Bathroom renovation is a serious undertaking that requires a lot of money, time and effort. The most labor-intensive type of work is finishing walls and floors, for which tiles are most often used. True, tiles have a number of serious disadvantages, including high cost and difficulty in installation. Therefore, tiles made of synthetic materials – polyvinyl chloride, vinyl, etc. – have become very popular today. PVC tiles for the bathroom can be an excellent alternative to conventional ceramic tiles, and also provide a durable and aesthetically attractive finish to the bathroom.
PVC tiles for bathroom
Types of Vinyl Wall Tiles
Several types of PVC modules are known; rectangular and square products are common. There are single-layer and multi-layer types. By type of fastening there are: self-adhesive, without applying glue, with a locking connection.
Tiles are used to decorate walls. This material may look like linoleum squares cut into slab shapes. There are a huge number of colors and dimensions of vinyl tiles. Decorative plastic tiles for walls and floors are known for their wide variety of designs.
To some people, the name brings to mind the faded squares of plastic used to lay floors in hospitals and cafeterias. PVC tiles copy well: wood, metal, natural stone, ceramics, etc.
In European countries, vinyl tiles are very common, but in our country they have recently become in demand. Its cost is many times lower than the price of tiles, despite the fact that its service life is short, but it looks unusual and is becoming more and more popular among finishers.
Color spectrum
As already mentioned, wall panels have a rich range of colors, but among all the variety there are several options that are most in demand.
White
White cladding color is considered classic and quite common. Despite the abundance of colors, many apartment owners still prefer to have a snow-white bathroom. If you are a fan of Art Nouveau style, then white PVC panels are your ideal option. The big advantage of this cladding is its unobtrusiveness; you won’t get tired of the white color for a long time.
White panels require special attention; if not properly cared for, the material may turn yellow or become covered with unattractive stains. Dust and dirt also become very noticeable.
PVC tile grade
Among the construction products there are polyvinyl chloride and quartz-vinyl tiles. The second has greater strength and wear resistance. The tiles are assigned wear resistance levels:
- Products of classes 21 - 23 are intended for residential use.
- Products of class 31 - 33 are suitable for office and public organizations.
- Samples of class 41 - 43 are used for industrial buildings.
Even when selecting, you need to understand what the washability group is? To describe it, letters in Latin are used: F, T, P, M, where T means the most resistant to abrasion, and F means the least resistant.
Self-adhesive PVC tiles
Installing self-adhesive plastic wall tiles is not difficult for even a novice master. You don’t have to apply glue, mortar, or sand the seam. All you need to do is remove the protective film and attach the material to a suitable section of the wall. The material contains several layers:
- top layer of protection;
- layer with ornament;
- a balancing layer of glass fibers or stone particles;
- polyvinyl chloride bedding.
Common types are self-adhesive and non-adhesive products. A layer of adhesive is placed on the self-adhesive PVC tiles for walls, and a removable protective film is attached on top. Before work, for better results, it is recommended to make markings using a corner, tape measure, or marker.
Recommendations for choosing cladding
It is worth giving preference to branded tiles, to which the manufacturer includes instructions or recommendations for installation work. It indicates the materials used when lining the shower room with PVC panels. Manufacturers often make their own adhesive specifically for the cladding.
Depending on the installation location, the panels are of 3 types:
- ceiling;
- wall;
- for the floor.
Using PVC finishing in the shower room, you can create a sealed covering for a heated floor, since it does not allow moisture to pass through. If the design of the room includes any special protruding elements, then you need to select a flexible base.
Manufacturers and brands
The most popular manufacturers of plastic tiles are:
- The Lino Fatra company (Thermofix brand), which produces products for flooring with a large number of visitors: in offices; shopping centers, etc. It is also suitable for home use.
- The LG concern produces fire-resistant tiles of the “LG Decotile” brand with a high-strength surface. The manufacturer provides a twenty-year warranty for such a product.
- Tarkett Art Vinyl New Age is one of the best manufacturers of PVC tiles with designer texture. Their different patterns can be used to create a chic interior.
- Rinotex produces collections of semi-flexible PVC finishes with a speckled base, making stains less visible.
For repair work, it is better to purchase building materials from one manufacturer so that there are no strong differences.
PVC wall tiles in the bathroom
Polyvinyl chloride wall tiles are flexible. Due to this material, it is easy to decorate various details of the furnishings: corners, recesses, protrusions, false fireplaces.
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The most common place to use this material is the bathroom. PVC tiles for bathroom walls are selected with a mosaic pattern. Vinyl-based tiles are perfect for bathroom walls. This is thanks to its technical characteristics:
- withstands temperature changes;
- endowed with water resistance;
- tolerates the influence of steam;
- does not form fungus and mold.
The material has excellent properties for warm and damp rooms. Affordable PVC tiles for the bathroom have become a good replacement for expensive tiles.
It is not picky when decorating bathrooms and fits perfectly into the interior of the room, imitating cladding made from cut wood or tiles. She has a wide selection, which makes it possible to choose any color, tone and pattern.
Peculiarities
Very often, without complete information about the new products that appear on the construction shelves, when deciding to renovate the bathroom, consumers use traditional materials, in particular tiles, without suspecting that there are worthy alternative options for finishing a given room. Moisture-resistant MDF panels, as well as PVC products, are high-quality and attractive products that have proven themselves in practice as a practical and durable finishing material for bathrooms.
The features of these products include ease of installation compared to conventional tiles, the installation of which requires special skills, and the work itself often takes several days, which is very inconvenient for residents of an apartment or house.
The panels are resistant to high humidity and are also able to imitate the texture of tiles. The main function of wall panels, in addition to the aesthetic component, is to protect the base from moisture, since high temperature and water contribute to the formation of fungus and mold on surfaces.
In order to get rid of such unpleasant situations in a tiled bathroom, aggressive chemical compounds are used that help get rid of microorganisms, but at the same time gradually destroy the material itself. When using wall panels, the risk of such situations occurring is minimal, and the appearance of the products is not inferior in its attractiveness to expensive finishing.
Vinyl, wall tiles in Leroy Merlin
High-quality goods necessary for construction and repair, in the form of PVC wall tiles in Leroy Marlin, are purchased at low prices. The catalog contains a large selection, which is regularly updated with new products.
All products are created by reliable manufacturers and are known for high quality products. You can select a suitable item, find out about its availability and purchase it on the website or in retail stores.
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For kitchen walls
In addition to classic materials for covering walls in rooms with high humidity, PVC tiles are used for kitchen walls. It is made on the basis of polymers, has a durable, multi-layer coating and is made like tiles.
Quartz chips are introduced into its base, which gives the product special strength. Due to this, the material has high wear resistance. Briki tiles are often chosen for the kitchen.
Tiles size
The design of this material is very similar to regular ceramic tiles. The material is produced in the form of square tiles with different types of sizes. Features of this type of material:
- the most commonly used tile size ranges from 30×30 – 98×98 cm;
- thickness ranges from 8-25 mm;
- these plastic wall tiles are often used to install a backsplash;
- The design of this type varies. The stores have a selection of classic tiles, as well as those imitating wood and natural stone;
- To lay PVC tiles on the wall, a lathing can be used, which allows you to get good tile joints using the tongue and groove method.
How to make a screen yourself
Many people who love to craft do not want to buy standard ready-made models, so they make bath screens with their own hands. Taking into account the wishes and capabilities of the owners, different materials are used for this, which will determine the order of work.
Area measurements
The length of a standard bathtub is 150, 170, 180 cm, its height is 65 cm. In accordance with the model of the bowl for which the screen is made, its area is calculated: the width is multiplied by the height.
An important step is determining the fastening locations.
If the partition will be mounted at an angle, then it must be kept parallel to the sides of the bathtub.
Calculations and drawings
At the preparatory stage, the junction of the screen and the wall is determined, a vertical line is drawn on it, this is done using a level. The countdown starts from the top edge of the bath.
The second line is drawn parallel to the bowl. Its thickness should correspond to the thickness of the frame blanks. Marks are made from the line drawn on the wall and along the length of the segment marked on the floor.
If you plan to finish the panel with ceramic tiles, then you need to apply markings, taking into account the fact that this material will take up 2.5 cm in thickness.
Screen drawing.
Features of creating an apron for baths with complex shapes
Now many people, instead of a standard rectangular bathtub, choose semicircular or any other shaped bowls.
The technology for creating a screen from tiles is almost the same, but there are some nuances:
- The profile should be shaped like the surface of the font. To do this, cuts are made on the metal strips from which the frame is made, and then the profile is given the desired shape. Create 2 identical arcs, fix them at the top and bottom parallel to each other. To improve the rigidity of the structure, several vertical jumpers are installed.
- To give the required shape to the drywall, it is first slightly moistened and then smoothly bent.
- To fix the tiles, elastic glue is used, the distance between the individual elements is leveled with crosses.
Bath apron of unusual configuration..
Sliding screen made of plastic sheets
To implement the idea of creating a sliding structure, they choose MDF, plasterboard, but most often it is made of plastic.
The work is performed in this order:
- Marking and assembling a metal frame.
- Aluminum guides are fixed from below and above along the entire length.
- Doors of the required size are cut out of a sheet of plastic and inserted into the guides. If you want to make two movable sashes, then their dimensions should be such that when closed they overlap each other. There is an option when only one part is opened, each owner makes his own choice.
- Mount the handles and check the functionality of the system.
If the room is small, then the screen can be made of mirror panels; this solution helps to visually expand the space.
Sliding plastic screen.
Pasting PVC wall plates
Let's consider a practical question: how to glue PVC tiles to the wall? First you need to thoroughly clean the wall of old tiles, cement, and panels. Then it’s worth straightening the walls. To form better adhesion, primer should be applied to the surface.
Important advice. Vinyl wall tiles have flexibility. Due to this, it will bend around both the contours of decorative details and the tortuosity of the walls. Therefore, it should be laid only after leveling the wall surfaces. The finishing for the kitchen walls should lie down to straighten and get used to room temperature for 3-4 days.
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If the room has never been renovated and the walls are evenly plastered, then you should not do priming, but stick the tiles directly onto it. It is possible to place the material on plywood or drywall.
The best method is to lay tiles in vertical or horizontal rows. This method of placement will prevent a large number of joints through which moisture tends to get onto the base plane. When finishing the walls, you should pay attention to gluing the joints.
It is important to ensure that adjacent tiles adhere tightly to each other and that after gluing they do not move out of place. A distance of 1.5 mm should be left between adjacent parts to allow for expansion of the material due to heat. At the junction of the plastic near the floor and ceiling, a gap of up to 3 mm is left. After 12 hours they are sealed with sealant. After which baseboards, moldings and other parts are installed.
a brief description of
Although all materials have the same name, their properties are different. First of all, the degree of moisture resistance differs. PVC can withstand direct contact with water without harm, MDF and fiberboard - provided that the cuts are properly sealed and the integrity of the laminating film is intact. Chipboard-based panels are the most susceptible to moisture, so, if possible, they are best used for finishing the toilet, kitchen, corridor and other rooms with relatively normal operating conditions.
Looks like wood, but is actually wall panels
MDF wall panels
In areas with high humidity and the possibility of direct water ingress, MDF-based wall panels can be used. This material uses high pressure technology, resulting in a very dense board. The wood particles are compressed so tightly that water practically does not penetrate between them. To improve the characteristics, additional binders and impregnations are added to the composition, which make the base almost waterproof. As a result, moisture-resistant MDF wall panels feel more like plastic.
There are different options
MDF sheet panels
This is what the wall looks like after finishing with tiled wall panels
A laminating film with a pattern is applied to this base and the whole thing is covered with a thin layer of transparent dense polymer. This film is an additional barrier to water and it is thanks to it that moisture-resistant wall panels for the bathroom can be used even in areas where water is directly exposed.
This type of finishing material has a peculiarity: to make the finish waterproof, the joints are coated with sealant. They also pass through the junctions with the floor and ceiling. To prevent moisture from getting inside the material through the cuts. This installation method guarantees a long service life of the finish, even in damp rooms.
Vinyl tile adhesive
To install ordinary vinyl tiles, you need a good adhesive, because to hold the product on the wall you need excellent adhesive ability. Acrylic glue is best suited for this procedure, because its mixture is similar to the contents of the finish.
Liquid nails are also suitable. Adhesive for PVC tiles on the wall is applied in a thin layer to the underside of the tiles. If it is necessary to cut or trim material, it is time to do this with ordinary, reliable scissors.
Considering that the corners in rooms can be uneven, in order to avoid visible distortions, experts advise starting to glue the material from the middle of the room wall and further into the circle. After laying all the tiles, you will need to roll them with a roller and wipe off excess glue. Walls can be washed two days after gluing.
Installation
There are several ways to lay panels:
- using glue or liquid nails;
- on a special frame.
The latter option is recommended for slatted panels, and products made of PVC and MDF are perfectly fixed with adhesives. If necessary, the free space between the products and the wall can be filled with insulation or this space can be used for arranging electrical wiring.
The arrangement of the frame is carried out using an aluminum profile using the following technology:
- the arrangement of profiles is carried out, the stiffeners of which are placed horizontally;
- the fastening pitch is calculated based on the width of the product, but this value should not exceed 50 cm;
- Next, the slats are prepared - it is recommended to additionally treat the ends of the MDF elements with sealant;
- in cases where the floor in the room does not have a sufficiently flat surface, the resulting gaps are hidden with the help of a plinth;
- all areas where switches, sockets or communications output will be located must be marked;
- The slats are fastened with self-tapping screws or staples; in some cases, you can use special clips.
Installation of panels with glue can be carried out in bathrooms, where the bases have a smooth geometry and also do not require specific preparation. Otherwise, you should pre-finish the walls with plaster and prime the surface.
After completing such work, you can begin gluing the panels. The technology for performing this task is as follows:
- The joints between the elements of the composition, including corners and places where panels are attached to the floor and ceiling, can be decorated using moldings. This option will provide a more neat appearance of the surface. These works are not necessary if the components are secured using grooves or other fasteners.
- The composition can be applied to products pointwise or in the form of zigzags.
- The panel with the composition applied to the back side is applied to the wall and pressed over the entire area.
- If excess glue appears around, it must be carefully removed from the base.
- Installation of panels should always start from the corner.
- All unattractive places where cuts on the edges of products are visible are best hidden under the baseboard. It can be made of any material and have a similar color, or vice versa - serve as a contrasting component of the created composition.
Room design
You need to think carefully about the idea of your future design, based on your personal wishes and the size of the kitchen. Designs with large ornaments and dark shades should be used when the kitchen is large enough. If the kitchen is small, it would be optimal to choose a lighter material or an abstraction in the form of a small pattern.
To bring original design ideas to life, wall decoration with PVC tiles with an original texture is perfect. For example, for a classic type of finish you need to take wood-look tiles, and if you like the high-tech style, then imitation metal will highlight it well. For a minimalist style, brick-like tiles are suitable.
Design ideas and decor
Purchasing moisture-resistant wall panels is an option that allows you to create a more attractive finish in the bathroom, compared to conventional tiles. The combination of elements of different size, color or texture will allow you to decorate the room in an exclusive style, the main thing is to use panels of the same thickness and made by the same manufacturer.
An unusual pattern is quite simply formed when installing products at a certain angle from the floor - products can converge at one point and diverge in different directions. You can decorate a ceiling of any complexity with panels, it all depends on your imagination.
Products with a frieze do not require the creation of complex shapes, since they are remarkable due to their decor. In addition, they can imitate the texture of wood or stone. The panels are manufactured in glossy and matte finishes. To visually increase the area of a room or to visually raise the ceiling, you can use products with a reflective surface or arrange elements with mirror inserts.
Panels can be plain or colored. The use of offset printing makes it possible to create original compositions. The use of frieze greatly expands the product range, since panels can have a variety of textures, colors and shades.
