Are Wet Walls About To Relegate Tiles?
Tiles have been a staple of bathroom design for centuries. In recent years however there’s been a new arrival on the market, the wetwall. Also sometimes known as waterproof walls or wallboards, are these newcomers about to relegate tiles to the past? Maybe not, but each method has its advantages and disadvantages.
Wet Walls – What are They?
Wall boards are sold in much larger sections than the traditional tile. They are fully waterproof, and suitable for use in areas around the shower and the bath. As they are larger, they are often quicker to fit too. It’s easy to cut the boards to the right size for the room and they are available in a range of different finishes, from traditional to ultra-modern. As there is no grout between the tiles, there are fewer opportunities for mould or mildew to grow on wallboards, making them easy to maintain.
Disadvantages of Wet Walls
The main disadvantage to wall panels is the appearance. If you want a smooth finish across the bathroom then panels might be ideal. However, if you like the chance to add some texture with tiles, then wallboard isn’t going to give the same result. Wallboards are generally easy to fit, but if your walls are in a bad state, you might need to undertake a bit of preparatory work first. Some wall panels can also be brittle, meaning that if they get knocked of something dropped on them they may split or dent.
What About Tiles Versus Wetwalls?
Advantages of Tiles?
Tiles are often the default choice for bathrooms, mainly due to the versatility. Tiles come in all shapes and sizes, and in as many designs as you can imagine. Tiles also give the opportunity to get a bit creative with your design choices, by adding borders, or using different colours or a mosaic style design.
The downside to tiles is that installation takes longer than wall panels, and can involve a lot of fiddly cutting and shaping. Over time, grout can start to break up and need replaced.
Price Comparison Between Tiles and Wet Walls
In recent years waterproof wallboard has gone from something very unusual to a mainstream of bathroom design. As more companies start to make the product, prices have been falling. Bathroom wall panels can cost as little as £100 for two boards measuring 2.5m by 1m. If you want a specific design or finish, you might have to shop around and end up paying a bit more. Most tilers will also be happy to fit wallboard, and as it’s a quicker job than tiling, it will generally cost less.
Tiles span a very wide range of prices. Prices of less than £5 per square metre for wall or floor tiles are not uncommon, but you can spend an awful lot more should you want to. Most tilers will quote for the job on a cost per square metre, including cutting, grout and adhesive. Around £20 per square metre is the average cost. Always shop around and compare prices from several tilers before settling on your chosen contractor.
