Bathroom wall panels vs tiles

Are panels cheaper than tiles?

Often the fitting labour is lower with panels, because large sheets cover a wall in a few pieces. The material itself ranges widely, and premium panels are not always cheaper than mid range porcelain. The fair comparison is the total for the wall, including preparation, rather than the price per sheet against the price per tile.

Shower wall panels: pros and cons

Panels have real strengths and some limits worth knowing before you choose.

• Pro: no grout lines, so less cleaning and no mould in joints
• Pro: quick to install, so less time without a shower
• Pro: can go over some sound existing surfaces
• Con: a damaged panel usually means replacing the whole sheet
• Con: joints and edges rely on trims and sealant
• Con: a narrower range of finishes than tiles

Wet wall panels or tiles in a shower

Both can work in a shower when installed properly. A panel system is waterproof across its face, but its joints and the junction with the tray must be sealed exactly as the maker specifies. Tiles need a tanking system behind them because tile and grout alone are not waterproof. In either case, a wall that is soft or out of true has to be fixed first.

Look and feel

Tiles give depth: a textured stone effect, a gloss metro, a large format porcelain with almost no visible joints. Panels can look smart, especially in plain or marble effects, but up close they read as a flat sheet. In a bathroom you want to feel finished for many years, most of our customers choose tiles. For a quick, tidy upgrade, panels earn their place.

Mixing the two

A common middle route is panels inside the shower for easy cleaning, with tiles on the floor and around the basin. Ask about this at the survey if you are undecided; it often gives the best of both.

Fitting time and disruption

Panels can often turn a shower around faster because there is no adhesive curing or grouting stage, which matters if it is the only shower in the house. Tiling takes longer, especially with large or patterned tiles, but each stage can be planned so you are not without facilities for longer than necessary.

Whichever finish you choose, the time spent on preparation is similar. Soft board, uneven plaster or an unsound tray edge has to be put right first, or neither panels nor tiles will last.

Which suits which situation

Panels tend to suit rentals, quick refreshes and showers where easy cleaning is the main priority. Tiles tend to suit full renovations, wet rooms with tiled floors, feature walls and anyone who wants a particular texture or pattern.