If you HATE, HATE, HATE tile showers with grout, and are researching shower wall panels as an alternative but want to avoid product or installation problems you’ve come to the right article.
As a guy who is a self-described Shower Geek (some people just have the life, don’t they?) who leads a business which wholesales shower panels across the United States – and has a division which installs them in Northeast Ohio, quite frankly I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the UGLY in shower wall panels over my years.
So – you may be wondering what are the most common problems with these panels and how can I avoid them so ‘the UGLY’ does NOT become your reality? Check out 13 problems below to keep your project hassle free AND get a simpler shower to install and maintain. Let’s dig in.
Shower wall panel problem #1 – The wall panels are too short.
Why settle for shower wall panels which are 60” or 78” high with space at the top you have to repaint or becomes moldy down the road?
Today there’s no reason you can’t get wall panels which’ll run to the top of an 8’ ceiling. And in some instances, you can even get wall panels which reach the top of a 9’ ceiling (although I’ll warn you 9’ shower wall panel options are hard to come by).
Shower wall panel problem #2 – You need a custom size – and the only option you find in home center stores are standard sizes
If only your house had ANYTHING standard in it! It’s nice for a home to have ‘charm’ – except when it comes to the cost and availability of building materials. Then you wish your home used common sizes which DID NOT cost you an arm and a leg.
However, even if you have a custom sized shower doesn’t mean you have to be punished for it! What you need are wall panel systems where the panels can be cost-effectively combined to make custom sizes at standard prices.
One smart system to accomplish this are 3/8” thick laminate wall panels. They’re made in 24” wide sections which click and lock together to make any size – no matter how big – or small-your shower is.
Shower wall panel problem #3 – The material looks fake, plasticky, and like it’s mass produced from a mold
Although wall panels can eliminate grout joints and maintenance, waaaay too many of them are mass produced – and look it.
And nothing says cheap quite like glossy white plastic shower wall panels.
So, if you’re wondering if you need to settle for a cheap panel to also get low maintenance the answer is no frickin’ way! Today you can get wall panels which look like tile, stone, or even cement in collections which include Transitionalist, Maximalist, Modern Farmhouse, or even Scandinavian design shower wall styles.
Shower wall panel problem #4 – Your contractor uses ‘wafer thin’ panels which looks like they’ll crack just by looking at them!
If you see wall panels priced at a level which looks too good to be true, it’s likely because the wall panels are wafer thin and uber-cheap. Stay away from FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic) or SPC (Stone Plastic Composites) if you’re not choosing wall panels for a ‘fix and flip’ low-income property but want a well-made system which stands the test of time.
Shower wall panel problem #5 – Your wall panels won’t work with your shower base.
The problem with wall panels NOT working with the base you’ve bought is similar to buying a car where the engine won’t fit under the hood. If it happens to you, you’ve become a victim of ‘bathroom remodeling malpractice.’
You need your shower wall panels designed to work with your shower pan (or tub surround). Will the shower panels fit around the flange of the shower pan? Can you use the panels with any shower pan or wet room system. Or as I like to say, “Are your shower wall panels ‘base agnostic?’
Don’t be the unfortunate buyer whose panels don’t fit the pan AND you’re not allowed to return the product, or you’ll get slammed with outrageous restock fees.
Or better yet – find a shower kit system where your shower wall panels, base, and glass doors are GUARANTEED (and that’s the magic word) to work together.
Shower wall panel problem #6 – Make sure you’re not going to get ‘nickel and dimed’ and find out (after the fact) you don’t have everything you need to do the installation.
There’s nothing worse than being a parent or grandparent at the holidays and finding out – batteries were NOT included in the toy you’re assembling for your favorite little one!
The same thing is true when it comes to wall panels. Make sure you’re getting the necessary trims, and correct sealants, to do the job right the first time (and NOT void your warranty because you used the wrong materials).
Shower wall panel problem #7 – You don’t consider logistics and your sheer brute strength (or lack thereof) when making a shower wall panel selection
While thicker – and bigger sized – wall panels can be nice – they can be a major P.I.A. if they’re heavy and need to be brought up a narrow (or spiral) staircase and into a tiny bathroom in an upper floor.
Logistics and product selection need to be considered together, otherwise you may pay the price in ‘pain and suffering’ (which can’t be remedied by your ‘favorite’ billboard boasting local malpractice attorney) to do the installation.
Find materials which are simple to handle, sturdy, yet can be maneuvered into tight spaces. One smart option are 3/8” thick x 24” wide x 94.4” high laminate panels. They connect (through a tongue and groove system), are rigid (making them easy to bring into any space… even in a tiny home shower wall panel system), yet are also stylish and simple to clean. It’s a winning formula!
Shower wall panel problem #8 – You can’t find anyone to install the wall panels
Perhaps you’ve seen this dilemma in remodeling but just because you fall in love with a product doesn’t mean you’ll be able to find a contractor to install it.
Let’s face it – in today’s world contractors are like rock stars. It’s hard to find them – and even when you do locate a good one doesn’t mean they’ll be open to learning how to install a new wall panel system even if you love it.
So – before investing in a wall panel system ask your contractor if they’re willing to work with it – and/or ask your wall panel supplier for a contractor they’d recommend. Get installation instructions or installation videos to simplify the process.
Shower wall problem #9 – You find out – after it’s too late- there’s no one to answer installation questions if you’re DIYing the job
Doing anything for the first time IS scary. And – as we all know the installation videos on YouTube make EVERYTHING look ‘easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy.’ However, with Your Old House it’s NEVER as simple as the DIY videos make it look (it’s much easier installing ‘in the studio,’ than at the job site).
And this is where you want (and need) an actual human (not an AI bot) to help with your questions.
Ask your supplier specifically who(m) you can call if your installation becomes a head-scratching experience. Will they give you an actual name – and cell phone for someone who knows what they’re talking about (and has ‘been-there, done-that’)?
Also take an inventory of the tools you need to do the job. Sometimes it can seem cheaper to DIY but after you look at the investment required in tools you don’t own you’d have to buy, it may be easiest to hire a shower remodeling contractor to do the job.
Shower wall problem #10 – Make sure to get manufacturer approved sealants so you don’t void your warranty.
Although shower wall panels eliminate grout – you still have sealants in the corners, around the edges, and in between the shower pan and the bottom of the panels. And waterproofing these places is critical for a successful installation – and to ensure your warranty will be honored.
Ask what sealants you need and if they’re included in your order. Cracked walls or leaks are big problems you must avoid.
Shower wall problem #11 – Know the proper way to store your shower wall panels
Most shower wall panels are stored flat, so they don’t bow and become difficult to install.
Before you purchase shower wall panels know how they should be stored. Ask if they need to be acclimated (‘err brought inside at room temperature) before installation.
Shower wall problem #12 – Know how – or if – it’s possible to add recessed niches or buy a trim package to work around shower windows
Approximately 1/3 of shower systems have windows inside the shower alcove. And just because you find a wall panel system you love DOES NOT mean you’ll be able to locate a trim package to work around a window or which’ll make it possible to install a vertical or horizontal recessed niche (and a great shower system without adequate storage IS NOT a good thing!).
Shower wall problem #13 – Make sure you know the proper backer board system(s) to use and when they should be installed
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten a call and the (wrong) backer board has been installed; yet the shower pan hasn’t even been installed. THEN an owner or contractor is asking about the panels! Ouch, your timing is a bit off, and you’ll have to go back to ‘go’ (and I don’t know about you, but I love Monopoly) but you’ll likely need to ‘eat’ more than $200!
Installing the right products in the wrong order – can be just as bad (or worse) than installing the wrong products.
Make sure you know not only what type of backer board is needed but when it should be installed in the process.
Do you now feel more confident you can eliminate shower wall panel problems for your project? Do you need help choosing the right shower wall panels, accessories, and backer boards?
When you’re buying, or installing, a product you’re unfamiliar with it can be unnerving wondering if you’re doing things the right way.
And I’m here to let you know you DO NOT have to go it alone.
Call a Shower Specialist at 877-668-5888 to learn about shower wall panels and/or to get wholesale pricing. Or if you’re looking for a referral to a shower wall panel contractor these shower specialists can help with that also.
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
