Wall panel advice

We are putting a shower cubicle in and have decided to go for wall panels instead of tiles so that we have less grout etc.

There is a place not too far away that specialises in pvc panels. I have them the details of what I needed and they recommended the following...


2.4m X 1m X 10mm hollow panels X 3

The shower base is 1000*800

The room is 2.8m high.

I also want to use some matching board as a splash back behind the sink. The width of that area is 1280.

So on to my questions...

They said that the hollow board is better as it doesn't have any wood to rot etc. However another place told me that the hollow isn't as good as when you tighten the frame on our screw the fixings for the shower in place, you pull through it easily. Which is better? Hollow or ply backed?

The shop recommended that I just go to 2.4m high in the enclosure and leave the to section of the wall painted. Finishing off the top of the panel with a silver trim. However I'm thinking that I might be better to go all the way up. What are your thoughts on this?

Watching a video online (dangerous I know!) It suggested that the 250mm wide panels were better for fitting in the shower than the 1m wide panels. Obviously the 250mm wide ones need more joins but are supposed to be fully waterproof on the join. What do you find it better?

Thanks!

Leave a painted area around the top, horizontal joins aren't good. PVC (hollow) or ply are fine, either can be affixed with silicone, no need really for screws. The laminate boards wont rot, but will cost a lot more in material and i would charge more for labour. I would also opt for the wider panels, the joins are visable, more suitable for a ceiling.