If you’ve got a custom sized shower or tub and HATE tile you know what a pain it can be finding a long-lasting, good looking alternative. You may struggle locating any decent looking panels which don’t know look like a cheap Home Depot special. Even if you do find a nice bathroom wall panel, then you get “the pleasure” (sarcasm intended) dealing with your stuck-in-the-mud general contractor who refuses to install anything but tile (another remodeling hurdle for you). If you decide to DIY this job you may not have the right tools or experience to cut the panels or end up breaking one and costing yourself more money (ouch!). The question is who you gonna call (Ghostbusters doesn’t do construction work) to figure this doggone project out?
Here’s a quick and painless solution for you. Read below about the 5 pains of custom bathroom walls panels. You’ll learn not only about the hassle of bathroom wall panels, but most importantly get ideas to fix these problems without pulling out your hair (or yanking out your husband’s few remaining hairs either).
Pain #1 – Finding a shower or bathroom wall panel system which doesn’t look butt-ugly
Walk into Home Depot, Menards, Lowes or any big box stores and you won’t have a hard time finding standard fiberglass replacement shower wall panels. Most are available in common sizes (48 x 36 or 60 x 32) in a plain white color (or if you get really lucky a sexy bone color or one with a little outdated 4” x 4” tile pattern– ha! ha!). Unless you’re putting a wall panel system in a rental property where you’re buying things cheap, cheap and cheaper – you won’t find much to be proud of on the shelves of the big box store. So where do you look?
I would recommend going to the net and start searching. Search terms like custom DIY shower wall panels, contemporary wall panels, laminated wall panels or stylish shower and tub panels. Three products which fit these descriptions are super sleek high gloss wall panels, laminated wall panels and solid surface. High gloss panels are fun to look at and easy to maintain (but a bit pricey). The solid surface product is geared at more traditional or transitional home for someone more price conscious. The product with the greatest interior design range are the laminate wall panels shown below.
Pain #2 – Your “I’m not going to try anything new” general contractor
As a guy who got a minor in Economics at Carnegie-Mellon back in the day I learned a thing or two about supply and demand. What I know boils down to this – if there is a lot of demand and not a lot of supply the person with the supply has the upper hand (this reminds me of the Seinfeld episode about who had “hand” in a relationship – it’s a hilarious – but I diverge). Today your bathroom remodeling general contractor has “hand.” There are more people wanting his services (assuming he/she is any good) than he has time and manpower to go around. Since he is in demand why should he risk installing wall panels he isn’t familiar with when he can just tell you he only does tile?
How can you get the wall panels you want since he may refuse to install them for you? The simple answer is work around him. But home, you ask?
The way to do this (even if you aren’t one of the Property Brothers or Chip or Joanna Gaines) is to get shower wall panels cut to size for you.
These fire engine red glossy panels were pre-cut for this custom shower
Ask your contractor to do what he knows best. Have him gut the space, put in the shower pan and install the plumbing. You take care of the installation of the pre-cut wall panels yourself. But wait (you may be saying) – I don’t even know if I have the tools to do this job. OK then – go on to pain #3.
Pain #3 – You don’t have, can’t find, or don’t want to buy specialized tools to do a custom shower or tub wall panel project
I can totally feel you on this one. If you ask my wife Rose when she asks me to get out power tools to even put up a frame in the home I’ll get that sour look on my face and ask her, “Isn’t there a handyman you can call?” (now mind you I’m in the home remodeling and improvement business as well!). The solution to this dilemma is to get your bath and shower wall panels made to order. By doing this you won’t have to deal with many tools (almost none) and can simply apply the adhesive which comes with the custom pre-cut panels and slap them up.
If you say, “Mike I’m OK doing my own cutting – but finding the tools may be another story, then I would say you probably want to get a garage workbench organization system to make life easier.
Pain #4 – Getting patterned wall panels to line up (it’s like reliving the wallpaper job from hell)
Did you ever tackle a wallpaper or wall panel job and when you tried to match up the pattern from one wall to next you got so frustrated if you were a violent person you would have punched a hole through the wall? Home improvement of any type can be a frustrating process, but matching up patterns can be a real pain.
Wouldn’t it be to get stone tile or subway tile wall panels pre-matched for you? The good news is – you can. With new custom solid surface wall panels, you can not only choose 51 different colors and 4 textures – but can get the panels pre-cut so you won’t have to worry about wall A matching wall B.
These stone tile looking solid surface wall are factory cut to fit this unique shaped shower
You only need to put the wall panels up in the right order (which in most cases is to put the back-wall panel up first and then the 2 side wall panels next). Now – that is remodeling made easy.
Pain #5 – Crappy equipment and cutting blades leading to bad edges and a poorly finished project
You can always tell a craftsman vs. just some construction dude or unprofessional DIY’er (who shouldn’t have done the job in the first place) by the quality of the “finished” edges. A good product poorly finished ends up being a bad job. You don’t need to sweat the edges. Get your pre-cut custom shower wall panels with edges which are smooth and polished for you.
These colored high gloss wall panels all have polished edges.
Now you’ve got no cutting and no finishing to worry about – how cool is that?
Conclusion
Trying to get a custom sized shower or tub project done without using tile can be much easier with bathroom wall panels which are prefinished, pre-polished and pre-cut for you. Why continue pulling your hair out?
Can I (or a member of my team) help you?
I hope you found this article showed a simpler way to get your custom shower or tub wall panel project done (so you don’t have to put up with tile). If would like to learn more about pre-cut shower and tub wall panels give us a call (we offer a line of solid surface wall panels, glossy wall panels which can make your home look nice and are simple to install) which can supplied nationwide direct to you by calling 877-668-5888. If, on the other hand, you’d love to find a contractor who can do the complete custom shower panel installation for you call Cleveland Design and Remodeling at 216-658-1270 or The Bath Doctor of Columbus at 614-252-7294.
If you’re a remodeler or builder and want practical advice on remodeling products, industry trends, marketing and sales tips to grow your business (and cut day to day hassles), start reading my newest blog – Innovate Builders Blog. It’s packed with ideas you can use now. Click here to Sign Up for the Innovate Builders Blog.
If you’re in the building business, click here if you’d like to learn how to become a shower wall panel dealer or call and ask for Mike at 877-668-5888.
President of Innovate Building Solutions a nationwide supplier and regional (Cleveland and Columbus) remodeling contractors. Some of our product lines include glass counters, floors, backsplashes, glass blocks and grout free shower and tub wall panels
Felecia – we should be able to help with this. What I’m going to do is email you and ask you to send pictures of your existing shower so I can get ‘context’ for what you’ve got. Also get me your number and we can then talk through what you might like to install in the space.
Thanks for your interest – Mike
Felecia Harrell
I’m looking to replace the shower stallw/seat in my bathroom. 40″Lx33″Dx78H. The problem is the bathroom door is only 24″ wide and I can only find 1 piece units. Can you help?
Rick – I’m not sure which wall panel system you may be looking for – but our most popular shower wall panels are the laminate wall panel kit. Based on the information you’ve provided above I’m assuming you’ll need a 5 panel kit. The price (assuming you don’t live in a west coast state of in New York City – which are more expensive to ship to) would be $1,530. If we can help further feel free to call 877-668-5888. Here’s a link to our our laminate wall panel page – https://innovatebuildingsolutions.com/product/laminate-diy-shower-bathroom-wall-panels/
Rick
I’m looking to tear out 60 year old tile in my basement bathroom. I’m just exploring this option I’d need 3 panels at the following sizes. 79 1/2 high by 48 wide. 79 1/2 high by 28 wide. 79 1/2 high by 20 1/2 wide. I’d guess it’d come with corner pieces for a finished look. All the measurements are in inches. The 79 1/2 by 28 panel would need to be cut a bit on top for a window. I’d like to get an idea on the cost. Thx
Betsy – this will not be a problem. There are 2 solutions which can work for you. First, I’d recommend the laminate wall panels. They click and lock together and are the most stylish system on the market (in my opinion). Second you could use a solid surface wall panel which is made in one large 69″ wide piece. Now it will be a very heavy panel (likely weighing in the 150 to 175 lb. range) but it would work. I’ll include links to both products below
I am looking for shower wall panels but my back wall is 69 inches . I don’t mind cutting it but I can’t find one wide enough. The height is 96” the 2 sides are 36” x 96
We have been working on our shower/tub to now only shower job for 4 years. Beautiful marble tile to find out company sold us the wrong mud. Tiles are now falling off our wall. We would need a custom order for all 3 walls and a bench that is on one of the side walls. Our back wall is @ 78″ wide… is that a possible size for custom from you?
Keith – thanks for your question. Yes – you can purchase shower wall panels (and bases and accessories) directly from us. Feel free to call us at 877-668-5888. Mike
Keith Poissant
I’m looking for 72″ high X 60″ wide panels, preferably in white subway tile, I need two for a bathroom remodel job, Can I buy directly from you or do you have a source where I can purchase from?
Mitch – thanks for your comment. While our contracting business is not located in Huntsville we can not only wholesale this product to you directly – but we can provide input to your installer on how to install a zero barrier wet room system (in our local markets we use this system for our own installations). Mike
Mitch Amick
Any contractors in Huntsville AL area that install your system. Changing a traditional tub shower to a shower only zero barrier for wheelchair access.. House is on a slab
Mike Foti
Felecia – we should be able to help with this. What I’m going to do is email you and ask you to send pictures of your existing shower so I can get ‘context’ for what you’ve got. Also get me your number and we can then talk through what you might like to install in the space.
Thanks for your interest – Mike
Felecia Harrell
I’m looking to replace the shower stallw/seat in my bathroom. 40″Lx33″Dx78H. The problem is the bathroom door is only 24″ wide and I can only find 1 piece units. Can you help?
Mike Foti
Rick – I’m not sure which wall panel system you may be looking for – but our most popular shower wall panels are the laminate wall panel kit. Based on the information you’ve provided above I’m assuming you’ll need a 5 panel kit. The price (assuming you don’t live in a west coast state of in New York City – which are more expensive to ship to) would be $1,530. If we can help further feel free to call 877-668-5888. Here’s a link to our our laminate wall panel page – https://innovatebuildingsolutions.com/product/laminate-diy-shower-bathroom-wall-panels/
Rick
I’m looking to tear out 60 year old tile in my basement bathroom. I’m just exploring this option I’d need 3 panels at the following sizes. 79 1/2 high by 48 wide. 79 1/2 high by 28 wide. 79 1/2 high by 20 1/2 wide. I’d guess it’d come with corner pieces for a finished look. All the measurements are in inches. The 79 1/2 by 28 panel would need to be cut a bit on top for a window. I’d like to get an idea on the cost. Thx
Mike Foti
Betsy – this will not be a problem. There are 2 solutions which can work for you. First, I’d recommend the laminate wall panels. They click and lock together and are the most stylish system on the market (in my opinion). Second you could use a solid surface wall panel which is made in one large 69″ wide piece. Now it will be a very heavy panel (likely weighing in the 150 to 175 lb. range) but it would work. I’ll include links to both products below
https://innovatebuildingsolutions.com/product/laminate-diy-shower-bathroom-wall-panels/
https://innovatebuildingsolutions.com/product/solid-surface-shower-wall-panel-base-kits/
Betsy dewberry
I am looking for shower wall panels but my back wall is 69 inches . I don’t mind cutting it but I can’t find one wide enough. The height is 96” the 2 sides are 36” x 96
Mike Foti
Susan – sorry about the challenge with your project. The good news is yes we can help you with this project using a couple of different lines of wall panels. Feel free to call us at 877-668-5888. Here’s links to two of these products – https://innovatebuildingsolutions.com/products/bathrooms/laminated-diy-shower-bathroom-wall-panels
https://innovatebuildingsolutions.com/products/bathrooms/diy-interior-shower-tub-wall-panels
Susan May
We have been working on our shower/tub to now only shower job for 4 years. Beautiful marble tile to find out company sold us the wrong mud. Tiles are now falling off our wall. We would need a custom order for all 3 walls and a bench that is on one of the side walls. Our back wall is @ 78″ wide… is that a possible size for custom from you?
Mike Foti
Keith – thanks for your question. Yes – you can purchase shower wall panels (and bases and accessories) directly from us. Feel free to call us at 877-668-5888. Mike
Keith Poissant
I’m looking for 72″ high X 60″ wide panels, preferably in white subway tile, I need two for a bathroom remodel job, Can I buy directly from you or do you have a source where I can purchase from?
Mike Foti
Dale – it is possible to get custom cut tub panels. It would be good to know which panels you like and the size.
Mike
Dale Condit
Need panels for tub insert custom cut.
Mike Foti
Mitch – thanks for your comment. While our contracting business is not located in Huntsville we can not only wholesale this product to you directly – but we can provide input to your installer on how to install a zero barrier wet room system (in our local markets we use this system for our own installations). Mike
Mitch Amick
Any contractors in Huntsville AL area that install your system. Changing a traditional tub shower to a shower only zero barrier for wheelchair access.. House is on a slab
Thanks