When it comes to choosing the wall finish in your bathroom, tiles might seem like the obvious choice. However, wet wall panels have become a more popular choice in recent years. You may find that installing a wet wall as an alternative to tiles is an ideal solution for your bathroom needs.
- What Is a Wet Wall?
- For What Type of Bathroom Is a Wet Wall Best?
- What Sizes Do Wet Wall Panels Come In?
- How Many Wet Wall Panels Do You Need for a Bathroom?
- How Long Do Wet Wall Panels Take to Dry?
- Is It Possible to Paint Wet Wall Panels?
- What Are the Benefits of Using a Wet Wall??
- What Is the Price Range of Wet Wall Panels?
- Wet Wall Versus Tiles: The Better Alternative??
- Shop Wet-Walls
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What Is a Wet Wall?
A wet wall, hydro panel, or shower wall is a large panel that will fully waterproof the wall area around your shower, bath, sink, or any area that you would ordinarily tile.
Wet wall panels come in a variety of sizes. They present you with a multitude of advantages: they are easy to install and do not need to be grouted. You can also cut them to your specific bathroom size and needs. All these features make wet walls easy to maintain and keep looking new.
For What Type of Bathroom Is a Wet Wall Best?
Wet Wall is a fairly modern concept. Hence, a wet wall is a perfect fit for a contemporary bathroom suite. However, with an assortment of modern and traditional patterns available, you can use it for any style of bathroom.
Some of the wet wall finishes include organic looks such as stone, slate, and marble, as well as stylish designs that incorporate elements like glitter
What Sizes Do Wet Wall Panels Come In?
Wet wall panels usually come in sizes such as 2420mm x 590mm (95.27in x 22.23in), 2420mm x 900mm (95.27in x 35.43in), and 2420mm x 1200mm (95.27in x 47.24in).
They come in several other sizes, as well. You can cut a wet wall panel to any size and height to fit your bathroom dimensions.
How Many Wet Wall Panels Do You Need for a Bathroom?
The average dimension of a bathroom in a UK home is 2.4m x 1.8m (7.87ft x 5.90ft). The average floor-to-ceiling height is 9ft. So the area to be covered by wet wall panels would be 7.87 x 9 x 2 (141.66) + 5.9 x 9 x 2 (106.2) = 247.86 sq.ft.
You can calculate the exact area by subtracting the area of the bathroom door (6.5ft x 2.5ft) and window (3ft x 1.5ft) from this figure. That would be 16.25 sq.ft. and 4.5 sq.ft., or let’s say 20 sq.ft. The exact area to be covered by wet wall panels would be approximately 247.86 – 20 = 227.86 sq.ft.
The average dimension of a medium-sized wet wall panel is 7.94ft x 2.95ft, and the area it would cover is 23.42 sq.ft. Hence, you’ll need 10 medium-sized (or 8 large-sized) wet wall panels for an average-sized bathroom.
How Long Do Wet Wall Panels Take to Dry?
The installation of wet wall panels is a relatively dry process compared to the installation of bathroom tiles, which needs at least two wet stages.
The panel adhesive is a lot less messy too. However, you’ll need to allow at least 24 hours for the sealant to cure completely before installing other bathroom accessories.
Is It Possible to Paint Wet Wall Panels?
Yes, you can paint wet wall panels since they are made from plastic or vinyl.
The advantage is you can change the appearance of the panels without losing any of the core waterproofing properties. However, you’ll need to use strict paint application methods.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Wet Wall?
- A wet wall is 100% waterproof, and hence ideal for wet areas.
- It is cost-effective and quicker to install as compared to tiles. It requires an average of 1–2 hours, whereas tiling can take up to 2 days.
- It is a fast, easy fit and is easy to keep clean due to the lack of grouting, which is a necessity with tiling.
- A Wet wall is also a low-maintenance and hygienic choice, less likely to cause a bad odour or growth of mould in the bathroom.
- Wet walls are durable and come with a range of domestic use warranties starting from 1-year, 5-year, 10-year, and 15-year options.
What Is the Price Range of Wet Wall Panels?
At Bathroom City, wet wall panels come in a wide price range, starting from £85 per laminate coating panel, and going up to £189 for MDF panels, £269 for engineered polymer panels, and £895 for premium acrylic panels.
Wet Wall Versus Tiles: The Better Alternative?
Tiles may be a more suitable choice if your bathroom suite has a traditional or period design. They require more regular maintenance than wet walls/shower walls, as grout can harbour mildew and mould.
Ultimately though, well-maintained tiles may last longer than wet walls.
That said, wet wall panels are much easier and cheaper to replace than tiles, as well as require less effort to install. This makes installing a wet wall a great way to update and change the entire look of your bathroom suite.
Finally, depending on your personal taste, the rest of the appearance of your suite, and the amount of money and effort you are willing to put into decorating your bathroom, there is no real right or wrong answer. Wet walls or tiles, the choice is yours!
Shop Wet-Walls
Now that you know all about wet walls, why not take a look at our online collection of wet wall panels?
Bathroom City is the UK’s leading bathroom fittings specialist and manufacturer. With a well-established factory showroom in Tyseley, you can be confident that we are not simply an online store.
We stock some of the UK's leading Bathroom brands, so shop online or visit us in-store for your complete Bathroom needs.
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