Plastic panels for the bathroom: description, varieties and selection tips

It is no secret that the aesthetic perception of any room is largely determined by the background cladding. When it comes to the bathroom, most buyers are inclined to opt for plastic panels. In this article we will consider their key features, advantages, disadvantages, methods of attachment and design options. In addition, we note what you need to pay attention to when buying this material.

Plastic panels are considered one of the most popular facing materials. With their help, you can create a stylish interior with an atmosphere of coziness and comfort without special financial investments. In fact, it is piece covering of various sizes and thickness, the purpose of which is to decorate walls or ceilings. The material is an alternative to ceramic tiles, however, in comparison with it, it has installation advantages.

PVC panels have different strength indicators, the level of resistance to mechanical damage, which is why it is necessary to select them for the bathroom correctly. They are made from polyvinyl chloride, to which chlorine and ethylene are added. Lead used to be the binder component, today calcium and zinc are used instead (in equal proportions).

Get panels by pouring the liquid mass into molds of different sizes. After the panel cools down, a decorative coating is applied to it. According to another technology, the print is printed on the film, after which it is glued to the front side of the panels.The decorative layer is very thin, which is why it is necessary to protect the sheet material from mechanical damage and unnecessarily hard cleanings.

The panels are variable in texture: they can be not only smooth and varnished, but also embossed and also mosaic. A different type of texture, coupled with a pattern, allows you to create an imitation of any finishing material. Due to this feature, the cladding is able to imitate expensive materials (for example, stone, elite types of wood, marble, decorative brick).

Plastic is considered a durable material, with careful handling it can serve more than 10-15 years. The coating of the panels does not require complicated maintenance, the material is adapted to the temperature drop in the bathroom and the humidity level in the room. Its inertness to moisture makes it resistant to dampness - the panels are not afraid of mold or fungus. Microbes will not destroy him, he will not lose color.

The plasticity of the material allows it to be used not only for cladding standard walls and ceilings, it is also suitable for cladding arched openings and round shapes. With the right production technology and taking into account the requirements of GOST, the panels are odorless and comply with all necessary safety standards. It is not difficult to work with them, such repairs can be done on their own without the involvement of an external specialist.

PVC panels have many advantages.

• The material has high aesthetic characteristics, with the right choice with its help you can change the style of the interior.
• The product is high-tech, because in the production they use high-quality raw materials and modern equipment.
• The panels are variable in the choice of color schemes, if desired, you can choose several halftones of a particular color and pattern.
• The material does not deform during operation and does not shrink, the panels are firmly held on the walls and ceiling until dismantling.
• The panels are not picky about the type of base, often the installation does not need preliminary preparation at all.
• Through this cladding, you can mask the imperfections of the base, as well as hide communications.
• The material in the bathroom can be sheathed not only the walls and ceiling, they can decorate the bath screen, a cabinet under the washbasin.
• The panels are suitable for the background design of the bath, from which expressive accents and elements of interior zoning are obtained.
• The cladding is easy to dismantle, with a leak it is removed, a defect is identified and the cause is eliminated, then put in place.
• If desired, you can remove the panels and replace them, and the frame remains in place, which simplifies installation.
• Plastic panels are perfectly combined with other finishing materials (decorative stone, tile, mosaic).

Along with the advantages, the plastic lining has its drawbacks.

• The material itself is not afraid of dampness, but this does not exclude the appearance of condensation or mold on the walls, because under the skin there is no leakage visible.
• Installation will require accuracy, with excessive pressure, the material simply breaks.
• The adhesive method of fastening is considered to be short-lived, in this case, dismantling is complicated.
• The frame created for installation steals the usable area, which is bad for rooms in small-sized apartments and houses.
• When cutting the panels with a grinder, an unpleasant odor is sometimes emitted, therefore this work must be carried out in a protective mask.
• A cheap material does not always have a good decorative layer, it can be worn away in the process of coating care.
• The panels can not withstand shock and serious loads, scratches and defects significantly spoil their appearance.
• The material is flammable, in case of fire emits suffocating smoke and burns very intensely.

There are various criteria for classifying PVC panels for bathroom sheathing. For example, by type of overlap, they are ceiling and wall (wall).Despite the fact that both types of material are 2 thin sheets of plastic connected by stiffeners, the difference is noticeable in thickness. The options for the ceiling are thinner; they are designed to reduce the weight load on the floors.

According to the form of modification can be divided into 3 types: rack, standard and sheet. The options of the first type are similar to long and narrow strips, in most cases they are plain and rustic. In view of their dimensions, they create the same type of design, which requires a softening of perception, therefore to fix them simultaneously on the ceiling and on the walls is undesirable.

PVC lining is distinguished by its polished surface type and provides connection with the help of special studs. They release it in two variations: euro lining and “polka”. Eurolining has wide, and "polka" narrow lock systems. Moreover, the dimensions of the lamellas of the two types are identical.

Standard (classic) panels retain the shape of an elongated strip. Externally, this material has a floor to ceiling length with optimal width. Depending on the subject of the picture, they can create a different atmosphere. Their thickness can be different, as well as texture (for example, it can be glossy or frosted). However, unlike other options, it is smooth.

Today, manufacturers produce not only a two-layer type of plastic panels. In addition to it, a plastic cloth without cells (jumpers) is found on sale. Its thickness is very small (3 mm), in fact, it is plastic with a pattern applied to its front surface. It is this type of cladding that is used with the adhesive method of fastening. He does not take valuable centimeters of a limited area and does not need to create a frame as a fastening base.

Tiled panels are nothing more than a plastic interpretation of the tile. Use such material for upholstering spacious bathrooms. In addition, it greatly simplifies the lining of a standard size bathroom. The shape of the skin of this type can be square or rectangular, its dimensions are usually larger than typical ceramics.

Sheet material is distinguished by its dimensions. It is not as long as standard slats, but due to its size, it allows minimizing the time for repairs. Often it is a certain composition with a pattern, which is collected, like puzzles, into a single picture. A bathroom trimmed with such a finish, even with a simple imitation of some material, looks spectacular and modern.

Panels are different by type of mount. Some of them are performed using a suture technique, while others are mounted using seamless technology. Others are characterized by the presence of a chamfer. The use of a seamless method allows you to create a design that is not visually divisible into individual fragments of a single picture. Even though the joints are barely visible, this will not spoil the overall appearance of the skin.

The parameters of plastic panels for the bathroom depend on their variety, they vary in length and width. For instance, the length of the lamellas can be 120, 270, 300, 395 cm. Due to the variety of choices, you can choose the option with the smallest trim, which minimizes the cost of lining. In addition, on sale you can find panels with a length of about 6 m, which is good for cladding ceilings in spacious bathrooms.

The width of the building material can be from 10 to 50 cm. Moreover, as a rule, narrow-width variants have a visible joint (seams). Analogs with a width of 25 cm are characterized by a smaller docking connection. Panels with a width of 30 and 37.5 cm are considered a universal type of skin, they are bought more often, choosing a thickness equal to 1 cm.

The choice of thickness is not accidental: the larger it is, the stronger the lining. And if it is difficult to reach for the ceiling material, then the wall should withstand to some extent mechanical damage. Ceiling lamellas are usually between 0.5 and 0.8 cm thick, wall lamellas 1 cm thick. As for the individual varieties, everything is individual. For example, tile materials can have dimensions of 30x30, 98x98, 100x100 cm. Usually their thickness does not exceed 5 mm.

Wall panels of a standard type with a length of 260, 270, 300 cm have a width of up to half a meter. Sheet analogues are more tiled, although, in fact, they are the same rectangles. Their width varies between 50-122 cm, the length can be from 90 to 245 cm. The thickness of this cladding can be very thin (a little more than 1 mm) or standard (6 mm). Laminated panels are up to 12 mm wide.

Lining and long panels also have their own priority sizes. The thickness of the material of the two types can vary from 4 to 8 (10) mm. The parameters of the lining are less: usually the length and width of the strip is 90-300x10 cm, the dimensions of the floor-to-ceiling lamellas are 300x30 cm. As for the relief modifications, their minimum thickness is 8 mm.

Installation of plastic panels can be carried out by various technologies. To date, there are 2 known methods of attaching this cladding: frame and frameless methods. Wherein Each type of panel has its own technology. For example, sheet material and a large plastic lining are mounted exclusively on the crate. This is explained by the large size of the material used. Tiled variety is attached only to glue.

Frameless method of fixing plastic panels involves gluing panels to a prepared base. In fact, this is an option when the cladding is glued to the walls or ceiling. Apply this technique in rooms with flat walls or a ceiling. In addition, it is good for small bathrooms (for example, in small bathtubs of “Khrushchev” or small combined bathrooms).

In order for the skin to be of high quality, the base is preliminarily prepared, achieving a minimum difference in height. And if the hollows are still allowed, then there should be no bumps on the base at all. It is necessary to glue seamless lamellas on liquid nails, dowels are used along the upper and lower edges for additional fixation.

The technology consists in creating the so-called crate, to which lamellas are subsequently attached. The frame can be either metal or wooden. When the panels are attached directly to it, sometimes they use a stapler or even ordinary nails. This creates a seam coating, lamellas are inserted one after another according to a certain pattern.

Also, when attaching to the crate, mounting clamps are used. Castle technology is convenient, it speeds up installation. Use this type of installation mainly in large rooms and spacious bathrooms. For small frame system is not suitable: its installation will eat at least 10-15 cm of usable area.

Design solutions for plastic panels can be very diverse. For example, the most popular texture that panels can imitate is brick and masonry, marble finish, plaster and wood. However, you need to select the material correctly, because it is the texture that is capable of fundamentally changing the aesthetic perception not for the better.

Not the most successful will be the choice of large flowers or pictures of the seabed with a seascape and giant fish. Today it is customary to choose a finish with prints that do not press on users. The same marine theme may be different: the print with seashells and the coast looks much better.

And it is completely undesirable to fill the entire background space with the same mosaic. If you want to use mosaic elements, it can be a small decorative panel or other decorative material. Panels can become the main background, too much mosaic creates the effect of ripples.

Thermal translation models are considered one of the best: it is on them that buyers pay attention in the first place. And the reason for this is not only a special technology, thanks to which a coating in the form of a polymer film is soldered to a plastic base. These lamellas are highly durable and colorful.

In addition to modifications with the usual pattern, in the assortment of many stores there are 3D effect panels. They give the ordinary material the appearance of a realistic relief. If at the same time the texture is selected correctly, then it is possible to beat the texture of different relief materials. For example, it can be not just a brick option in the form of a flat base and a characteristic pattern, but a very good imitation of brickwork with bulging bricks and playing out the texture of the material itself.

The possibilities of facing material are endless. It can imitate masonry, ceramic tiles with any design and layout. These are panels with a three-dimensional effect, which literally enliven the walls, visually expand the space, bring a special touch to it. The panels with the silk-screen effect will look beautiful in the interior of the bathroom. In addition, they can simulate any kind of wallpaper.

As for color solutions, then when choosing, the main colors of the apartment and the taste preferences of its owners are usually used. Colors can be delicate, almost whitened or bright, dynamic. Usually in bathrooms they try to choose building materials in bright colors (white, beige, peach, caramel, cream, light coffee). Along with this, sometimes they acquire a facing in neutral colors (a combination of white with gray, silver or black).

An interesting solution may be the decoration of the accent part of the wall under a tree, decorative stone or gypsum brick. Prints can convey both photo images and watercolor painting techniques. Somewhere it will be an original panel, somewhere the effect of masonry, in the third case - rack-type panels of a meter height, combined with a different finishing cladding.

A modern approach to the design of the bathroom opens up the widest possibilities for the use of cladding. In the simplest version, it will be wall and ceiling cladding. However, if earlier it was customary to decorate all walls with the same print, today the view on creating the right background has changed radically.

For instance, Today it is important to create accents using a harmonious combination of facing materials. In fact, you need to choose at least two materials, one of which will be the background, and the second - accent. For example, this will allow zoning the room, and at the same time relieve it of the boredom that is characteristic of filling a space with a single cladding.

Someone is finishing the walls in 2 levels: at the bottom there are meter panels, at the top - imitation of wallpaper. This option looks good, say, in the directions of a classic, country or Provence. In this case, often the lower tier is performed with a small extension or the so-called imitation of the protrusion. Along the upper edge, such a facing is decorated with various decor, including different types of border.

An extraordinary solution could be combination of plastic panels with glass or mirror textures, as well as materials with a reflection effect. For example, they will look good in the bathroom panel, imitating a metal surface and wood, clinker and wallpaper.When contrast of a different plan is needed, you can choose plain lamellas and analogs with a print, choosing material from the same series so as not to be mistaken with shades.

You can buy the same in texture, but different in color material and play on this contrast. Moreover, you can choose combinations that are characteristic of specific interior design stylistics. For example, you can combine white with metallic, wine with wet asphalt. An excellent tandem will turn out if you combine beige and light gray, graphite and wood, concrete and brick.

An interesting idea for decorating a bathroom can be decorating the lining with a picture film or vinyl stickers. If you choose the right theme for the picture, you can indicate the affiliation of the casing to a specific interior style. For example, you can beat the design in the styles of loft, modern, chalet, country or provence. For a typical bathroom, you can buy tiles.

Fashionable drawings today are ethnic paintings, all kinds of branches, creepers, leaves and even damask patterns. However, the style is different for the style: monotonous coatings are appropriate somewhere, and stone texture is somewhere. In the classic style, a plain background contrast with a gilded finish and stucco imitation is needed. In eco-style, a demonstration of wood texture is necessary.

For classics, the use of gilding, stucco elements on the walls and ceiling is acceptable. However, it is not recommended that the floor and the ceiling be fully framed. When there is too much plastic, it loses its expressiveness.

The issue of choosing quality material often confuses the buyer. The situation is exacerbated by the widest range in which you can get lost. However, no matter how you like drawing on specific varieties, this is not the most important selection criterion. In order to select both high-quality material and stylish cladding in one finish, several nuances must be taken into account.

• Quality material is not cheap: the stronger and more durable it is, the higher its price.
• Good cladding has a strict geometry: these are smooth edges, whole edges, no defects and waves.
• Good panels have many stiffeners: the more partitions between the sheets, the stronger the material.
• Profiles are bought from one batch, in different batches there may be a difference in shades, which can ruin the whole impression.
• The theme of the print is also important: drawings that create a negative atmosphere in the bathroom are excluded.
• The print size is selected taking into account the footage of the bathroom: the smaller the room, the simpler the print, somewhere it will not be needed at all.
• The color of the panels is selected based on the degree of illumination of the bathroom: light panels are used in a small and dark room.

Having come to the store, the buyer usually tries to find a middle ground between quality and price. However, beautiful material does not mean that it is suitable specifically for walls. If its thickness is small, this is the ceiling view of the slats, they are cheaper than wall ones. They are characterized by lower strength, because they are not designed for mechanical contacts.

The larger the area of ​​the walls, the easier it is to paste over them with dimensional materials. It is also necessary to pay attention to temperature stability, since it can vary between panels. In order not to doubt the quality of the purchased material, you must ask the seller for a quality certificate.

It is necessary to inspect each purchased panel, otherwise you may not notice chips and cracks, as well as scratches. Any defect is a sign of marriage, such a product is not worth taking. In order for the cladding to look beautiful, it should initially be smooth and intact.If the material you like is not enough, you can look at it as a "companion" or even buy another, but in sufficient quantity.

Any building material purchased on the basis of the calculation of the approximate amount. In this case, the type of installation is important, because the lamellas can be mounted both along and across the walls and ceiling. In addition, pay attention to the perception of the design itself. Say, if the wood version looks beautiful on the window, this does not mean that he will create the desired design in the bathroom of the city apartment. If all walls are decorated with such a covering, the effect of presence in a wooden house or even a box is created.

To understand which manufacturer’s products should be preferred, you can pre-scroll through reviews about a particular material. It is advisable to view comments on different information portals. This will allow you to get a more realistic picture with all the pros and cons of a particular material. It is not worth taking material 1 mm thick: in the process, it can be washed. Choosing a contrasting type of finish, it is necessary to take into account that a light and soft shade should prevail compared to bright. Otherwise, the panels can make the style of the interior unpleasant and oppressive. The emphasis is best placed where it will be clearly visible.

In some cases, it can be a small panel or a narrow part of the wall, and sometimes - the upper curb or a structural ledge. To accent panels fit better into the interior, you can arrange in a similar style and another wall. For example, it can be a picture on the wall behind the bathroom and a panel border opposite.

Caring for plastic panels is straightforward. It is enough to regularly wipe them with a damp cloth, without waiting for them to splash from the water that is characteristic of most apartment buildings. Dirt from the seams can be removed with a hard brush or a toothbrush. In order not to push the surface of the lamellas, for their cleaning it is worth using a cloth made of flannel or a foam sponge.

It is undesirable to use cleaning powders with abrasive. This may cause scratches. It is better to use liquid gels, but in order to choose the right product, you need to pay attention to what kind of plastic it is intended for.

Someone washes the panels with ordinary household soap, and then wipes them dry. In the most advanced cases, they use baking soda, putting it on pollution and cleaning it in an hour.

Some people like to use a melamine sponge. However anyway the panels must be washed delicately so as not to push material and scratch the picture. No need to rub many times in one place, there is no need to use aggressive chemistry.

We offer 10 examples of the successful use of plastic panels in the interior design of a bathroom.

• Style bathroom interior loft using marble and brick textures.

• Contrast color lining in the bathroom minimalist style.

• Harmonious pattern selection with visual expansion of space.

• Bathroom wall cladding classic style in bright colors.

• The interior of the combined bathroom, decorated in the tradition eco style.

• Using plastic panels for zoning space.

• Neutral bathroom interior with emphasis on the bath area.

• Interesting project combined bathroom with the use of light colors of the palette.

• Example contrast texture material used.

• Example dosing large pattern, its combination with background skin.

In the next video, you will find the secrets of finishing the bathroom with PVC panels.