It will not crack and will remain waterproof. Installing the tray so that is rock solid is the best way of ensuring you will have no future problems. If this is not possible then cladding the walls will cure the leak.