Shower wall panels

[jollyroger]

Was wondering how the new fascination for shower wall panels in bathrooms and showering areas has been affecting the tiling trade. I have been asked to fit these panels in shower cubicles and simply refuse to have my reputation tarnished by fitting them.
I was called out to a job about a month ago to re-Silicon a shower enclosure which was fitted out with wet wall panels. I looked at the bottom where the panel meets the tray and discovered that the MDF core of the panel had taken in so much moisture it was swollen.
Told the customer that I was not willing to re-Silicon it. He says "but the shower panels have only been in for 1 year".
Had to explain to him why water and MDF don't like each other so he agreed that I should rip the lot out and tank and tile the lot.
When I removed the panels and measured the thickness at the bottom, it measured 15mm. It was 9mm thick when it was installed.

 

[foggy34]

plumber mate of mine is always fitting these type of boards hopefully he wont be fitting much more when they start to bite him on the ***

 

[frigiliana]

Did they start out being used in caravans and mobile homes that's where i first came across them when the pipework burst in winter?

 

[Chalker]

I hate them. But why turn work away?
The cheap stuff is MDF cored, slightly better is ply cored. The bushbord I have fitted lately is a completely waterproof core ( some sort of recycled plastic)

still looks like a kebab shop though!

 

[Concrete guy]

I was fitting this stuff 15 years ago. It was Mermaid Board and that was quite a decent version. In fact I built a steam room from it.

It has it's place. Some of them look quite effective now.

 

[jollyroger]

In my opinion, reputation is paramount. I refuse to fit this stuff, It probably has it's uses but certainly not in a shower area. I work with along with a plumber who's attitude is exactly the same as mine. We do fit shower wall panels but they are made of a polymer resin and completely waterproof.
Not come across the bushbord stuff but it sounds good.

 

[Taylormade]

I fit a lot of these but refuse to fit the mdf board. Did one for the dragon of a mother in law 6 years ago she moaned about the price of the materials but it still looks as good as new! (Still waiting for the wages from the install)**yawn**It's the old story you get what you pay for. (Not tiling I know but it pays the bills!)

 

[nybor62]

recently lost a job , doing a nursing home about 2000m2 , they are fixing vinyl to all the walls , this is the 2nd time now , serious i was shocked , i hate mermaid board , but now vinyl on the walls , what next ?

 

[Taylormade]

2 reasons they use viny. Firstly it does not retain the smell of P... And secondly it's cheap and easy to rip out and replace. Awful stuff.

 

[Taylormade]

Apologies for the .... But this is all new to me and it may be against the rules! No doubt a moderator will let me know. As I say every day is a school day (especially when your old and using a confuser!)

 

[Sean SML Tiling]

I fitted thèse new acrylic bobards £400 à board and I didn't like them. They look cheap and nasty

 

[Dave]

Wall boards ... Look how laminate took over floor tiles , didn't last did it ? , same with these wall boards , decor fads come and go but we'll always have tiles

 

[Greener1981]

These glass panels that they do in various colours are the future. No grout lines, fully waterproof, and easy fitted although measurements have to be good as little room for error!
Great looking in showers and worktop splash backs

 

[AMtek]

I fit the Grant Westfield poly panels, quite sturdy and no wooden core. A lot lighter than the shower panels as well. I quote the price that i would if i was tiling