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Bathroom wall panels

(28 Posts)
Starof1972 Mon 19-Jun-23 15:21:15

Hello, I think I'm almost certain about having our bath taken out and a walk in shower put in. Can anyone recommend a brand of wall panels please? It is going to be an expensive outlay and I don't want to make a mistake. The first plumber who offered to quote recommends "going budget end" to keep costs down which I'm not at all happy about. He would charge the same in labour costs for budget or high end panels!

Funnygran Mon 19-Jun-23 15:38:05

Our bathroom was re-fitted just after we moved in 16 years ago. The plumber recommended a company called Wetwall for the shower panels. I can’t remember how expensive - or not they were but the panels still look as good as new and clean up beautifully. They have a website but I’m not very good at posting links!

Caramme Mon 19-Jun-23 15:39:13

Sorry, I can’t recommend a brand but I can recommend the panels generally. I have them in my bathroom and they are much better than tiles IMO. No grout to wrote about and easy to clean. Mine still look as new 6 years on.

Allsorts Mon 19-Jun-23 15:40:31

I am tempted to have them installed.

62Granny Mon 19-Jun-23 16:48:14

I had them put in 5 years ago, I am sorry not sure of the make, but I know it wasn't the old fashioned shiny Respetex one, these are a light grey large tile effect with a Matt finish, they still look as good as when we had it done. I give a them quick spray , with shower spray after use and a wipe over with a sponge to get the excess water off, I am not a fanatical cleaner but it seems to have worked.

62Granny Mon 19-Jun-23 16:54:16

Something like this
www.panelcompany.co.uk/collections/bathroom/products/tile-effect-grey-stone-8mm

Jalyn Mon 19-Jun-23 17:35:54

We bought ours from this company about 6 years ago and they still look like new.
showerwall.co.uk/

Oldbat1 Mon 19-Jun-23 18:05:30

We had wall panels for our walk in shower two years ago. We went for high end in the catalogue the plumber left as overall the difference in costs were minimal. Very pleased and so easy to clean.

Calendargirl Mon 19-Jun-23 18:43:34

When we re-furbished our bathroom last year, a local kitchen company who came to give us a quote said they didn’t install wall panels as they had caused problems in the past with walls that were not ‘true’, resulting in water getting behind them and making them bow.

We didn’t use that firm, but it put me off wall panels. We had tiles.

Often wonder if we should have had panels, although we have been pleased with the tiles.

Calendargirl Mon 19-Jun-23 18:45:04

Should have said a ‘bathroom’ company, not kitchen!

SueDonim Mon 19-Jun-23 18:59:16

We had panels in the last bathroom refurb we did and I loved it. I chose a brushed concrete design, it looked so smart and is so much easier to keep clean than the tiles we have now.

I don’t know the brand name but if I were you, I’d look carefully into the various brands and try and work out what you would get for the extra money - fancier designs or an upgraded materials, for example?

Calendargirl I’m sure I’ve read that uneven walls can be compensated for with a framework. Though that would presumably rely on there being enough space in which to do that. Some bathrooms are so small that even a couple of centimetres are hard to find.

Primrose53 Mon 19-Jun-23 19:48:54

We are thinking of having some of these. We have a P shaped bath with shower screen and shower over. We always take showers instead of baths and now want to remove the bath and have a wet room or walk in shower.

The whole room is tiled in stylish white ridged tiles and are far too good to get rid of. Trouble is they don’t make them anymore. I am thinking we could keep them and use maybe contrasting wall panels where the bath was.

GeorgeKirrin Mon 19-Jun-23 20:00:34

We have Nuance by Bushboard in 2 bathrooms and will have it in the 3rd shortly. Its totally waterproof right through the core. The oldest has been there about 10 years and looks as good as new. The travertine patterned one is a thing of beauty !
I am definitely never having grout again in my life smile

Pittcity Mon 19-Jun-23 20:17:17

We have them. Brilliant. Ours is a Wickes bathroom, so don't know the brand.
We chose a matt finish in a marbled effect so that hard water marks don't show. The clever installers even made us window sills from the leftovers. A quick wipe every now and then to keep them good as new.

Starof1972 Mon 19-Jun-23 20:21:37

Oh my goodness, thank you all so much - I am completely sold on the wall panels! Plenty of info for me to work on when my husband gets home at the weekend. We want to crack on with this and I must admit I've been dithering. He doesn't really want to lose the bath as he doesn't feel safe showering in case he feels dizzy but I worry about that very thing when he climbs in and out of the bath so I'm hoping to get the go ahead for a shower enclosure with a seat. I enjoy taking a bath myself but struggle to get out without hurting my wrists. Oh the joys of getting older! It rant is time to think of the safest option. Thanks again for all the advice.

fiorentina51 Mon 19-Jun-23 23:16:15

Ours are Mermaid panels. Fifteen years in and still going strong. Easy to clean, the only mould problem has been with the sealant around the shower tray which I sorted out myself by removing the old sealant and applying new.

NotSpaghetti Tue 20-Jun-23 07:09:29

Could you invest in a shower stool?
If you are taking out a bath there should be space,..

FarNorth Tue 20-Jun-23 07:30:07

He doesn't really want to lose the bath as he doesn't feel safe showering in case he feels dizzy but I worry about that very thing when he climbs in and out of the bath

You could fit grab bars in the shower.
I don't understand why showers in hotels etc almost never have anything to hold onto, as anyone of any age can slip.

Lomo123 Tue 20-Jun-23 08:29:42

Best thing we did was getting rid of bath and old fashioned tiles. Installed walk in shower, full length of wall with matt grey wall panels. Fitter put panel along the two window ledges with a trim. Quick wipe clean. Wish I'd done it years ago. Jazz up the grey with colourful towels and bath mats.

Franbern Tue 20-Jun-23 09:00:13

I had these laminate panels in my kitchen when I had it done last year.. No tiles, no grouting, so very easy to keep perfectly clean, just a quick wipe over. Will definitely have them when (if) I have the en=suite made over.

Starof1972 Tue 20-Jun-23 09:21:42

A stool and grab rails are in the plan. My sister is taking me to have a look round a showroom today so that I can get some ideas ready for the final discussion at the weekend so I'm looking forward to that. My husband would like the whole bathroom panelling but I like the decor as it is. The room is already grey and white but it's a traditional look so the matte grey panels might be suitable. Other than that it would have to be a white marbled with grey. I'm getting excited now!

NotSpaghetti Tue 20-Jun-23 17:00:43

Just a thought - could you have a walk-in bath/shower combo?
That would be the best of both worlds.
Some have lifetime guarantees on the seal.

NotSpaghetti Tue 20-Jun-23 17:02:36

This kind thing:

thewalkinbathco.co.uk/walk-in-baths/

DamaskRose Tue 20-Jun-23 17:10:49

I’ve never liked the look of panels but clearly I’ve not been seeing the right ones - some of those described here sound lovely! Mmm something to think about definitely.

Starof1972 Wed 21-Jun-23 12:36:09

Thank you NotSpaghetti but my parents had one of those and they didn't enjoy sitting there while it filled up and then emptied.