Vicenza - change of pack size

Vicenza  - our budget range of waterproof wall panels - has had a change of pack size.

Previously these were sold in packs of 5 but the new consignment has turned up from the manufacturer packs in the more usual 4's. This means a pack covers 1m wide whereas previously this would have been 1.25m and should prove a little more flexible when calculating how many panels you require for your room.

Bending Panels Into Corners

We quite often asked if it is possible to bend the panels into corners rather than using a butt joint or a corner trim.

The answer is yes - it is possible but there are downsides to using this method.



We have created a new page with more information on this subject here :
bending panels into corners

The main issue with this installation method is that there are no real advantages. A well sealed butt joint or a joint employing a Corner Trim will be just as waterproof but a lot less fiddly to execute.

Our prefered method for internal corners is to butt join the panels and seal with a good quality silicone. As there is no grout used in the installation of our panels there is nowhere to harbour moisture and so the silicone, if applied correctly, will remain mould-free for years. On lighter coloured panels use a white silicone, on deeper shades use a clear silicone sealant. This will result in a very neat, waterproof finish for the corner and is suitable for use inside showers. If you are concerned about water leaking through the corner joint you can run silicone if the corner first and then push the panels into the wet silicone, encasing the joint in silicone, just wipe off any excess silicone sealant at the joint.

It is also possible (but tricky) to cut the panels for external corners but this involves removal of the webbing from inside the panel leaving the front surface more susceptible to splitting when the panel are bent. Our prefered method for external corner would be to use an angle trim, as available from our website. Another option is to use a tile edge trim. These result in a very neat finish but you have make sure that the panels are cuttin accurately as they to not cover up any slight discrepancies in cutting.

Over Bath Shower

If you are looking to use your bath for showering then the walls will need to covered in a suitable waterproof material. For many the first thing they think of is tiles but there are downsides in using these as can be seen in the following photo.



The main concern is the grout. Bathroom tiles frequently get wet and the grout used to fill the gaps between the tiles can retain moisture enabling mould to grow. Many customers are opting for our waterproof panelling as an alternative to tiles for this application as they use no grout in their installation and there is therefore nowhere to harbour moisture - no moisture equelas no mould.

The following image shows the same bathroom after the tiles have been replaced with our Bali Grey cladding:



The result is a bright, light, attractive surface that requires no maintenance and will look good for years to come after the installation.

Panel Range Changes

As has already been posted, the Tinto range is to be phased out and we have also been informed that Mosaic Rose and Mosaic Jade are to be discontinued.

The rest of the Mosaic range will remain, which is good news as this is one of our most popular panels! The great advantage of mosaic effect panels over ceramic tiles is that there is no grout - and mosaic tiles tend to use a lot of grout.

There is also news of a new tile-effect wall panel that will be available very soon - details will be posted as soon as we have them.

Bathroom Ceiling Panels

When wall panels are installed the weight of the panel rests on the floor, bath or shower tray so the panels are effectively just "leaning against the wall" Consequently the bond between the panel and the wall does not have to be that strong to be effective. When panels are fitted to a bathroom ceiling however the bond is much more critical.

Most filters that we have spoken to use a combination of adhesive and a staple gun. Solvent-free adhesive tends to be slightly less effective that those with solvent (if using adhesive with solvent be sure that there is plenty of ventilation when you are fitting the panels). The staples help hold the panel in place whilst the adhesive sets.

The panels that we sell are very easy to cut so we always recommend taking your time cutting them to ensure a good fit. The joint between the ceiling panels and the wall can be sealed with silicone. If you are not confident of achieving a neat cut finish you can use trims to help cover the edges of the panels. The problem with most of the trims sold by the manufacturers is that they are designed to be used with wall panels rather that ceiling panels. They can, however, be adapted for use with ceilings by trimming away the back section that would usually clip over the top of the wall panels. The trims can then be mitred and stuck up once the panels are in place. Any trim could be use for this purpose, not just the trims that we sell. Tile edge trim, quadrant or scotia moulding could be fitted once the ceiling panels are in installed.

Wet Room Floor

We are asked quite often about the best way to install our waterproof wall panels in conjunction with a wet room floor.

Fitting the panels to the wall is no problem - our wall cladding is ideal for use in these enviroments - but the question that always gets asked is "Which trim do we use at the bottom of the panels?"

At present the two manufacturers that we deal with (Decos and Grosfillex) have no trim specifically designed for use in these situations but having spoken to the importers we have come up with what, we think, is the best way to deal with situation.

The answer depends on the type of flooring that is being installed. If ceramic floor tiles are being used there are 2 options:

1. if the tiles are to be run on the floor only - seal the tiles to the existing wall using silicone, run the panels down on top of the tiles and seal again
2. if the tiles are to return up the wall to form a skirting - ensure the adhesive bed gives an overall depth of 10mm for the skirting, apply a bed of silicone on top of the skirting and run the panels down in the silicone

If you are using a cove-formed vinyl flooring in your wet room then we would recommend the following method:

• fit the wet room flooring first and return up the wall
• run the panels down over the flooring
• finish the edge of the panel with a tile edge trim stuck into place using silicone sealant
• use an 10mm trim for decos panels and 8mm for most of the Grosfillex range*

*except Evol 2000 and Topline