Wet panels or tiles for new bathroom

Littleweedj

I am having a new bathroom installed from scratch, with a free standing double ended bath. I'm not having a separate shower cubicle but undecided on whether to have wet panels or tiles for the walls.

My builder and plumber definitely do not recommend wet panels and say they would never have them in their own house.

Any other opinions would be appreciated on the pros and cons as I'm undecided as like the look of them.

dominoman

Why don't they like wet panels? As long as they are fitted well I'd have thought they are just as watertight as tiles.

Fitting should be much simpler and easier than tiles too. If you like the look then go for it.

MisterBaxter

I fitted wall panels in my shower room last year and have been pleased with them. They were very easy to install, they are easy to keep clean and I like the look of them but that's a matter of taste.

In the shower enclosure itself the only joint is in the corner and where the panels meet the tray so in my mind there are less potential water ingress points than with tiles. I'm also looking forward to not having to maintain grout joints over the years.

There's a good selection of colours, materials and patterns and a range of prices.

I can see no good reason not to use them if that's what you want.

Doozergirl

I wouldn't have them in my house either!

I cannot bear the idea of walls sweating and potentially going mouldy behind sealed (or not quite sealed) plastic. Houses are meant to breathe, in my mind.

You don't see them in home magazines, they do a job but they aren't aspirational.

You're picking a double ended freestanding bath, presumably because they look quite sophisticated. I'll offend someone here, but they do not look sophisticated, especially across a large area. Shower cubicle, okay. Whole room? I've seen one and it looked awful.

MisterBaxter

I'm not sure that they would be much worse in terms of breathability (probably not a real word) than properly installed glazed wall tiles with well sealed joints. I've hacked off a fair few tiled walls that were damp behind where they weren't properly fitted which is potentially a worse situation.

I'm a man who spends 15minutes in a morning and 15 minutes in an evening in the bathroom doing what has to be done so it is utilitarian room for me.

To me some of the higher end acrylic or glass panels looked OK but I'll confess style isn't my strong point. I'd rather spend the money on rooms that we spend a lot of time in and my wife deals with styling in those areas (I'd just paint them magnolia).

Read from this my opinion is technical and not aesthetic.

saverbuyer

At a push I would have them in a small ensuite or shower room. I wouldn't dream of having them in the main bathroom. Particularly not in a bathroom with a freestanding bath.

andyhop

Plastic wall panels or tiles

Should be a simple decision....tiles every time

A good quality porcelain, fitted on a tanked substrate will do 30 years plus. Plastic discolours over time and is not as durable as you think

MisterBaxter

andyhop wrote: »

Plastic wall panels or tiles

Should be a simple decision....tiles every time

A good quality porcelain, fitted on a tanked substrate will do 30 years plus. Plastic discolours over time and is not as durable as you think

I would agree that tiles should last 30 years if done properly; whether you would want to go 30 years without change is a different matter. The key is proper installation at the outset. I would say most problems start with the installation, get it wrong and water gets behind the tiles and that leads to longer term issues. OP - if you go with tiles just make sure whoever does them knows what they are doing.

I think it's too early to come to a conclusion about the modern panel systems, I think it would be a case of reassess in a few years and see how they are holding up.

patanne

MisterBaxter wrote: »

I think it's too early to come to a conclusion about the modern panel systems, I think it would be a case of reassess in a few years and see how they are holding up.

I'm having mine fitted in a fortnight so I'll get back in a few years & let you know! Personally hate tiles, including kitchen ones. At best they are dust catchers.