Wonder Walls

Fancy that! Wall panels’ practical assets are proving a tempting offer for retailers and consumers as a high-impact design alternative to tiles

With bathrooms second only to kitchens in terms of spend, choosing durable materials that look amazing but are fuss-free to maintain and clean are top of many consumers’ shopping lists, and bathroom walls present a particular challenge. Step forward the new generation of waterproof wall cladding.
Shower walls offer several practical advantages over tiles, not least that they are quicker and easier to install. Reduced time on site can mean fewer call-backs and snagging problems, resulting in greater client satisfaction. “Panels can be fitted in a matter of hours, even over existing tiles, whereas tiles need to set first and then be grouted, which is a two-day job,” points out Michael Sammon, marketing director of Frontline Bathrooms.
John Murray, md of Alaris Bathrooms which sells Mermaid panels, finds that ease of maintenance is a really powerful selling point with his customers: “I tell them how shower panels are virtually maintenance-free so they can spend less time cleaning and more time dreaming!”
The list of advantages is seemingly endless: panels are hygienic, resistant to condensation, they don’t crack and many come with a standard 10 to 20-year warranty, giving extra peace of mind. Not to forget that they also insulate the walls thermally and acoustically.
Norman McLeod, national product manager of Rearo Laminates which produces Selkie Board, agrees that the hygienic benefits are worth highlighting: “There’s no need for grouting which means germs and mould cannot gather and a simple wipe down will have the board looking like new.”
From a style point of view, shower walls also have an admirable edge. With the trend for minimal lines and sleek, uninterrupted surfaces, they provide an ideal solution for the contemporary bathroom. Panels are generally made from laminated board or a solid surface material, both of which are warm to the touch and are available in a wide range of colours, textures and designs. Strong recent trends include natural stone tones, such as IDS’s new colours in its Showerwall range, and glamorous shimmer effects. Claire Stanway, IDS brand manager, has high hopes for the naturalistic look: “We’re confident that the new palette will hit the mainstream commercial trend for natural stones in contemporary colourways.”
Blocks of colour are also popular, according to Christophe Gontier, area director for Cosentino in the UK, France and Ireland. “Recent research has shown that consumers want minimal fuss and detail. White, grey and black are expected to be the most popular, but we also expect to see consumers choosing bold, fresh accent colours such as pink and green.”
For consumers wary of introducing another surface into a bathroom scheme, the answer is a fully co-ordinated look, such as Bushboard’s Nuance range of laminates and solid surface materials, which includes splashbacks, countertops and shower panels. “What was lacking was a holistic approach to enable an integrated design solution throughout the bathroom and this is what Nuance offers,” says Stuart White, Bushboard’s md.
Solid sheet material used throughout the bathroom provides a sleek, seamless look, ideally suited to the minimal, contemporary space. 
 “Seals are far fewer and subtler and easier to look after than grouting and a high-quality, non-porous composite surface offers easy mainte­nance and peace of mind,” points out Paul McDowell, md of McD Marketing for DuPont Surfaces.
Another advantage to the retailer is that wall panels can offer a complete solution, sold as kits or as part of a co-ordinated collection of trays and enclosures. “They offer a one-stop-shop solution,” says Mira’s marketing manager Roger Crabb. “It means the homeowner can source what they need from the same trusted brand.”
Roman Showers introduced the Roman Wall to complement its shower trays and enclosures, and as marketing director Lorraine Henderson explains, it’s a win-win for all: “Retailers are opting for the easy-to-install solution for their showroom displays, while consumers love the simplicity of the product.”
One thing’s for sure – tiles aren’t going anywhere, but these days retailers have some very exciting alternatives to offer alongside.