Bathroom panels - are they worth it?

Harfitt

We are thinking of putting our house on the market in the near future. The price it would attract would set it in first time buyer market. The bathroom really needs updating - but does not justify a luxury makeover and am therefore thinking of bathroom panels rather than expensive retiling.

We have two walls with very poor quality basic white tiles which have plenty of mould in the grouting (house was bought in this condition and it has proved impossible to remove the mould successfully). The idea is to fix the panels on top of the tiles, as I understand this is possible thus avoiding the nasty business of removing the tiles.

However my worry is the wall underneath as it suffers a bit from damp as the outer wall is the one which is most exposed to rain and wind. Would it be a false economy or create problems just to fix the panels on top?

Any suggestions/advice would be gratefully received.

LandyAndy

Cynically, if you're selling, it only has to look good until you've sold.

My parents have wall panels and I don't like them.

Sometimes it's better to just leave things so that buyers can do their own thing.

ormus

that would be ok if the panels were cheap. they are not.
better to leave alone and keep cleaning the mould off.
or clean out the grout a tad and use a grouting pen.

giving the bathroom a coat of paint will help a lot.
5/10 quid.

LandyAndy

ormus wrote: »

that would be ok if the panels were cheap. they are not.
better to leave alone and keep cleaning the mould off.
or clean out the grout a tad and use a grouting pen.

giving the bathroom a coat of paint will help a lot.
5/10 quid.

Yep. Cover up and move on.;)

ic

Have you tried the Domestos Grime Buster bleach that's in the black bottle? It worked wonders in my bathroom - just "draw" it along all the grout lines, leave for half an hour, and then wash away.

sphrp2

get a tube of grout whitener - its amazing stuff. Makes far more difference than you'd ever believe. Dont get the pen, its harder to do and less forgiving, get the tube with the sponge applicator on the end (about a fiver)

sunshinetours

Definitely whiten the grout up and give all a really good clean. If you have the time possibly consider tile painting which will be far cheaper than bathroom panels or retiling. Providing you get a good smooth finish it can look fine

If you have a external damp issue this may be picked up by someone's survey anyway so I wouldn't go to too much expense in "covering" the problem you have. I would however make sure the bathroom is very well ventilated as you can generally smell mould a mile off

Harfitt

Thanks for your replies, however it make take some time to sell the place and we would be quite happy to live here for a few more years if necessary. We just don't want to continue with the tacky white tiles - Domestos Grime Buster is pretty good, but the tiles have gone beyond that sort of help!
Basically, the tiles need taking out, replacing, whatever.
I am just wondering to what extent inexpensive bathroom panels are a better option than replacing two quite large walls with tiles?