Finishing your own PVC bathroom panel: step-by-step guide
As you know, any repair, and even more so in the bathroom is an expensive pleasure. If you want to repair the bathroom beautifully and efficiently, but at the same time there are limitations in financial means, then finishing the bathroom with PVC panels is the most optimal solution.
Unlike ceramic tiles, which require certain skills and preparation, finishing with PVC panels in the bathroom is fast enough, in addition, this can be done by anyone with their own hands who does not have experience in construction.
The content of the article
How to start finishing in the bathroom: materials and tools
Before you begin, it is recommended to watch a step-by-step video instruction, which will greatly simplify the task. If a decision is made and the bathtub is finished with PVC panels, then in addition to financial savings, it will be possible to hide all the electrical wiring, water supply and sewage in the room.
Finishing the bath with PVC panels and fixing is carried out using the following tools:
- Electric drill.
- Scissors or hacksaw.
- Ruler.
- Level.
- Screwdriver.
- Pencil.
Tip. Before finishing work, you should maximize the space of usable area. This can only be done by removing all old material from the walls to the base.
Essentially this will not increase the room, but will save space for the future crate. For many, it may seem that this is a waste of time, but if you look objectively, then the saved centimeters can come in handy for holding shelves or a small bedside table.
Tip. If the bathroom is old and iron pipes are still installed, then before finishing the bath with PVC panels, it is advisable to replace the pipes, even if they are in perfect condition.
Replace the pipes for the following reasons:
- No matter how pipes, in your opinion, are not reliable, it is still dangerous to hide them behind PVC material. There is a chance of leaks, it is much higher than from new plastic pipes.
- Old pipes are usually installed at a certain distance from the wall. To close them, it is necessary to extend the crate from the wall, which will negatively affect the usable area.
Before you finish the PVC bathtub with panels, you should immediately determine the places for the wires and conduct the power network. The principle of the device sockets on PVC panels is the same as with drywall.
PVC paneling bathtubs: types of frame and installation methods
Finishing the bathroom with panels is done in several stages, for this you will need affordable instructions. We have already passed the preparation stage, we will consider the types of frames used and the method of their installation.
Wooden crate
For its device, the wall is first marked out vertically for future fastening of the rack structure. The distance between the rails depends on the width of the PVC panels, but taking into account that the step should not exceed more than 40 cm.
Attention! If you perform a step of more than 40 cm, then there is a likelihood that later the material will bend.
Then, along the entire length of the vertical stripes, special brackets are attached for fastening, in increments of 40-50 cm.After that, the rack is mounted vertically and screwed on the sides with screws 25 mm long.
Installation of rails with a cross section of 20x50 mm is carried out using a level.
Tip. Before installing the panels, it is recommended to install a profiled corner of the desired section along the perimeter of the plane.
Metal carcass
It is performed using a CD-profile, which is usually used in the installation of drywall construction. The installation method is identical with a wooden crate, except that small screws are used as fasteners.
Attention! When installing an extreme rail or profile, it will not be possible to screw from the side of the side wall to the bracket. Therefore, first you need to attach the profile from the accessible side, then from the inaccessible one, the bracket bends over the bar and is screwed on the front side.
The price of a wooden crate is much lower than a metal frame, but nevertheless, a metal frame is preferable for a bathroom, since it is more resistant to a humid environment.
Finishing a bathroom with PVC panels video instruction
After completing the installation of the frame, you can proceed with the installation of PVC panels. Fasteners are carried out using self-tapping screws (25 mm) with a flat head.
If a wooden crate is used, then you can take staples as fasteners and fix them with a construction stapler.
Further, everything is performed as follows:
- PVC panels are mounted in a strictly vertical position, the joints should lie on the central axis of the crate frame.
- Panel fasteners are mounted in the PVC groove frame wall adjacent to the bar, the fastener is closed with a comb and an attractive aesthetic appearance is obtained at the finish.
Advice! For external aesthetics, it is recommended to close the joints of the panels, you need a transparent silicone sealant.
If a dryer or radiator is to be installed in the bathroom, then a heat reflector should be taken care of, since plastic has the property of being very hot and deforming, in addition, it may lose its original color.
Finishing the bathroom with PVC wall panels: corner joints
To make the correct connection in corner places, it is recommended to use the internal and external plastic profile, which is used when installing the plastic lining.
This profile (L-shaped) is used at the very beginning and at the finish of the skin. The lower part of the skin is covered with a skirting board.
Some tips for installing plastic panels
As you know, a bathroom is a very small room, but there are generally tiny bathrooms. For visual enlargement, it is best to use light colors with a glossy surface.
So:
- Thanks to the PVC panels, the interior in the bathroom can be made unusual and individual. Often, narrow and wide panels are used for this at the same time.
The right combination of panels with and without drawings will make the bathroom interior special. - Buying PVC panels, experts do not recommend installing them immediately. To avoid deformation, the panels must be kept indoors for at least an hour.
- Installation is recommended from the most noticeable angle. Then the panels will be full without cropping, and the corner will look beautiful and neat.
Given that there is a lot of catch, pipes, plumbing equipment in the bathroom, it is recommended to customize the panels right in place. And in order to have free access to some places (for example, counters), it is best to separately design a false panel.
It is worth noting that the installation of PVC panels is quite simple, any beginner can cope with this task, it is advisable to watch the video and carefully read the instructions and the bath will be ready in a day or two.
Replacing metal pipes with metal-plastic before finishing is a controversial statement. Over the past four years, my plastic pipes leaked twice, and both times in hot water, they simply swelled and cracked. And they were from different manufacturers. And iron pipes, over twenty years, have not missed a single drop. And still, you need to try not to cover the pipes with PVC panels, in order to notice leaks in time and not get into the money when repairing a neighboring apartment.
Pipes must be installed polypropylene, then nothing will flow!