Steph Harris, Product Manager at Showerwall, explains why wall panelling could be just the ticket for installers in the current home improvement climate.
According to Property Reporter, turbulent property prices, restricted housing supply, and rising moving costs have seen a surge of homeowners pausing their moving plans in favour of improving their homes. As household budgets come under pressure, many homeowners are looking to try and save money by spending their leisure time at home, this is reinforcing the aspiration to create rooms where they can relax, with one of them being the bathroom. Whether that be creating a spa-style environment or a luxury family bathroom, how can installers help homeowners to achieve their desired look within a strict project budget?
There is no doubt that the bathroom has changed from being a purely functional space to one that can really wow. The demand for stylish and trend-led bathrooms is on the up, however with limited budgets, it may be that customers are looking to revamp certain parts of the bathroom rather than a whole renovation project, such as the replacement of brassware, a new lick of paint or an upgrade to their tiles. This is where the benefits of wall panelling comes in.
Installing panelling
Over the last few years wall panelling has increased in popularity, thanks to its ease of fitting, its hygienic properties due to lack of grouting and the fact that it’s simple to clean. With shower panels being quicker and easier to install than tiles, installers can save time and money, helping to keep projects – and the client’s budget – on track. In addition, specialist wet trades aren’t required to install bathroom panelling, which offers an opportunity for any tradesperson to carry out the work themselves without having to bring in a subcontractor, making a difference to the bottom line and project timings as they’re not having to rely on someone else.
This opens up the sector to bathroom installers who are looking to diversify their offering and capitalise on this expanding market. The large-scale panels are easy to fit with near invisible joins, saving time for installers and speeding up bathroom projects.
In fact, it is estimated that bathroom wall panels can be fitted in less than half the time it would take to tile a like-for-like space and they can usually be installed in less than a day. Panels can also be retrofitted over existing tiles, reducing preparation time, which would otherwise add more labour on to a job – simply cut to size, fix to the wall, fit the finishing trims and seal.
The benefits
No grout means less gaps and grooves for the build-up of dirt, soap residue and mould, keeping bathrooms looking new and cleaner for longer. The panels provide a hardwearing, hygienic and waterproof surface that is easy to maintain with a simple wipe down.
Plus, there are hundreds of design choices available, ranging from tile-effect panels and replica marble finishes to wallpaper-inspired prints. Homeowners can choose panels that recreate the look of metro, scallop or herringbone tiles; all popular on-trend looks that can be intricate and time-consuming to achieve with individual tiles. There are also mineral and marble-inspired finishes available that give the effect of these stunning natural materials, but without the expensive price tag. And for homeowners looking to create a feature wall effect, there are a whole host of designs that reflect wider interior trends, from nature-inspired botanical prints to vintage floral patterns and travel-inspired safari-scapes.
An array of accessories are also available to ensure the bathroom has a top-notch finish, such as black trims to accentuate darker panels and complement popular matt black enclosures and brassware, these accessories also create a watertight fit and forget solution.
With many homeowners looking to achieve a high-end look on a budget, wall panelling offers the ideal solution. Being able to provide customers with a lower cost yet visually striking solution to their bathroom renovation is a win-win situation for installers as well as the homeowner.
The full Showerwall collection offers over 100 decors to suit all tastes, with Laminate panels available in 600mm, 900mm and 1200mm x 2440mm, Acrylic available in 896mm and 1200mm x 2400mm and Compact available in 1220mm x 2440mm.
All panels purchased and fitted using Showerwall’s recommended fitting guide and accessories are also now guaranteed to remain waterproof for 30 years.
To sign up to Showerwall’s Find a Fitter scheme, click Fit It – Showerwall.
