Can You Paint Shower Wall Panels?

If you have shower wall panels installed in your bathroom and fancy a refresh without the hassle of installation, then painting the panels may be the answer for you. However, it’s not quite as easy as just slapping a coat of paint over the panels – because shower wall panels are designed to be highly waterproof, the paint will not easily adhere to them.

To find out how to paint shower wall panels, keep reading this quick guide.

How to apply paint to shower wall panels

1. Clean – first things first, primer and paint won’t adhere to any spots that are dirty or have leftover soap on them, so get scrubbing! Clean your shower panels with a mild household cleaner and dry them as needed.
2. Sand – to get the primer & paint to adhere to the panels, you’ll need to sand them down. Use 100-grit sandpaper to remove the shiny layer from the panels – leave no area untouched, otherwise the paint will peel in un-sanded areas!
3. Prime – apply a layer of bonding primer before applying the paint to prevent peeling.
4. Paint – finally, it’s time to paint! Make sure you use the right kind of paint; instead of the usual household water-based latex paint, we recommend that you use a two-part epoxy paint or acrylic enamel for longevity.
   TOP TIP – to avoid creating brush or roller marks in the finished product, apply the primer and paint using a foam roller and then softly blend any roller marks with a wide polyester brush.
5. Leave the paint to dry for an appropriate amount of time – if you use the shower too soon after painting, all of your hard work will be for nothing.

And there you have it – just a few simple steps to transform your shower area!

If you have any questions that weren’t answered in this article, make sure to take a look at our other guides and tips articles. You can also contact our team of experts for assistance – we're always happy to help!