EFFICIENT BATHROOM MAKEOVER

Keely Greenhalgh, National Sales Manager, Mermaid

Image supplied by Mermaid

With a significant rise in consumers seeking a designer bathroom look, installers are turning to panelling as an efficient alternative to traditional tiling methods. Keely Greenhalgh, National Sales Manager at Mermaid, explains how simple it is to create a homeowner’s dream look without the hassle of tiling:

In recent years, the bathroom installation industry has benefitted from a boom in business as consumers invest in home improvements rather than their usual trips abroad. Although this has been great for the sector, the growing demand for a good bathroom fitter has meant increased lead times as installers attempt to deliver their usual quality of work under time constraints. →

Depending on the size of a bathroom, it can take days to tile the walls – time which could be well spent working on other projects. By comparison, panels can accomplish the same effect as tiles but in a mere matter of hours, considerably reducing bathroom fitting times. The fact that we’ve seen a 50% rise in online searches for ‘bathroom tile alternatives’ over the last three months suggests that consumers are open to a different approach to their bathroom décor, which could well make now the time for installers to break with tradition and revolutionise the way they work. The Potentials of Panelling

Wall panelling does not compromise aesthetics, instead offering consumers the freedom to design their bathrooms how they like.

For instance, most panel ranges come in many styles with textured finishes that match the latest interior trends, including stone, marble and wood effects. For those keen on a tiled aesthetic but without the time and cost implications, a range of panels exists to meet this brief too. Mermaid’s Elite range also offers panels in different sizes with postformed edges, which installers can adapt for horizontal and vertical applications.

This flexibility means fitters can implement various design finishes extending beyond the shower or bath to vanity units which hide pipework, and even windowsills. The postform edge also eliminates the use of aluminium trims typically found in panelling installations, making it possible to create a seamless look when using some surface patterns. →

Ease of Installation

Working with tiles can be time-consuming, requiring specialist tools and each tile having to be applied to the wall individually. A panelling system, by contrast, will cover a much larger space per unit, with each panel easily cut to size using traditional woodworking tools.

An adhesive is all that is required to secure the panel to the wall. At the same time, panelling also removes the need for grouting, with a professional water-tight finish accomplished by applying a sealant to the panel surface. With Mermaid’s Elite range of postformed panels, there is no need to seal the edges with silicone, thanks to tongue and groove edges which easily slot together for a contiguous look that removes the need for unsightly trims.

Mermaid's Elite range also offers panels with postformed edges

Post-Installation Peace of Mind Guaranteed

With grouting out of the picture, cleaning the product is as simple as using any bathroom cleaner with none of the dirt build-up usually found in a tiled environment – a benefit that will appeal to almost every homeowner.

Over time silicones can often break down, leading to an increased risk of water damage to the product and eventually, the potential for costly leaks within the building. Although panel systems avert this problem, aluminium can be prone to corrosion, which runs the risk that metal trims will fail after prolonged use. By seamlessly slotting together, Mermaid’s Elite range of versatile panels create a water-tight seal without the need for trims, which means installers can rest assured that their time won’t be wasted with callouts to failed product installations. Mermaid also supplies its own patented adhesive and sealant called Complete – a liquid polyurethane-based formula adopted from the marine and aerospace industries, which offers strong grab adhesion and gap filling properties that will repel water. Confident in the longevity of its products, Mermaid provides a 15-year guarantee on installations using the Complete formula.

The efficiency of panelling makes it the new go-to for bathroom fitters when advising their customers of the right products, whatever the application. The reliability of the latest generation of panels on the market means installers can complete their projects with confidence, heading out to tackle the next job without worrying about the last.

Panels can accomplish the same effect as tiles but in a mere matter of hours, considerably reducing bathroom fitting times.