Are Shower Panels Better than Tiles?

If you’re in the process of redecorating a bathroom or shower enclosure, whether for yourself or your clients, one of the major choices involved might be whether to use tiles or shower panels to decorate the walls of the room.

More and more DIY-ers and contractors are choosing to use PVC shower panels over ceramic tiles thanks to their wide range of benefits. There are however, certain situations more suited to tile – keep reading to find out!

Cost

Depending on the specific type of shower panels or tiles you use, oftentimes shower panels are by far the more cost-effective option. Quality tiles are expensive, so if you’re trying to replicate the look for a fraction of the price, look no further than plastic shower panels.

Installation

PVC shower panels are far easier to install than tiles. As mentioned above, tiles need grouting and this is a long and arduous process. Tiles can also be quite heavy, and the installation process is repetitive.

Shower panels are supplied in larger panels that you can cut to size and are lightweight. This makes the installation experience far quicker and easier than with tiles.

Shower cladding panels can also be fit over existing tiles, meaning there’s no need for removal before installation. Old tiles, however, will need to be pried and removed from the wall before installing new ones.

Maintenance

One of the biggest gripes most people have with tiles is the use of and cleaning of the grouting needed to attach and secure tiles. Grouting is incredibly porous and therefore allows water to collect – this can lead to problems with moulding and mildew if not cleaned properly. Grout lines need to be individually cleaned, so if you’re working with an intricate design, this can be incredibly time consuming.

Shower panels on the other hand, do not require any grouting, so there’s nothing to maintain here! They’re also designed not to crack or wear down over time, and a quick wipe down with a cloth and detergent is usually the only form of maintenance shower panels need!

Durability

Whilst tiles are relatively durable and can look elevated, shower panels are designed for the ultimate durability and are ideal for certain households (like those with young children!) or commercial installations.

The waterproof nature of the panels ensures moisture ingress does not lead to issues with mould and mildew.

Tiles are also usually made or ceramics or porcelain, which is capable of cracking if subjected to high levels of force, whereas PVC is crack resistant.

Aesthetics

This is the only place where tile can trump shower wall panels – but only for certain installations. For more traditional properties or bathrooms, porcelain or ceramic tile is much more in keeping with the aesthetics of the property. There is also much more room for specific customisation when it comes to using tile, as all the smaller tile components can combine to form a bigger finished piece – you can mix and match to create whatever finish you or your client desires.

In contemporary domestic and commercial installations however, shower panels can’t be beaten – with a wide range of styles, colours and patterns available, there really is something to suit every bathroom – and the sleek, modern clean groutless lines complement contemporary properties perfectly.

Is bathroom cladding better than tiles?

Bathroom cladding shares most if not all of the same benefits as PVC shower panels. Therefore, it is safe to say that, depending on the specific situation of course, bathroom cladding is overall an easier option when it comes to installation and maintenance, and is more cost-effective too.

If plastic shower panels are the best choice for your project, shop the range online, or for more information, get in touch with our friendly team.