Fitting Wall Panels To Uneven Walls
A wall panel is a single piece of material, usually flat and-on-uneven-walls.jpg" />a rectangular shape, that serves as the visible and exposed covering for a wall. Wall panels are functional as well as decorative, providing insulation and soundproofing, combined with uniformity of appearance, along with some measure of durability or ease of replace ability. While there is no set size limit for a piece of material fulfilling these functions.
Use of wall panels can reduce construction costs by providing a consistent appearance to the paneled surface without requiring the application of paint or another finishing material. Wall panels may be finished on only one side, if the other side is going to be against a brick or concrete wall, or a comparable structure. Alternately, the panels may, if assembled to an appropriate framework, substitute for having any other kind of wall at all. Holes may be cut or drilled into a wall panel to accommodate electrical outlets and other devices coming out of the wall.
Preparing Walls For Wall Panels
There are many reasons behind the recent surge in popularity of waterproof bathroom panels; high among these is the ease of installation. More straightforward to apply than ceramic tiles, you might be surprised at just how quickly you can achieve a stunning bathroom transformation. Before you begin with the installation, however, be sure to know exactly how to prepare your walls to make sure you achieve professional results.
First check that your walls are dry, flat and even and free from dirt and grease. If necessary flatten high spots and fill in low spots and remove anything such as wallpaper or loose paint that could interfere with a good, strong adhesive bond.
With our bathroom panels the precisely engineered Hydro lock tongue and groove joining system not only provides a watertight and virtually seamless join, it can also cope when walls are not completely level. Without the need for profiles when joining adjacent wall panels together a beautiful, continuous wall can be achieved.
Fitting Wall Panels To Uneven Walls
The older your home is the more likely it is that your walls will be less than even. Fitting paneling directly onto uneven walls will affect the quality of the panel joints and could result in the adhesive not making sufficient contact when the panels are installed. So rather than worrying about panels being out of plumb with your existing walls, you need to ensure that the panels themselves are plumb.
Uneven surfaces can of course be leveled by re-plastering this will however add to the time and cost of completing the job. If the wall is very uneven you may need to have a batten frame built over the uneven wall to create a level surface for your new paneling.
Assuming that you can afford to reduce the dimensions of the room, the use of battens will not only make the installation of the waterproof panels an easier task, they can also have the benefit of providing space to allow the concealment of pipe work that might detract from the aesthetic of your bathroom revamp.
Having checked that your walls can support a firm screw hold, you should ensure there is a vertical batten under every panel join. In those areas where heavy items such as a hung basin or toilet are to be attached to the wall through the panels, extra battens must be installed to provide additional support.
Fitting Wall Panels On Top Of Tiles
In many older bathrooms the walls may be half-tiled with the tiles bedded in cement. As these can be difficult to remove, it may be simpler to leave them in place and batten out the wall above so that it is plumb with the surface of the tiles. The profiles and shower wall panels can then be stuck onto the tiled area using high grab adhesive and pinned to the battens above.
If you have had to fit battens to the area because your surface was not level, profiles and panels can be secured directly onto the battens using hard fixings such as screws rather than high-grab adhesive. Wall panels then, can be the perfect solution for your bathroom upgrade, even if your walls are less than perfect. By getting the preparation right you can soon have a beautiful and durable wall covering that will look good for years to come.
How To Fit Shower Wall Panels?
Is your bathroom looking old and outdated with grubby grout and tired tiles? Well, here’s an easy switch that will have it feeling fresh and fancy in next to no time.
In this article we will be looking at the more simple things you can do to transform your bathroom in the most innovative way which will spruce up your bathroom space with shower wall panels.
Shower Wall Panels VS. Tiles
When choosing your bathroom wall coverings, there are several options you could choose. However, in splash zones, like the internal walls of your shower enclosure, the area above your bath and the space behind your basin, you will need a more watertight solution that offers better protection.
Many people prefer tiles, as they offer a very hardwearing surface that is impervious to water. However, these days, many more people are choosing shower wall panels which can also be used right around your bathroom.
The benefits of shower wall panels vs. tiles are clear to see:
- Quick and easy installation can be fitted up to 6 times faster than tiles, with no need to hire any plumber to do so .
- Cost-effective shower wall panels cost less per square meter than tiles.
- 100% watertight with no need for grout
- Easy to clean a simple wipe with a cloth is all that's needed
- Can be fitted over existing wall coverings like tiles no need to remove your old tiles first
- Variety of stylish design options
- Years of guarantee for added peace of mind
How To Fit Shower Wall Panels?
In this guide, we are using Shower wall panels and installation kit. Installation instructions may vary slightly depending on which brand and design you choose. So, always consult the instruction manual when installing your product. The instructions are also mentioned below in several points:
- Measure the area where the wall panels will be fitted. This includes both horizontally and vertically. Wall panels can be fitted over multiple surfaces, like tiles and plasterboard.
- Take your panel and lay it flat on supports with the front facing up, then mark out the cutting lines on the panel. Strips of masking tape will help protect the edges while cutting the panels down to the required size.
- Using the electric saw, carefully remove the excess wall panel. Remember, to use the safety goggles when using these tools. We will be using the chrome trims to give a nice clean finish to our edges. So, we are removing the tongue and groove join from both sides of the panel. Some trims may have to be screwed in using a screwdriver or power drill.
- Take a sanding pad and run this along all the cut edges. This will create a smooth finish and remove any debris. Now, flip the panel over and use the sanding pad to rough up the surface. This will allow the sealant to form a stronger bond.
- To fit the panels together, we are using the corner trim piece. Add a small bead of sealant to the wall and place the corner piece into position. Place tile spacers underneath the location of the wall panel. This will allow for sealant to be added afterwards. We are now ready to apply the sealant to the rear side of the wall.
- Begin by laying 3 parallel strips of foam tape along the entire length of the board. Then apply the sealant, first with a thin line down side, and then zigzag the top and bottom for greater coverage. Finish with large circles of sealant, to make sure it’s spread evenly.
- Now we are going to fit the end trim piece to the board. Add some sealant to the inside of the trim, as well as the very edge of the wall panel. Then position the trim in place. After adding some sealant to the corner trim piece, remove the backing layer from the foam tape.
- Lift the panel into position and slide into the corner piece at an angle. This prevents the tape from sticking to the wall until the panel is in the correct position.
- Repeat the process with the remaining wall panels, again ensuring they are correctly positioned before smoothing down firmly. If you want a less visible join, you can make use of the tongue and groove joins. By adding some masking tape here, we can keep a nice, neat finish when applying the sealant.
- Slide into place and remove the tape. Finish the join by running the silicone finishing tool along the groove.
- Use the same technique when sealing the panels to the floor. A little sealant and you are done.
