Grant Westfield manufactures trend-led wall panels which are available across the UK and Europe.
Benefits of Wall Panels
From the Tile Collection, to replicated traditional acoustic slat walls, Grant Westfield caters for a whole array of décor requirements, underpinned by the many benefits of wall panels.
The benefits are extensive for the end-user, from being effortless to maintain and clean, to being cheaper to install and kinder to the environment. When it comes to the installer, there are also several benefits that make the installation easier too.
A good wall panel will save time on installation – on average over 20 hours for a typical sized bathroom. The reason for this is because choosing panels over traditional tiles removes the need for messy and time-consuming grouting, as well as the panels being able to be installed directly on top of almost any sound surface whilst maintaining their watertight integrity including over existing tiles.
Ensuring Correct Installation
To ensure that installers are equipped with the knowledge and skills to install panels, Grant Westfield has a dedicated training programme, MultipanelU (Multipanel University) to guide installers through the entire installation process.
This easy, step-by-step training programme covers all aspects of the install, what tools to use, how to measure up and what trims to use, as well as technical techniques. Delivered through a series of short videos, installers will be able to install Multipanel and now Naturepanel with confidence and ease in no time. Best of all, MultipanelU is free-to-access and can be completed at a time that suits.
It also covers the installation of Grant Westfield’s unique Hydrolock technology. It explains how to fit the tongue and groove edges, including the need to fit the ‘grooved’ edge first, and the ‘tongued’ edge of the next panel angled in and pushed back until it clicks into place. Hydrolock panels are supplied as standard with tongued and grooved edges for easy click-into-place installation, to create a smooth, almost seamless expanse of waterproof walls.
MultipanelU also provides technical advice such as the need for panels to be conditioned at normal room temperature for 48-72 hours prior to installation, particularly during cold spells.
For those who are looking to install both Naturepanel and Multipanel on a regular basis, they can register as an installer with Grant Westfield, who will go on to display their business on the ‘Find an Installer’ Directory on their website for free.
Alongside product development and training programmes, Grant Westfield is continually assessing ways in which develop to sustainable products. Recognising the importance of environmental stewardship in today’s world, all products are 100% recyclable, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC C128180) certified, and MIB accredited.
Meeting Requirements
The company also recently obtained an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) across the Multipanel and Naturepanel wall panel collections. This provides greater visibility on the environmental impact of materials, to allow for the most sustainable options to be specified. For example, choosing Multipanel or Naturepanel over tiles results in a 60% CO2 reduction, in 2023 that reduction would have been the equivalent to driving around the Earth’s circumference 628 times!
There is also new guidance by NHBC (Technical 9.2/06) which comes into force from 1 July 2024, which introduces the need for additional impervious waterproofing material behind ceramic tiles. This added layer will have further environmental impact when choosing tiles during a bathroom refit.
In terms of the residential building sector, choosing panels over tiles would save the equivalent of a kettle being boiled 2235 times, while if all new built homes in the UK in 2023 used wall panels instead of tiles, the CO2 reduction would equate to enough energy to run 2500 homes for the year.
For more information and to sign up to MultipanelU please visit https://multipanelu.co.uk/
