Moisture-resistant wall panels for tiles

Advantages and disadvantages

In building materials stores, you can find a huge assortment of wall panels for tiles. They have a different basis. You can buy PVC, plastic options. Such products have their positive and negative qualities, which should be taken into account if you decide to turn to such wall cladding.

Panels for tiles have a number of advantages.

• They are not afraid of the impact of negative external factors. They do not absorb moisture into their structure, do not undergo deformation. When water gets on them, these materials do not lose their positive qualities and original appearance.
• Trouble-free operation. Modern tiles for tiles are recognized as one of the most convenient and hassle-free to use. They allow you to keep warm, and when water gets on them, they do not become slippery.
• Aesthetic qualities. Tile-like panels look stylish and attractive. These materials are presented in a huge range. Buyers can find options for themselves with different colors and textures.
• Unpretentious care. Wall panels are renowned for their ease of cleaning. Their surface does not retain dirt. To provide care for these materials, you do not need to buy expensive special chemicals - any usual means will be appropriate.
• Little weight. The weight of the panels is negligible, especially when compared to the conventional tiles they mimic. However, materials designed for laying the floor turn out to be heavier than wall options. It is not recommended to glue floor products to walls or ceilings, because on such bases they may simply not last long.
• Ease of installation. To lay ceramic tiles in the bathroom, specialists are usually hired and their services cost a lot of money.

Now let's look at the shortcomings noticed behind this material.

• The main disadvantage of many models of panels (especially polyvinyl chloride) is poor resistance to certain chemicals. For example, if acetone is spilled on the surface of such a finish, then a noticeable trace will remain after it, which cannot be repaired in the future.
• Another weakness of such a finish is not the highest level of environmental friendliness. This disadvantage is especially noticeable when comparing panels with natural materials.
• No matter how well the slabs imitate tile, they will in any case be inferior to it in their external qualities. Despite the chic assortment, it can be problematic to find the best option that looks really expensive and stylish.
• Panels for tiles cannot boast of high impact resistance. Such materials will withstand minor loads, but more serious ones are unlikely. Mechanical damage on the panels remains very easy, and it is impossible to get rid of them in the future.
• Some users notice that during the first days, an unpleasant, specific smell emanates from such a finish. This disadvantage primarily concerns coatings of not the highest quality.

Tile

Many people choose ceramic tiles in order to make repairs in the bathroom and never return to it! Currently, modern manufacturers offer a very wide range of tiles. Various sizes, textures, shapes, sizes and shades will allow you to realize any design ideas, even the most unexpected ones.

Tile

In addition, a fairly wide price range can be noted, which is presented on the domestic market. This will allow each buyer to purchase their own option depending on their own income. However, the choice of tiles is not so simple! It is necessary to decide on the dimensions of the ceramics in advance, since the larger the tiles, the fewer seams there will be in the bathroom. This directly affects the operational capabilities of the premises, as well as the final cost of the work.

Today, a variety of models are offered from 5x6 to 60x30 cm. Choosing small products, the number of seams will increase in direct proportion to the number of tiles. The large number of gaps increases the possibility of moisture getting under the tiles, which threatens the formation of mold, mildew or rot.

Laying tiles

You can resort to the help of specialists when installing tiles, and sometimes you even need to

always a pretty big deal. After all, if the ceramics are laid incorrectly, then problems in the operation of the shower will arise very soon.

At the same time, it is not so difficult to carry out competent installation with your own hands with the proper skill and dexterity. In addition to the above advantages of tiles, a few more should be listed, for example, resistance to aggressive detergents.

In addition, if the contamination is not strong, then the ceramics can be easily cleaned, and if a stain is ingrained, aggressive substances will come to the rescue. Unlike PVC panels, tiles are highly durable, which plastic products cannot boast of. In addition, ceramics look better aesthetically. A well-made tile will always look presentable and will last for many years.

Among the weaknesses of ceramic tiles, it is worth noting the need to carry out preparatory or rough work before laying products. This is done so that the tile is firmly and firmly held in place. Therefore, a thorough cleaning of the previous coating, especially wallpaper or paint, is required, after which you can proceed to leveling the surface. Advantages:

• high strength;
• aesthetics;
• durability;
• wide range of.

With a good set of circumstances, all preparatory work may be limited to leveling the plaster. In another case, you will need to install a special drywall frame. This is primarily due to walls that are not at right angles to the floor or ceiling. In addition, the whole procedure is quite laborious, messy and complicated. It should be added that the costs of these works are not the cheapest, so the total cost of the tiles will be an order of magnitude more than plastic panels.

Wall mounting methods

Moisture-resistant finishing panels can be mounted on the surface of the walls in different ways, which differ in the level of complexity and characteristics of the resulting cladding.

The planks can be fixed vertically or horizontally.

Installation of wall panels will require the purchase of accessories in the form of:

• connecting moldings to hide the joints of the elements;
• ceiling moldings installed in corners and at joints;
• end decorating moldings covering the edge of the finishing panels;
• external and internal corner decoration elements;
• starting moldings that are guides in the horizontal or vertical direction.

Wall panels for tiles

Moldings of the universal type are now finding wider application. All purchased accessories must be of high quality, without damage.

Installation on glue

Not a very popular method, characterized by low adhesion rates of the finishing material to the wall surface and the complexity of dismantling. Installation technology with moisture-resistant glue is as follows:

• measuring the walls in the bathroom;
• fitting panels and moldings with a hacksaw in accordance with the measurements obtained;
• installation of the first molding at the starting point;
• phased gluing of finishing panels on wall surfaces;
• sealing joints with baseboards and ceiling moldings.

Bathroom decoration with wall panels

The adhesive should be applied to the back of the finishing panels in fairly thin and zigzag lines.

It should be noted that the installation of panels on an adhesive composition requires a thorough leveling of the wall surface with the removal of all defects using cement mortars or putty.

Installation on wooden rails

The use of a wooden frame base for the installation of moisture-resistant wall panels in the bathroom is in demand in rooms where the surfaces are characterized by the presence of large flaws and irregularities.

The frame of such a lathing is made using wooden bars 40x40 mm. Screws are used to fix the frame to the wall surface.

The technology for self-installation of finishing panels is as follows:

• fix the corner rails vertically;
• fix horizontal bars end-to-end with vertically arranged elements, adhering to a step of 40-60 cm;
• installation of a starting molding;
• installation of finishing panels using tongue-and-groove joints;
• cladding with skirting boards, corners and moldings.

Fastening MDF to a wooden crate

The cladding panels are installed on wooden rails by fixing with staples from a special stapler.

It is important to remember that the use of guides in the form of wooden structures will require mandatory preliminary thorough treatment with special antifungal and antiseptic compounds.

Installation on special plastic rails with fixings

One of the newest, most convenient and promising options for self-assembly of moisture-resistant wall panels, involving the use of special strips and clips. With this method of installation, a complete, ready-to-install set of moldings must be purchased.

Clips with a mustache must be prematurely installed in the strip grooves.

Plastic strips

All installed clips are hidden by the edges of each subsequent mounted finishing element, which allows you to get the most monolithic and aesthetic surface of the cladding in the bathroom. In this case, screws, staples and nails are often replaced with special clamps.

Improving the level of water resistance of the surface lined with moisture resistant panels is achieved by applying standard silicone sealant to the ridges and grooves during installation.

Installation methods

Today, there are several methods for installing PVC panels, with the most widely used is the installation on the crate. The frame structure is assembled from both metal profiles and plastic or wooden beams. If a tree is chosen for the lathing, then it should be pre-treated with antiseptic agents. Standard metal profiles are usually used for the frame, and the size of wooden and plastic beams should not be less than 4 × 2.5 cm.They are fixed to the wall and ceiling with screws, observing a step of 40 cm.

The battens must be fixed perpendicular to the direction of the panels. At the same time, regardless of whether it is a suspended ceiling, a panel or a screen, sheathing can be carried out both vertically and horizontally. The choice usually depends on the characteristics of the room and style. But it's worth noting that vertical mounting has its advantages. It allows water to flow down unhindered

This is especially important when the shower stall is sheathed. As for the vertical installation, it contributes to the visual "expansion" of the walls

When assembling the lathing, the structure should be additionally reinforced at the corners with supports, which are used as small pieces of panels.

The installation process is as follows:

• Finishing starts from one of the corners of the room or from the door. First of all, the starting corner is fixed, it is attached to the surface with staples or nails. Then, using the fastening system, the first panel is installed, which is hammered into the frame with nails.
• The next step is the installation of the second panel, it is placed close to the first and thus the cladding is continued until the next corner.
• At the end of the sheathing, the finishing corner is attached and the final panel is inserted into it. The joints between the elements are carefully coated with sealant and proceed to the installation of ceiling or floor skirting boards.

Equally popular is the installation of PVC on special fastening clips; for this, a strong frame is made at the beginning. In the event that there are significant irregularities on the surfaces, plastic or plywood gaskets are placed under the strips and profiles and fixed with self-tapping screws. Similarly to the first method, an inner corner is fastened with clips near the door or in one of the corners, after which the first plate is inserted into the profile. Then a second one is placed in its groove and with latching clips. Then everything continues according to the previously described scheme.

If the bathroom is small, then frame installation for it is considered not the best option, since the design reduces the useful area of ​​the room. Therefore, for small bathrooms, panels are most often installed in a frameless way, on glue. The only drawback of this technology is that it requires a perfectly flat surface, so the ceiling and walls have to be well prepared for cladding. To fix the material, you should purchase special adhesive mixtures that do not contain organic solvents, since they have a detrimental effect on plastic. A suitable tool for this is "liquid nails", for 5 m2 they require no more than one spray can.

Installation of panels on glue is carried out in several stages:

The first step is to dry the working base well with a heat gun or a construction hair dryer. Then the surface is primed with an antiseptic.
After that, the walls and ceiling should be leveled in such a way that the differences do not exceed 3 mm. The presence of minor bumps and caverns is allowed, they are easy to cut off with a grinder

Great attention is paid to the joints in the corners. They must be strictly perpendicular, otherwise the installation work will be complicated, creating problems with the fastening of the starting and finishing strips of the frame.
When the base for finishing is ready, glue is applied to the panel, leaving a small distance from the edge, and it is applied to the surface at a level, pressing for 5 minutes, until the adhesive mixture sets.

Sheathing elements that adjoin the floor and ceiling are cut, fastened with dowels and decorated with skirting boards.

Features of the choice of products by size and appearance

Bathroom finishing materials can be classified according to the following type of slabs:

• type-setting rack - this is an analogue of lining, the width of the sheet can be 13-28 cm, length - 2.5-3.8 m, thickness - from 0.8 to 1.4 cm;
• sheet - they are simpler and faster installation. Standard sheet dimensions: 1.25 × 2.5 m, thickness 0.3-0.7 cm;
• type-setting tiled - made in the form of a square with a side of 30-95 cm. They can be combined in different colors, creating an interesting interior in the bathroom.

Panels for tiles and mosaics for the bathroom - photo in the interior

PVC tiles for bathroom walls are very similar to ceramics, only at a much cheaper cost. Their installation is quite simple and convenient, compared to the rack material. Most often, the owners opt for slabs measuring 30 × 30 cm, it is considered the most profitable.Another great option is PVC mosaic bathroom panels, which are presented in the form of square sheets with a mosaic coating. The front side is embossed, it can be glossy or matte.

Rack plastic panels for the bathroom - photos of interesting designs

Rack panels have a narrow shape, their installation is carried out in the vertical or horizontal direction. Depending on the installation method, you can visually raise the ceilings or expand the space, which is useful for small areas. Manufacturers produce a wide range of lamellas in a variety of colors. Examples of beautiful bathroom interiors with PVC panels can be found in the photo catalog.

Sheet plastic panels for bathroom

The main advantage of sheet panels is that a bathroom can be transformed in a short time. In addition, installation is carried out with a minimum number of butt joints.

The only thing that you should pay attention to is that you cannot make an interesting drawing or pattern, the interior can turn out to be rather monotonous. It is easy to care for them, they do not allow moisture to pass even in butt joints, which means that the possibility of fungus formation under them is minimized

In addition, plastic has excellent noise and sound insulation.

Tools and materials to get the job done

In order to sheathe the bathroom with plastic, the home craftsman should stock up on the following set of tools and materials:

Profiles for the construction of battens for panels.

Advice! For work in the bathroom, it is preferable to use aluminum or plastic profiles. Wooden slats are poorly suited for this purpose, since wood quickly begins to rot in a humid environment.

• Perforator (or drill);

• Self-tapping screws and dowel-nails;
• Roulette;
• Construction level;
• Construction stapler and fastening staples.
• Silicone sealant (transparent or in the color of the panels).

Finishing should start from the top, that is, from the ceiling. To hem the panels to the ceiling, a frame should be made from a profile.

Those who want to clearly see how plastic bathroom cladding is performed - videos with instructions can be found on construction sites.

Construction of battens for mounting plastic panels on the ceiling

Work order:

• The starting U-shaped profile is installed on the wall from which it is planned to start the cladding.
• The starting profile is fixed on the wall, stepping back from the ceiling surface, to the width of the profile from which the frame will be built.
• Frame profiles are fixed to the ceiling using dowel nails.
• If you plan to install built-in lamps, then cables for connection should be laid inside the frame made.
• The first panel is installed in the starting profile, and then fastened to the crate with staples using a construction stapler.
• The subsequent panel is installed so that it covers the place of attachment of the previous one.
• The last panel is cut to size, then secured with Liquid Nails glue.

After finishing the ceiling is finished, you can start wall cladding. It will be useful for a home craftsman to watch a thematic video - how to sheathe a bathtub with plastic.

Such video instructions help to avoid mistakes and better understand the technology for performing work.

First, a crate is built from a profile. The distance between adjacent battens of the crate is 40-60 cm, their location is perpendicular to the direction of installation of the panels.

Example of a plastic sheathed ceiling with outlets for connecting luminaires

• The installation of panels on the walls begins after the completion of the construction of the lathing. The first panel is inserted into the starter profile, and its second side is fixed with a stapler. Further, the installation of the panels continues in the same way as for the ceiling sheathing.

• After finishing the installation of the panels, the skirting boards should be glued. Above - ceiling, below - floor.To improve ventilation, it is better to choose a special skirting board with holes.

The places where plumbing fixtures are adjacent to the walls should be treated with silicone sealant. A special sealing tape can be glued on top.

Installed screen under the bath

The installation of a screen under the bath is completing the repair. As a rule, the plastic overlay for the bathtub is matched to the color of the panels, but contrasting combinations are not excluded. If the bathroom is small, then it is better to use not blank screens, but those that are equipped with doors. In this case, the space under the bathroom can be used to store various items.

Conclusions:

Plastic panels are a great finishing option for a bathroom, especially if you don't want to mess with expensive and difficult to install ceramic tiles. Repairs with PVC panels can be carried out within two to three days. Moreover, the home craftsman can easily cope with the installation on his own, even if he has never done such work before.

Types of plastic panels for the bathroom

Plastic panels are available on the market in a large assortment. One of the classifications divides them into wall and ceiling, and the latter are less thick and durable, but also lighter in weight. If it is supposed to sheathe the entire bathroom with plastic, then the panels should differ in texture - the matte ceiling will correspond to glossy walls and, conversely, it is better to choose shiny ceiling panels for textured walls.

Depending on the size and mounting method

Plastic panels are presented in three main types, each of which differs in size and shape. For bathroom renovations, you can use the following types:

Slatted sheets - have a great similarity to the clapboard, resembling rectangular boards. Modern models are equipped with special locks according to European standards. Although the joints are well sealed, the joints are still clearly visible. Most often, rack-and-pinion canvases are produced in white, although color options are not excluded;

Tiled panels - they look like tiles, they are quite lightweight and are often used to form patterned compositions. They are represented by square or rectangular elongated shapes that can reach sizes of 80x400 cm (used for finishing large areas);

Leafy is the most popular type for bathroom decoration. Basically, they are sold with a pattern already applied, which folds during installation like puzzles. Canvases are attached one after another without much difficulty.

The choice of this or that type of panel depends on the intended design of the room, which must be carefully thought out in advance. When decorating, you can also find various combinations that bring a significant variety to the interior.

PVC texture for bathroom

Plastic panels are presented in two main types of surfaces - matte and glossy. Matte canvases have a stylish modern look, capable of successfully imitating wallpaper and natural materials such as wood and stone. They are pleasant to the touch and quite durable. It is on matte canvases that various patterns are applied.

Glossy coated with a special varnish that gives a special shine, thanks to which they blend harmoniously into modern interiors. Such panels are often used in small rooms, as shiny surfaces contribute to the visual expansion of the space.

Plastic 3D panels for bathroom

An innovative material is plastic panels with a 3D pattern, which look quite luxurious, original and presentable. Their peculiarity lies in the three-dimensionality of the image, which creates the effect of "animated" walls. With the help of finishing the bathroom with this material, you can visually expand the space, divide it into zones. Drawings can be completely varied: patterns, ornaments, geometric elements, images of flora and fauna.

Advantages and disadvantages of finishing material

The main advantage of PVC panels is moisture resistance. Thanks to the smooth surface, on which there are no pores, the panels practically do not retain moisture. This quality makes them a worthy alternative to the usual tiles.

Many zealous owners choose a polymer material as a cladding due to its low cost. But in addition to the low price of PVC, wall tiles in the bathroom have many more undeniable advantages:

• lightness of construction;
• ease of installation;
• versatility of application;
• health safety;
• resistance to temperature fluctuations in the range from -50 to + 50 ° С.
• creation of additional heat and sound insulation;
• wide decorative possibilities.

The standard weight of one PVC lamella does not exceed about 1.5 kg / square meter. The light weight of the material greatly simplifies the process of transportation and installation of finished products. And the flexibility of the tile makes it easy to lay it on almost any surface.

PVC panels are a versatile material that can be safely used not only for cladding walls and ceilings, but also when creating screens for shower stalls or for decorating the slopes of window and door openings.

Due to the fact that components harmful to humans, such as phenol-formaldehyde resin, are not used in the production of facing material, the coating does not emit toxic substances and does not pose a threat to health.

But plastic panels, like any finishing material, are not without drawbacks. Among the "minuses" of the polymeric material are:

• Insufficient impact resistance. The polymer can withstand minor loads, but with direct mechanical damage, deformations and dents can form on the surface.
• Specific smell. Some users note that the unpleasant smell of plastic persists in the bathroom for the first few days after installing the tiles. But this drawback is typical only for products of poor quality.

The basis for the manufacture of the cladding is a synthetic material. Therefore, the polymer coating is susceptible to chemical solvents. This should be taken into account when choosing a finishing care product.

Video review of the main types of tiles: