Bathroom Wall Panels - Wetwall, showerwall, multipanel :-S

[fred1981]

Im looking to renovate my bathroom by installing a quadrant shower enclosure in an unused corner of my room.... dont know why one was never installed to be honest. Plumber friend says the same and its an easy job...

confusion i have is that i dont want it tiled and would like some wall boards but there so many im not sure which to go for.

I dont like the plastic panels as ive had them before and just dented to easy so looked into harder boards and was told about mdf backed boards called showerwall. see some in my local builders merchant and its solid so good stuff for me. Googled them and found a website which sells them at a a much cheaper price then the builder merchant and will deliver for free as well which is great. confusion came when i started looking through their site and found there other boards which appear to be the same or similar and all priced different..... showerwall, wetwall, multipanel, selki, does it really matter which i go for??

website is http://www.rubberduckbathrooms.co.uk/shower-panels-boards

 

[Nige F]

Multipanel by Grant Westfield ...got it here @ home . BUT make sure the floor/walls are true first.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

You've probably chosen by now - I'd be interested to know what you went for and why.

I have a serious worry about the MDF based ones - I fear that no matter how well you put together the joints with sealant and metal strips, water will penetrate. It might take years, but sooner or later the MDF core will do what MDF does when you make it wet.

 

[Burnerman]

+1 for the MultiPANEL.....using the genuine trim and joining strips. Its ply based, costs a bomb but is absolutely great.
John

 

[Newboy]

+1 for no MDF

The showerwall product has a dreadful design where the panel sits on top of the base trim and relies on a bead of silicone applied to the end of the board for sealing.

Have a look at the diagram on page 2 (bottom right)
http://www.showerwall.co.uk/pdfs/Showerwall technical data sheet_mar13.pdf

 

[ban-all-sheds]

+1 for the MultiPANEL.....using the genuine trim and joining strips. Its ply based, costs a bomb but is absolutely great.

And what does ply do when it gets wet, repeatedly/constantly?

 

[Burnerman]

It delaminates or deteriorates......like most organic materials.
John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Which is what worries me, even if the core is "WBP exterior" ply (A term which covers a multitude of qualities)...

 

[Burnerman]

I couldn't agree more and success has, as with many things, got to be down to the ability and professionalism of the installer to know what is required.
If installed as per manufacturers instructions all should be well, but cut corners and it'll come back to haunt.
When I used this stuff, maybe 10 years ago, I sealed the raw edges first before using a quality silicone and it's fine to date.
Curiously enough I'm having another bash in a month or so!
John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I'm thinking I might try and find (a) maker(s) who offer the same finish in solid laminate (which I'd happily use on wet walls) and plywood core boards which would be OK on walls which don't get soaked.