Pros and Cons of Click-Together Shower Wall Panels vs. Full Sheets (the Untold Story Manufacturers Don’t Want You to Know)

As a guy who leads a nationwide shower wall panel wholesale business AND has crews installing these products in our regional markets, here’s my advice regarding click-together vs. full sheet shower wall panels:

You need to under manufacturers are (logically) pushing their own shower wall panels (whether they click-together or are installed as full sheets) as the ‘end-all-be-all’ solutions for your new home or bathroom remodel. And, quite frankly, there’s NO system, which is all that! 

And hey – I get it. Manufacturers have bills to pay. They want to keep employees working and (hopefully) contribute to the bottom-line so they can support future sales and service.

However, these ‘self-serving’ product pitches DO NOT make it simple for you (whether you’re a homeowner or remodeling contractor looking for the best line(s) to represent). So, how can you ‘sift through the myriad (a fancy word I threw in to make you think I’m smart…..I hope it’s working) of choices? How do you know if click-together or full sheet shower or tub wall panels are best for your project?

Well – it’s by reading the pros and cons of these systems below. And I will ‘come clean’ (corny shower pun intended) and admit there’s no ‘slam-dunk’ winner in this debate. And as a matter of fact, my company wholesales AND installs both types of systems depending on what’s best for the customer.

Read on. Learn the pros and cons for yourself. At the end if you have a strong opinion which is best (or want questions answered to ‘get to the bottom’ of which you should choose), comment or call us. We have a team of Shower Specialists who I promise you are (mostly) not as wacky as I am!

Now, let’s dig in.

Section I – Pros of Click Together Shower or Tub Wall Panels   

Pro #1 of click together panels– They’re easier to handle

While click-together wall panels (or even click together wall tiles – although I’m NOT a fan of these) come in various sizes (12”, 24” and 36” wide are most common) they’re simpler to handle than a 60” shower wall panel often used for the back wall in a tub to shower conversions or shower to shower conversions.

And if you’ve got to go up the stairs, around tight corners, and into (a smaller-than-you’d like bathroom), you know big wall panels are NOT ‘your little fren’ (as Tony Montana said from the movie Scarface).

Pro #2 of click together panels– They’re DIY friendly – and simpler for one person to install

If you’ve tried installing a 60” acrylic wall panel which is a (razor-thin) 1/8” ‘thick’ and it’s flapping around worse than a wet noodle, you know – even though these full sheet wall panels aren’t heavy, they’re virtually impossible for a single person to install. This is why ‘bath in a day’ acrylic companies work in 2 person crews.

However, if you have a thick click together system it can be installed by one guy/gal. This saves labor costs and makes the project modular to install.

And while I DO like the idea of larger sheet (preferably panels which can reach the ceiling in an 8’ home) I’m NOT a big fan of ‘click together’ shower wall tiles (like you’ll see sold on e-commerce sites). The reason I don’t like them is they have vertical AND horizontal joints – and the horizontal joints, if they’re not flush, could be an entry point for water to get behind the wall.

Pro #3 of click together panels– Lower shipping costs  

Even if a web site ‘claims’ they have ‘free freight’ – don’t believe them. I don’t know anyone who UPS, FedEx, or the LTL carrier lines like so much they’re sending their deliveries across the country for ‘free.’ No – the freight cost is included in the delivered price.

And when you buy full sheet wall panels – lets say for a bathtub to shower conversion –a 60” wide panel (which could also be 96” high) will require a crate which is more than 60” wide. In these cases, LTL carriers need a lift gate which is extra cost (unless you have a lift truck in your garage…..I’m guessing NOT!).

So, in choosing a wall panel system, think about your ‘all-in’ costs. Don’t be fooled by quoted price which does not include freight (or tariffs). If not, you could be in for an unpleasant surprise.

And if you HATE, HATE, HATE paying high freight bills, choose click together systems. And to learn more how click together wall panels are shipped, watch the video below.

Pro #4 of click together panels– For well-built click together systems you can build walls of any size where I’ll challenge you to find the seams!

The biggest concerns with click together wall panels is:

• You’ll see the seams.
• The shower or tub walls won’t be waterproof.

And I’m here to tell you there are better quality click together wall panels (like these 24” wide x 3/8” thick wall panels), and if you use a ‘stack bond’ design (where one faux tile looks like it’s stacked on another), I’ll bet you won’t find the seams. And they’re 100% waterproof as well. And since you can’t see the seams you can make shower walls, or any bathroom wall, as long you’d like and not see seams. This can be wonderful if you’re doing a commercial restroom, or a one level wet room.

However, be aware the quality between click together (and full sheet) wall panels can – and DOES vary. Get samples before you buy.

Pro #5 of click together panels– They’re less likely to crack

The wider the panel (especially if it’s 1/8” ‘thin’) the more likely it’ll crack. And with 60” wide panels you need to be careful, especially if the material is a cultured stone.

On the other hand, most click together wall panels are 12” to 36” wide – making them less prone to cracking, especially if they’re 3/8” thick panels.

Pro #6 of click together panels– With CNC manufactured click together wall panels you can choose from 31 different realistic looking patterns….and they’re available from stock

I’ll be honest (and I better be, otherwise, my mom will hunt me down and wash my mouth out with soap…..Yuck!), the biggest complaint with tub and shower wall panels is they look fake. And there’s A LOT of them which DO LOOK FAKE. Travel through the aisles of your local home center and look at the molded plastic wall panels. Yes, they’re cheap, and they look it!

So, if you hate grout – but also want your bathroom to look elegant – what options do you have? First I’d look for realistic looking wall panels. And it would be those which have a faux grout joints which aren’t molded in the same color as the faux tiles or stone patterns like you’ll see below.

Check out CNC (Computer Numerical Control) manufactured click together laminate wall panels. With this option the contrasting color of the faux grout joint is put over the backer board, then the finish tile or stone pattern is placed over the contrasting color. Then a CNC mills out the top layer to reveal the contrasting faux grout joint underneath.

This CNC manufacturing process results in a realistic wall surround (which has a 3-dimensional quality tile look) which NEVER requires grout cleaning. And that’s a concept most of us can get our arms (or scrubbing elbows) around! And the cherry on the top is they’re available from stock.

Pro #7 of click together panels– If a repair is required, there’s less material to be replaced

While the idea of any repair (whether it’s due to a failed wall panel or a faulty shower valve behind the wall) is unwanted, it’s nice to know with click together panels it’s possible to replace just one panel vs. an entire width of your longest wall.

Pro #8 of click together panels– It’s easy to make a custom size, even with standard sized panels

Custom sized showers can be a major PITA (and no, I’m not talking about the Lebanese bread here either!). You’ll wait a looooong time to get the custom made shower wall panels. And if you have a really long wall, good luck finding single sheet wall panel at all!

And in these cases, what’s nice about (better quality) click together wall panels is you can simply click together as many panels as you need to finish the wall. For example, maybe you want your wall surrounds to continue past the shower. This isn’t a problem with click together panels. Determine how many panels you need by dividing the length of the wall by the width of the wall panel you’re looking to use, then round up.

The bottom line is better quality click together panels allow you to go beyond the ‘shower alcove’ and do entire bathrooms without a sweat!

No matter how many pros a shower system has, there’s no perfect panel system (and if there were there’d only be one choice). So now let’s look at the cons of click together shower or tub surround panels.

Section II – Cons of Click Together Shower or Tub Wall Panels   

Con #1 of click together panels– There’s more seams with click together shower wall panels

The #1 drawback of a click together wall panel system is it has seams between panels. And while this is true, the quality of click together tongue and groove systems will determine if this system is problematic, or not.

For example, at a recent trade show I saw low cost SPC (Stone Plastic Composite) shower wall panels and not only were the seams noticeable, but the tongue and groove edges were easy to break.

So – when you’re evaluating how visible, sturdy, and waterproof the click together wall panel seams (and tongue and groove system) is, evaluate the following:

• Does your desired pattern flow across the panels (like running bond or herringbone patterns)? Will the ‘tile or stone looks’ have a horizontal or vertical ‘stack design?’ With better click together shower wall panels, a stack pattern can be virtually invisible. However, with running bond (like bricks on a building) or herringbone patterns it’s trickier (but possible) for the pattern to look continuous. Very few click together panel manufacturers do running bond patterns. And the ones who do (like Fibo from Norway) make higher quality products to minimize seeing the seams.

• Is there sealant between the click together panels? A waterproof sealant between panels is added protection to ensure you won’t have a leak between panels, as you can learn more about in this video.

• What’s the manufacturer’s warranty. Does the manufacturer put their money where their mouth is? Cheaper wall panels have shorter warranties.

• Are the panels a matte or gloss finish? It’s harder to see where one panel begins and the other ends with a matte finish. It’s easier to see seams with a gloss finish.

Con #2 of click together panels– The tongue and groove is the weakest link. Test it before you buy (especially if the price appears to be too good to be true).

The thinnest part of click together wall panels are the engineered tongue and groove design where the panels meet. And I’ll be honest and tell you I’ve tested dozens of click together wall systems and found some are absolute garbage.

For example, steer clear of SPC (Stone Plastic Composite) shower wall panels. Basically, if you even look at the tongue and groove system where they’re joined, they’ll break. Ok, this IS an exaggeration, but the SPC panels I’ve tested HAVE NOT been impressive…but they are cheap.

However, 3/8” thick laminate shower wall panels, and rigid PVC click together panels, have performed well.

Con #3 of click together panels– If you want the ‘full slab’ marble look

If you’re looking for a 60” wide ‘full marble slab’ look this is difficult to get with click together wall panels since they’re joined together and usually not made to appear as a continuous slab design. In these instances, you can choose digitally printed rigid PVC panels, cultured marble, or acrylic wall panels.

If you want the marble look with click together panels, choose a ‘tile patterns’ like you’ll see with this bianco marble shower wall panel in 24” x 24” design below.

Con #4 of click together panels– Bathroom remodeling contractors are less familiar with click together systems than ‘glue-up’ full sheet wall panels

While click together wall panels are the standard in Europe, the United States shower wall panel market has ‘grown up’ with full sheet acrylic wall panels. Just turn on the TV, or even go to a Walmart, or grocery store, and you’ll see displays from the ‘one day bath companies’ selling full sheet acrylic walls.

And you may be wondering why these ‘glue up’ full sheet wall panels are so popular? It’s because they install FAST! And fast installations mean more profits for contractors.

And while the right click together systems can also install fast, the click together concept is new to some contractors in this country. And, as you may know, some contractors are ‘allergic to change.’

So, now that we’ve looked at click together wall panels let’s check out (and no, I WILL NOT let’s take a ‘deep dive’ because I HATE ‘corporate speak’) the pros and cons of full sheet shower wall panels.

Section III – Pros of Full Sheet Shower or Tub Wall Panels   

In the United States today the majority of shower wall panel installations are with full sheet wall surround panels. Here’s reasons why:

Pro #1 of full sheet shower and tub wall panels– There’s no seams in panels up to 60” wide (and even wider in one wall panel line)

If seams between panels scare the bejesus out of you (and where exactly did the word bejesus come from anyway…..I don’t think I’ve ever seen it in my Bible!), I get it. Click together systems are different. Some people can’t get over the hump they’ll be 100% waterproof.

And if this concern fits you, full sheet wall panels may be your choice. With full sheet shower and tub wall panels you only need to be concerned about properly waterproofing the corners and where the panels meet your shower base or tub deck.

Full sheet panels are the ‘grandaddy’ of wall panels in this country.

However, you may be asking what you can do if you have a wall larger than 60” in your shower. Well – in most ‘full sheet’ system you’ll need to resort to a batten strip between the panels. This doesn’t look great, UNLESS you use an Onyx cultured granite panel which is available in sizes up to 110” wide.

However, while you CAN get huge Onyx panels, I wouldn’t recommend it because how are you going to move these heavy 3/8” thick stone wall panels around? Just something to think about.

Pro #2 of full sheet shower and tub wall panels– You can get the one piece marble slab look  

If you want the ‘continuous marble slab’ look, full sheet wall panels are the ticket. Choose digitally printed PVC panels, cultured marble, or acrylic panels from a bath in a day company.

To me the ¼” thick digitally printed PVC ones look best, are simple to install, but you must accept it’s just a printed top surface over a white PVC board.

Pro #3 of full sheet shower and tub wall panels– There’s plenty of contractors installing full sheet wall panels. Some even do it in a day (although they shouldn’t!)  

You can’t open a home improvement coupon magazine, watch TV, or go to a home show and not see a myriad (fancy word alert!) of contractors showing and selling full sheet acrylic shower wall panels.

And while I know some have pushy salespeople (like the Tin Men who sold aluminum siding door to door back in the day. And for a laugh here’s a scene from Tin Men), not all companies who sell full sheet wall panels operate like this.

Several full sheet acrylic companies market a ‘bath in a day’ so they won’t be in your hair (or drain clogged with hair) for more than a day. And while full sheet wall panels do go up fast (especially if they’re installed over existing tile) I’d caution people to NOT contract with companies who promote ‘bath or shower in a day’ projects. Here’s why.

The better companies doing this work I’ve talked to over my years of wholesaling shower wall panels will tell you when you push to do the ‘job in a day’ the finishing work (when the crew is tired, and hungry, at the end of a long day) gets rushed. The finished quality isn’t great.

And besides, putting grout free panels over old tile, can be a big problem if there’s mold behind the wall which gets trapped.

With all these being said it’s NOT a problem finding companies to bid your job who will use full sheet wall panels. You can still ‘shop until you drop’ acrylic wall panel installation contractors in many markets because they’re a dime a dozen.

Pro #4 of full sheet shower and tub wall panels– There’s a wide selection of material types in full sheet panels

Since full sheet panels have been around the longest in the United States, you’ll find a wide selection of material types. Popular choices include:

• Acrylic full sheet panels – They have the largest market share since they’re quick to install and cheap. Most acrylic wall panels are molded, and not the most realistic looking. However, some lines now have laser etched faux grout joints which have improved the realism of the products. With all this being said, it’s still a molded sheet of plastic.

• Fiberglass full sheet panels – You’re likely familiar with fiberglass if you have a production home. These panels are used often in standard bathrooms in new construction and renovation. While they’re also inexpensive (like acrylic), they’re also known to yellow.

• Cultured marble and cultured granite – These are (literally) solid panels (often 3/8” thick) which are durable. Their main drawback is the patterns/styles look a little long-in-the-tooth. However, they’ll stand the test of time (although you can see more yellowing in cultured marble).

• High gloss acrylic panels – These panels aren’t widely known, but give a cool, sleek, contemporary look. Although I’ll warn you they’re pricey.

• PVC wall panels – Rigid PVC is simple to install. Most lines don’t have faux grout joints, but if you want a ‘full slab’ look, and a simple to install system, they’re a sound choice.

Now, let’s turn our attention to the cons of full sheet wall panels.

Section IV – Cons of Full Sheet Shower – or Tub- Wall Panels   

Con #1 of full sheet shower and tub wall panels– They’re difficult to handle

Full sheet panels can be tough to maneuver. For example, if you have a cultured granite full sheet back wall panel for a tub to shower conversion which is 60” x 96” x 3/8” thick – it’ll weigh 125 pounds, will flex (making it prone to crack), and be tough to bring upstairs, around the corner, and cut to size to reach the ceiling.

On the other hand, another popular choice – 1/8” thick acrylic wall panels – will be flopping around. And even though it’s light, you need two people to install because it’s awkward to handle.

Con #2 of full sheet shower and tub wall panels– Heavier panels can require bracing

With some full sheet (glue-up) shower surround panels you’ll need to brace the panels for a day before adding accessories or your shower door. Bracing is time consuming – and that’s assuming you have braces built for holding panels up.

Con #3 of full sheet shower and tub wall panels– Breakage CAN be an issue!

As a guy whose has never been an engineer or played one on TV (although I did go to college at Carnegie-Mellon University with a bunch of engineers, but I was a ‘just business major’) I still know the wider the panel, the more likely they are to break.

With brittle materials (like cultured stone and solid surface) breakage can be a thing. Full sheet wall panels made of the ¼” thick PVC are very unlikely to break. So, if this is a concern for you, rigid PVC makes sense.

Con #4 of full sheet shower and tub wall panels– Some full sheet systems are only sold through installing dealers, which can make them unavailable to you if you want/need to DIY the job

If you can afford it, it’s wonderful to hire a professional to do your bathroom remodel. It’s a big job – and – as you know can get expensive.

And what can make it even more expensive is if you have your heart set on a product (like the acrylic wall panels) where most are only available through an installing dealer network.

While doing your research (whether you want click together panels, or full sheets) see if you can buy materials yourself if you’re looking to save money and/or have your own contractor already lined up.

Con #5 of full sheet shower and tub wall panels– It’s hard to find (and/or afford) full sheet panels which are wider than 60”

Most manufacturers don’t find enough demand to invest in production equipment to make shower or tub surround panels wider than 60”. It’s simply too expensive, not to mention risky, and costly, to ship.

So – if you’ve got (or want to create) a wider shower what you need to do if you want a full sheet system is either use a batten strip or look for the ‘needle-in-the-haystack’ manufacturer who makes full sheet wall panels wider than 60.” And I only know of one of them which is Onyx. And in their case, panels are custom made, and expensive at this size.

So, are you ‘sold’ on a click together or a full panel system? Do you have questions, or need help choosing the right system for your project?

I know there’s a lot of factors to choose the best wall panel system, but I’d be curious if you have an opinion which is best (or at least best for you). Comment below with your opinion and/or questions.

If you want to explore options contact an Innovate Building Solutions Shower Specialist for help. And I’ll come clean (and yes, that’s a bad shower pun, I know) and mention this is my company. But seriously, our team works with all facets of bathroom remodeling including shower bases, grout free shower and bathroom wall panels, glass doors, shower accessories, you name it.

You can also call 877-668-5888 for nationwide wholesale material supply.

Or if you’re looking for a bathroom remodeling contractor in Cleveland or Akron call 216-658-1270. Ask for a referral to an installing bathroom contractor (we call them dealers) if you’re outside our installation markets.

Finally, if you’re a bathroom contractor, a kitchen and bath showroom, or multi-unit property owner (or buyer) looking to purchase bathroom products or stylish shower or bathroom walls call 888-467-7488 or visit the wall panel dealership or multi-unit wall panel supply areas of our site.

Thanks for reading and putting up with my humor along the way. I hope this article has been helpful to you.

Mike