Try bathroom wall panels

Could specialist panels be the right product to update your bathroom?

Bathroom panels, or wallboards, can fit over existing surfaces including old tiles or plasterboard, making installation quicker than tiling. Panels are easy to wipe down, and there’s no grout to crack or attract dirt.

Designs on offer include plain gloss finishes in simple neutrals and vibrant brights. Panels can be textured to look like tiles, brick or concrete and there are smooth limestone, slate, marble and wood effects too.

Costs vary, but start at around £20 per sq m for basic PVC panelling. At the top end, expect to pay around £70-100 per sq m, for a waterproof plywood or MDF core.

Plywood or MDF core panels should be laid flat in the room to acclimatise for around 72 hours before installing. Some systems require battens to be fitted first, while others adhere directly to the existing surface.

Installation involves precise measuring and cutting and careful sealing. It’s a job for a competent DIYer, but as panels are so much faster to install than tiles, you would save on labour costs even if you called in a pro.