How To Prepare Walls for Bathroom Wall Panels

Bathroom wall panels give a professional, unified finish, and are gaining popularity in homes all over the country thanks to their easy installation and simple maintenance. They can be used throughout the whole room or on one to create stunning bathroom feature walls. If you're considering a feature wall, we created a list of some of the best small bathroom feature wall ideas to help inspire your inner interior designer. For those who want to add a little glamour, we even have a wide range of sparkle-effect panels, while brick effect wall panels can be used for a chic, rustic look - whatever look you’d like to achieve If you've just decided to replace a bath with a shower, you're probably going to install wall panels around this. Before you begin with the installation, however, be sure to know exactly how to prepare your walls to make sure you get the best results.

Older houses, terraced homes, and houses that have had previous structural damage are likely to have uneven walls. This post explores the ways in which you can prepare your old uneven walls to ensure the best possible finish when new modern bathroom wall panels are installed. This process is the same for preparing to attach living room panels and 3D wall panels.

Whether you’re considering hiring a plasterer, using battens or backer boards, or even waterproofing the bathroom, preparation is key. It's also important to know how to remove bath sealant as part of your preparations for wall panels.

Do I need to tank shower walls?

Whenever you're retiling a bathroom, shower or other wet area, remember to apply a suitable tanking membrane, tanking solution or apply waterproof tile backer boards first. Tanking is a term used for creating a tank-like seal to protect walls against water penetration.

Fully clean wall surfaces

If you’re planning on placing wall panels directly over your existing painted walls, consider sanding the wall surfaces down or sealing newly plastered walls with primer. This will allow the adhesive to take properly and makes the installation of the panels as easy as possible.

Installing wall panels on uneven walls

Wall panels, like our marble wall panels can conceal uneven or unattractive surfaces and provide a durable wall covering that will last for years to come. Rather than be concerned about panels being out of plumb with the wall, make sure that they are straight and properly aligned. This could mean that you use longer panels where necessary.
If you have truly uneven walls, you may need to consider re-plastering them. However, this can provide to be a costly decision. Another solution is to install wooden battens horizontally over the walls. This has the benefit of meaning that the panels can be installed over existing tiles and gives plumbing a safe allowance.
If the wall is particularly uneven, use wood cut offs of varying widths or build up the battens in certain places to ensure they’re evenly laid.

Use backer boards

Backer boards are a great way to easily cover an uneven wall. Certain backer boards are mould and moisture resistant and can be waterproofed before the wall panels are applied. This flat, even surface is screwed into the wall and is sure to cover any problem areas.

Remove nails, screws and bathroom fixtures

In order to get a smooth, unified finish, remove the wash basin, toilet and radiator from the bathroom before adding the wall panels. This allows you to install the wall panels in otherwise hard to reach positions, and the bathroom suite can easily be re-added to the room once the panels have been installed. Remove nails and screws from the wall and fill in the holes. Once the filler has dried, you can waterproof the surfaces or install the panels.

Waterproofing your wall panels

Wet rooms are a modern and stylish way to update your home. A waterproof bathroom featuring high-quality panels and bathroom splashbacks prevents leaks, avoidance of damp and mould, keep the room insulated, and potentially even increase the value of your property! Adding shower panel trims to your panelling project can ensure full waterproofing and adds a professional finish.
If you want to create a wet room with wall panels, be sure to tank the bathroom and then add waterproof sheeting underneath the panels.