Plastic panels are becoming more and more popular due to the combination of their positive qualities, which suit the majority of consumers. These include an aesthetic appearance, a variety of colors and patterns, easy cleaning, practicality and affordable cost. This type of finishing is especially suitable for places that require strict sanitary standards, such as the bathroom and toilet. In addition to bathrooms, PVC panels are also used to decorate the walls and ceilings of hallways, as well as balconies and loggias.
Finishing the toilet with plastic panels
Finishing the toilet with plastic panels is the best option for those apartment owners who are undertaking renovations, but are faced with budget limitations. There is a double benefit here: in addition to the fact that the material belongs to a generally accessible price category, its installation can be done on your own. The absence of the need for additional costs for inviting craftsmen is also an important advantage of plastic panels over other types of finishing.
Wall decoration with plastic panels
How to decorate a toilet with plastic panels? For assembly, a construction stapler is usually chosen - in this case, it turns out that it works very conveniently and quickly. Special plastic transition corners must be installed in the corners.
You can choose plastic panels both by pattern and color, but the main advantage of this material is its excellent moisture resistance. Of course, there are other finishing options - you can, for example, choose MDF cladding: in this case, the toilet will be decorated like wood.
The fact is that repair is a rather acute, painful topic for any modern person. This becomes especially worrying when renovations are being carried out on a toilet or bathroom. If you choose traditional tiles, you will need a lot of money - it is unlikely that the usual family budget will cope with such “damage”.
Ventilation arrangement
The ventilation system is an important part of any room with high humidity. In the absence of air circulation, plastic panels become covered with mold, which negatively affects the health of apartment residents. To ensure ventilation, a hole is made in the plastic casing that matches the size of the ventilation window. The latter is covered with a decorative lattice. It is fixed with glue or sealant. The ventilation grille should not touch the frame rail.
The mine is equipped with an electric fan that provides a constant flow of air. Devices can be exhaust, supply or multifunctional. The device is powered from a separate grounded outlet. The electrical wire is connected to the bathroom switch. Work is carried out before finishing the walls. It is recommended to install an additional ceiling fan.
What are the positive sides of PVC
In recent years, this finishing material has gained great popularity, but the most interesting thing is that not everyone knows about all its advantages. For example, the panels do not rot - even after several years the material will not change its properties.
In addition, the panels are very beautiful, especially in a modern style, it is unlikely that something better could be found at the same price. Speed of installation: finishing the toilet with PVC panels will not take much time. If the toilet has a standard shape and you have all the necessary materials and tools on hand, you can do the lining if you like in one day (this does not include finishing work, of course).
Today, efficiency is a priority for many jobs, especially since you can forget about cement, tiles and other tedious procedures.
Care
There are several tips to help you properly care for PVC:
- To maintain its beautiful appearance, it is necessary to wash the panels at least once a month. To do this, use warm water and soap solution. Chemicals are prohibited; they can harm surfaces. Most often, dust begins to accumulate in the defect areas, therefore they will be clearly visible. In addition, it is very difficult to remove dirt from, for example, scratches.
- Do not use hard sponges or brushes to wash the material. They will damage the surface. It is better to clean with soft sponges or cloths.
- Do not combine detergents. This means that if you have used one and it does not help with the dirt, wait a while before using another (until the material is completely dry).
- Do not use products that use chlorine. It destroys the paint on the panels. Better use homemade recipes.
There are many advantages to using panels. It’s cheaper than tiles, you don’t need to involve professionals, and the room will look luxurious after renovation.
What you need to work with PVC panels
First, select the panels themselves. Here you can do everything according to your taste - the choice of color schemes today is wide, so everyone will find something for themselves. You should also remember that you need to purchase consumables and necessary tools - without all this it is difficult to cover the walls of the toilet with plastic panels.
What to buy for finishing? High-quality knife: You need to make sure that it is optimal to be able to cut the panels. Thinking about using a kitchen knife for this job? This can happen, but at your own peril and risk - plastic usually dulls the metal, the cutting lines turn out to be crooked.
Self-tapping screws, screwdrivers : during work you will have to attach the panels to the wall. You need rods with a cross section of 3 by 10 cm or you can choose an aluminum profile, the main thing is that it has a similar configuration. If you plan to throw panels directly onto the wall, you will need liquid nails, a gun to use them, and foam. Repair work should not begin without a tape measure, level, decorative skirting boards and profile corners.
Timber frame
To install the panels, we take a beam measuring 20x40 mm, cut it to the length of the wall and cover it with protective impregnation. We process the ends of the timber especially carefully. You need to understand that even the best impregnation over the years will no longer protect the tree from moisture, under the influence of which the timber can change its shape.
If we have a room with smooth, level walls, then the timber can be attached directly to the wall with 6x60 mm dowel nails, driving them into the wall every 80 cm. It is recommended to make a distance of 50 cm or a little more between the timbers, depending on the thickness of the panels . In a room with broken wall geometry, it is necessary to make a frame on direct hangers. Below it will be described in more detail, using metal profiles as an example, but with timber the technology is similar.
Selecting a cladding method
If the decision has been made, first you need to understand which method of attaching the panels to the walls to use. There are two possible ways: using a metal profile and using foam. Which method should you personally choose? If the toilet in the apartment is quite spacious, there are even brick or concrete walls, there is no point in attaching profiles. Plastic panels are best attached to liquid nails.
Don't forget - you will have to be patient while working, the PVC will not stick after a few seconds. Additionally, you will have to hold the panels in place yourself or install washers between the walls. Gluing panels to liquid nails - there is nothing complicated in this work.
Profile frame
Material calculation
For work we will need the following materials:
- rack profile 27x60 mm - CD according to Knauf markings;
- guide profile 27x28 mm - UD according to the Knauf catalog;
- self-tapping screws with press washer 4.2x12mm;
- dowel-nail 6x60 for a plastered wall and 6x40 for clean brick or concrete;
- straight suspension;
- drills for concrete with a diameter of 6 mm.
To accurately calculate the material we need, we need to know not only the area of the room, but also the number of windows, doors, frames and much more. But we can roughly estimate the number of required profiles using the example of a bathroom measuring 2x3 meters with a height of 3 meters. The minimum number of guide profiles is equal to twice the perimeter - 20 m. Rack profiles need 5 pieces along the perimeter - 50 meters. The pendants go every 80 cm, divide 50 by 0.8 and we get 63 pieces. 166 dowels are needed - for hangers and a guide profile. Self-tapping screws can be calculated very approximately based on 18 pieces per square meter - 540 pieces.
Preparing for paneling
Before starting work, it is necessary to prepare the toilet - all decorative elements that may interfere with work must be removed, including sockets and lighting fixtures. If the work can be complicated by hoses or pipes, in an ideal situation it is better to disassemble everything, otherwise it will be much more difficult to finish the toilet with PVC panels .
There is another important point - you may often come across information that wood is not the best material for fastening panels. They say that it can become deformed and swell - because of this, the wall will immediately begin to look not very attractive. If the humidity level in a room does rise regularly, you should consider the following statements: common sense. But there is a way out - right before lining the toilet with plastic panels, carefully treat the wood: any wood preservative is suitable for this. If the humidity level is normal, there is no cause for concern.
Modern design approach
The bathroom is decorated in a variety of styles. Manufacturers have tried their best: now the choice of plastic panels is a wide range of shades, as well as the presence/absence of patterns. Therefore, it all depends on the overall design of the apartment, the size of the room and personal preferences.
Sea style
For those who decide to choose this particular direction, designers advise using panel shades that are close to natural. Additionally, you need to choose decor. Paintings depicting the sea, coast, and marine life would be appropriate. Large mirrors will help make the room visually wider. All kinds of shells, sea stones or sand in a vase will fit harmoniously into this direction.
Decoration in a marine style Source industrycity.rf
Modern
This direction in design assumes the presence of free space and the absence of extraneous elements. Its highlight can be the strict zoning of space. A multi-level ceiling with built-in lamps would look good. But with any choice of furniture and plumbing fixtures, modernity requires light colors.
Decoration in Art Nouveau style with plastic panels Source www.vasa.com.py
Minimalism
Everything unnecessary is removed here. Plastic panels will fit perfectly into such a room. When choosing a shade, you need to proceed from the size of the room. If the area is small, you should give preference to a light color scheme (blue, peach, beige), which can visually expand the space. Owners of a spacious bathroom can afford dark, deep and rich shades (blue, brown, black, burgundy).
Decorating a bathroom in a minimalist style with plastic panels Source house-biz.com.ua
Country
Country style accepts panels that imitate natural wood. The interior will be complemented by simple wooden furniture without unnecessary decorations and a small chandelier.
Decorating a country style bathroom with PVC plastic panels Source www.pinterest.co.uk
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in finishing materials.
Provence
Provence in PVC finishing easily fits into a combined or separate bathroom. The choice of style is light colors, simple components and furniture that will not overload the space. As decoration, you can use porcelain small things (vases, soap dishes) with a floral pattern, antique whitewashed furniture.
Decorating a bathroom in Provence style with plastic panels Source bg.dikidaycare.com
Start of work on finishing the toilet with PVC panels
First, the sheathing is attached. Since the panels will almost always be placed on top, you will need to attach the slats perpendicular to the floor. Dowels are usually used for this job. Since we need to do something with the ceiling, we also attach the sheathing to it. It is recommended to maintain a distance of 400-500 mm between individual planks.
The correct fastening of the slats is constantly monitored. Before finishing the toilet with plastic panels, you need to attach decorative corners in the corners - the same ones into which the corner panels will be inserted later. You need to start work from the corner. One edge of the PVC panel is inserted into the profile, after which the other side is attached to the screws. The screw must be screwed into a lock that is flexible and large.
How to cut plastic panels correctly? - many people ask this question. In fact, there is nothing complicated about this: we turn the panel inside and place it on a solid base, and then cut it with an office knife. Already on the next panel everything will be easier: you need to insert it until a clear click appears. Then reattach with screws.
You can also finish the PVC toilet ceiling in the same way (if work data is planned, the profile should be installed on its surface). In addition, you can take decorative overlays and skirting boards, thanks to which you can easily hide defects and various technological gaps.
Something like this, anyone can decorate a toilet with plastic panels. There are no particular insoluble difficulties at work. The most important thing in the repair process is to carefully attach the panels to each other so that there are no gaps. It is better to glue ceiling skirting boards with glue - they are needed only for finishing.
Monochrome interiors
Using panels of just one tone you can create the most amazing and unique interiors:
- Green. An unusual design can be created using the entire gamut of green, from noble malachite to light shades of olive fruits. All of them will fill the “corner of thoughtfulness” with natural serenity and give the opportunity to rest the eyes and brain.
- Grey. It just seems that gray color is boring and can only be used in government institutions. In fact, his palette is very wide: morning fog, river mother-of-pearl, smoking coals, thunderclouds, antique silver, coal or stylus. Gray panels will fill a small room with confidence and calm. It is best to use them from black shades near the floor to light panels near the ceiling.
- Bright colors. Toilets in yellow, red, and orange colors will look stylish and unusual. Such elegant rooms perfectly lift the spirit of a person who has just woken up, but can quickly become boring.
MDF finishing panels (lining)
We have described in detail how to decorate a toilet with panels, now a few words about MDF panels. These are very thin, light panels, the top layer of which imitates expensive wood. Often this design option is chosen for large toilets or in cases where you want to decorate the room in a classic style.
The panels are resistant to moisture, perfectly resistant to the action of various microorganisms and harmful fungi - thanks to this, MDF panels can be called hygienic and safe for home use. Yes, this renovation option will cost more, but compared to natural wood there are significant savings. In general, the walls in the toilet can be anything - the main thing is that they are waterproof and smooth.
If we consider a toilet with wall decoration, we can say that this is the cheapest and fastest way to decorate the room. The main condition for such work is smooth walls. But there is one drawback - many wallpapers are very susceptible to a wet wall. If you choose wallpaper to decorate the toilet, it must be resistant to moisture.
How to finish a toilet ceiling
The second stage of renovation work in this room is aimed at the ceiling. Everyone knows that the toilet is a place where you need to carry out wet cleaning regularly. This means that a moisture-resistant ceiling is ideal. Today, stretch ceilings are often chosen; this material is very attractive.
This is a big plus for small rooms - the fact is that light is reflected from lighting fixtures on shiny surfaces, so the space can be optically enlarged. An alternative solution that will tell you how to finish a toilet is to plan the ceiling using decorative foam boards. However, you can simply paint the surface a nice color. Shelves in the toilet made of PVC panels are a really good, practical solution.
Pipe boxes
In a bathroom, there is often a need to cover sewer or water pipes that are far from the wall with panels. I don’t want to move the entire wall that distance, and I don’t need it. You can make a horizontal or vertical box. In the case of a box, we use a guide profile as a corner, and tie it to the walls using pieces of rack profiles.
A separate case of a box is a vertical niche with pipes and a water meter in an apartment building. It is usually located behind the toilet. You should not cover it with a solid wall of panels, because the management company may decide to change the riser pipes at any time. Therefore, it is better to assemble a small independent frame for this niche, which can be disassembled without breaking the entire wall. In some cases, the riser is covered with loose panels that are easy to remove. It's convenient, but not very aesthetically pleasing.
Finishing the floor in the toilet
Many people start finishing the floor at the last stage of renovation in the toilet. Of course, the best suggestion is to finish the floor with tiles. This method looks great and is very easy to clean as long as you use cleaning products. On the floor, tiles are selected taking into account certain requirements, for example, they must match well with the covering on the walls.
A carefully chosen design for laying tiles on the floor surface will make the toilet more visible. The floor in the toilet is often subject to changes in temperature, as well as high humidity. In the toilet (compared to the bathroom) you can only do waterproofing - it is usually applied not only to the floor, but also to the surface of the walls - at least 20 cm. The ideal solution is tiles in the toilet, both for the floor and for the walls. But there are also more economical, practical options, for example, linoleum .
No special skills are required to install this material; these floors are easy to clean. At the end of the floor installation, baseboards are installed. Interestingly, a toilet usually has various connections: sewerage, water supply, etc., so it is important to complete the renovation in such a way that all these elements are hidden.
But there should always be access to them - if necessary, special doors are installed so that you can quickly get to one or another communication center. Often these boxes are made of plasterboard and plastic - many people usually choose the same material as for wall coverings. This is the only way to achieve the ultimate goal - a practical, convenient and comfortable toilet in the apartment.
Characteristics and types
The flexible hose for connecting plumbing is a hose of different lengths made of non-toxic synthetic rubber. Thanks to the elasticity and softness of the material, it easily takes the desired position and allows installation in hard-to-reach places. To protect the flexible hose, there is an upper reinforcing layer in the form of a braid, which is made from the following materials:
- Aluminum. Such models can withstand no more than +80 °C and retain functionality for 3 years. At high humidity, aluminum braiding is prone to rust.
- Of stainless steel. Thanks to this reinforcing layer, the service life of the flexible water line is at least 10 years, and the maximum temperature of the transported medium is +95 °C.
- Nylon. This braid is used for the manufacture of reinforced models that can withstand temperatures up to +110 °C and are designed for intensive use for 15 years.
The fasteners used are nut-nut and nut-fitting pairs, which are made of brass or stainless steel. Devices with different permissible temperatures differ in the color of the braid. Blue ones are used to connect to a pipeline with cold water, and red ones for hot water.
When choosing a water line, you need to pay attention to its elasticity, reliability of fasteners and purpose. It is also mandatory to have a certificate that prevents the rubber from releasing toxic components during operation.