Bathroom vanity store “New Bathroom Style” knows if you are looking for a simple and budget-friendly way to finish your bathroom, wall panels are the best option with unique bathroom vanities. Products come in different types, are made from different materials, but perform the same function. Since the finishing materials for the bathroom must withstand high humidity, the panels are made waterproof. In addition, even a beginner will cope with the work of installing panels. You need to consider the detailed instructions and prepare the appropriate tools and materials. If you have a large bathroom with 84 inch vanity allow you to make it in a classic or modern style, which is the current and fashionable trend in design today.
VARIETY OF WALL PANELS
On sale, you can find several options for wall panels that can be used in the bathroom and other rooms. There are 3 product options: Tiled bathroom panels. Their peculiarity is in appearance since, visually, the products resemble tiles (tiles). Wall panels are rectangular or square. They look good, are lightweight, and have a patterned design. Rack-type products.
Outwardly, they look more like a lining made of wood. Also practical and original. Installation is no different from lining: creating a frame made of metal or wood, then fastening the rails with building brackets. Sheet wall panels. They are sold in the form of easy and quick sheets to install in their place. They are installed one after the other. The peculiarity of products for the bath is that they can go on sale in a set that forms a certain pattern. The panels fold like a puzzle, forming a certain composition on the wall. Such bathroom panels are prevalent. And the point is not only in the varieties but also in the characteristics and features of these products for the bathroom.
PROS AND CONS
Each of the materials has its advantages and disadvantages. There is a peculiarity here if we talk about wall panels because the material has practically no flaws. The main one is relative fragility. If you press hard on the wall, the material may crack or bend strongly. However, if you make sure that you carefully operate the bathroom, then troubles can be avoided. The second disadvantage is that the bathroom design needs to be carefully considered. This applies to the location of cabinets, mirrors, and shelves. After all, they are installed in the chosen place when the finish is completed. Holes are made in the wall, so it will be impossible to rearrange the cabinets. There will be holes in the finish. True, this can be said about almost any material. But the advantages of plastic panels are many. Let’s consider each of them separately: The wall in the bathroom does not need to be leveled. Even the most crooked walls can be easily finished with wall panels, as they are mounted on a frame that has been created, which levels out the differences. Ease of installation. You can do the work yourself and without any problems. A-frame made of metal or wood is fixed on the wall, and the panels are nailed to it or fixed with a construction stapler. Fast finishing. If you complete the installation of the frame, then the rest will take several hours. And if the tiled wall panels in the bathroom are fixed a little longer, then with the sheet, the situation is high-speed. Excellent moisture resistance. Since they are used in the bathroom, characterized by high humidity, the products are created with all the requirements. Even direct exposure to water will not damage the material, and moisture will not penetrate the base of the wall. Ease of maintenance. The surface of the products is smooth. Therefore, removing stains and dirt with an ordinary sponge or rag is quite easy using detergents.
The surface does not darken after manipulation and is wiped off. Affordable cost both for the products themselves and for installation work. And if you consider that all the work can be done by hand, the cost is reduced significantly. A wide range of products allows you to create an original and unique design in your bathroom. This applies not only to sizes but also to color schemes, of which there are enough. Several mounting options. Wall panels are laid in a vertical position and a horizontal one. There is an option to fix tile panels in a checkerboard pattern and diagonally. The ability to install spotlights in the panels’ cavity is essential for the bathroom. If an individual element is damaged, it can be easily dismantled and replaced with a new one. If we compare, then only two minuses account for nine full-fledged pluses. That is why most people prefer to use wall panels for finishing the bathroom. WHAT WE MADE FROM, In addition to the varieties associated with the shape and configuration, there is a difference in the material of manufacture of wall panels. Each of them has its features and advantages. First, you need to consider them and then choose to finish your bathroom.
PVC It’s plastic. Practical and good material. Most often, you can find exactly plastic wall panels for the bathroom. Although the material is synthetic, it is still safe for human life. The material is perforated but outwardly smooth and has a certain color and pattern from the inside. At the same time, it is possible to buy panels that imitate wood or stone. The peculiarity of plastic panels is their low weight and low cost. True, unlike other options, the products are the most fragile.
The panels are made so that the joints between them are practically invisible because the surface seems to be monolithic. It’s all about the locking system. Note! Plastic is a durable material. It does not rot, rust, dry out, and is not affected by parasites. Plastic is not afraid of moisture. In addition, bath products are protected from biological effects. And the lamellas are flexible, so working with them is easy. More about the features of such products can be seen in this video: ORGALITH.
These are products that imitate tiles. Hardboard is pressed cardboard of great thickness. And what about its moisture resistance? To make the material so, manufacturers use paraffin or rosin. The harder the brand of wall panels, the higher its cost will be. True, it is better to buy high-quality hardboard products, hard and expensive, concerning finishing the bathroom. The products are something in between, between plastic and MDF panels, which we will talk about next. MDF These are wooden products that are the strongest, most reliable, and most durable.
True, there are several nuances regarding the weight of the panels and their cost. MDF is sold as long sheets that are laid out without vertical cutting. True, everyone decides how to stack them. As in the case of PVC products, when installing MDF, the joints are hardly visible. That is why it is enough to buy, for example, blue panels, install them, and you will get a protected and beautiful blue wall, on which the joints are practically invisible. The panels go on sale long, more than 2 m. If necessary, they are measured and cut off. When bathroom ceilings are low, there are a lot of leftovers. But, they should not be thrown away. Products are cut and become suitable for further wall decoration by creating patterns. MDF is compressed wood chips. The raw material turns into an even and thin sheet by adding glue. The material does not have a polymer-based binder. Creation is based on exposure to high temperatures and pressure. Therefore, the material is environmentally friendly and does not harm health. As for moisture resistance, it is present. Melamine is applied to the surface, so the surface remains protected from water and fumes for many years.
TOOLS AND MATERIALS FOR WORKS
Now, you can learn how to install wall panels for the bathroom yourself. Before doing this, you need to take care of the following tools and materials: jigsaw; spatula, plaster, construction mixer; accessories; primer, roller, and brush; liquid Nails; roulette; silicone sealant. The fittings consist of a framing strip, corners, a strip for joints, and molding. We will look at two options for how to fix bathroom wall panels.
PROCESS OF INSTALLATION ON ADHESIVE
One of the options is to install on the adhesive composition (liquid nails). This is a good option for walls that do not have large drops and curvature. Since their leveling will be expensive, it is more profitable to create a frame. It is enough to prepare them a little if the walls are even. This will require a primer and plaster. Using a spatula, the primer is applied to the surface, which is leveled. Then, to improve adhesion, a primer is applied, employing a roller to the entire surface of the walls. Now you need to measure the walls and calculate whether there will be enough space to install solid panels in equal numbers without cutting them. True, this does not always work out.
Most often, one of the panels needs to be cut. This can be done at once or during the installation process. Advice! For the wood to adapt to the humidity and characteristics of the bathroom, you need to put the panels inside for several days and periodically turn on the water. The panels will expand a little in advance and not already on the wall after installation.
This is for MDF panels. Further, the installation sequence is as follows: Glue is applied to the surface, after which it is leveled with a spatula. Layer thickness 6 mm. It would be best if you had a special glue for this purpose. Laying the panels starts from the corner of the bathroom. Each panel must be held for 10 seconds, pressing it. The glue will come out from under the panels. It is removed with a rag or sponge. According to this principle, the entire surface of the walls is processed.
When the work is completed, you need to leave everything to dry for about 12 hours. In the end, it remains to process the seams with sealant. You can learn more about installing MDF panels from this video: What about the option with a frame? He is also simple. Most often, PVC panels are installed on the frame. How to install wall panels in the bathroom video: The video clearly shows how to use the frame method. It is used when the walls are uneven.
True, there is a minus – the usable space in the bathroom is lost.
REVIEWS
Wall panels for the bathroom have different reviews. Most of them are positive. Users note low cost, practicality, and ease of installation. Here are some sayings. Victor, 34 years old, New Jersey: “I wanted to make repairs in the apartment. I consulted with experts about what is better to put in the bathroom. The wall difference in places is 2–5 cm. Laying tiles will be expensive. It is often cheaper to make a frame and sheathe them with panels. So they did not advise MDF since the tree, no matter how you protect it, will still pull moisture. But with PVC, there are no such problems. As a result, sheathed all PVC. A year later, there are no problems, the surface is easy to clean, smooth, and the repair was cheaper.” Alexander, New York: “I prefer to use tiles. It is more reliable, durable, and looks more presentable. If we resort to wall panels, then buy imported options, expensive ones, and attributes for them. Definitely under tiles. As a result, it wasn’t easy to distinguish from tiles. Therefore, you should not buy cheap products. John, 48 years old, Boston: “I have a negative attitude towards panels. My practice shows that this is a one-time option. Tiles are much more reliable. It is better to overpay once than to replace it after a few years. If you do it for yourself and not in a rented apartment, it’s not worth it. And as a temporary option to hide the old bathroom, it is quite possible.
CONCLUSION
Although the products look perfect on paper, they still show not the best results in reality. True, if we talk about alternatives in their price category, there are none better. For the price, this is an ideal option. Let them not withstand ten years or more, but for their money, they will serve all 100. For wet rooms, plastic is an excellent option. It remains only to weigh the pros and cons, choose the material and install it according to the instructions.