Upgrading your bathroom, shower enclosure, or en-suite? Wet wall panels are the modern alternative to traditional ceramic or porcelain tiles. They create a 100% waterproof barrier, eliminate grime-gathering grout lines, and can be installed in a fraction of the time.

However, with different materials, thicknesses, sizes, and trims available, choosing the right panels can quickly become overwhelming.

Use this guide to cut through the confusion and find the exact panels, fittings, and accessories you need for your project.

In this buying guide, you'll learn:

• Which material fits your project: the key differences between budget PVC, heavy-duty laminate, and heat-resistant aluminium.
• How to choose by brand & warranty: compare industry leaders like Multipanel, Fibo, Perform Panel, Bushboard, Wetwall and DuraPanel.
• How to pick the perfect style: find your look across realistic marble, 3D engraved tiles, waterproof timber slats, and high-gloss finishes.
• What you need to order: simple measuring tips and the exact trims, adhesives, and sealants required for a 100% watertight fit.

Contents

1. Pick the right material core & brand
2. Choose your design style & decorative finish
3. Choose your panel dimensions & measure
4. Complete your installation basket

Step 1 | Pick the right material core & brand

Not all wet wall panels are built the same way. Your choice of material sets your project budget, weight, structural feel, and long-term durability.

At Bath & More, we stock a full range of engineered core materials — from ultra-lightweight PVC for quick, cost-effective refreshes to heavy-duty marine plywood and aluminium composites built for decades of family use.

Core material comparison: key benefits of Bath & More wet wall panels

What are the benefits of engineered composite, plywood, and acrylic panels over traditional tiling or cheap PVC?

• 100% watertight protection: engineered cores will not swell, degrade, or delaminate, providing complete peace of mind in high-water zones.
• Zero grout maintenance: eliminates crumbling, discoloured, or mouldy grout lines. A simple wipe down with mild detergent keeps panels looking pristine.
• Rapid installation: panels cover large wall areas quickly and can be fitted directly over plasterboard or existing tiles, as long as the tiles are flat, sound and clean — saving hours of labour and mess.
• Trimless finish options: ranges like Bushboard Nuance and Wetwall Elite feature postformed outer edges and tongue-and-groove joints that require no visible metal extrusions or trims, for an uninterrupted, seamless aesthetic.
• Long-term industry warranties: backed by robust manufacturer guarantees ranging from 15 years to Lifetime coverage.

Brand highlights at a glance

• Bushboard (Lifetime warranty) — renowned for the Nuance range, featuring 100% waterproof synthetic cores and postformed edges that allow seamless, trim-free installations.
• Multipanel (30-year warranty) — market leader featuring the famous Hydrolock tongue-and-groove joint for near-invisible, watertight panel seams.
• Fibo (25-year warranty) — premium Norwegian engineering with 3D engraved grout-line routes (Aqualock click system) for an authentic tiled look without the maintenance.
• Perform Panel (35-year warranty) — outstanding durability, offering the longest fixed-year manufacturer guarantee on the UK market across 50+ decors.
• Naturepanel (30-year warranty) — specialist waterproof timber-slat feature panels.
• Wetwall (Lifetime warranty) — classic, highly versatile laminate ranges engineered for busy, high-traffic homes with lifetime domestic backing, plus the fire-rated Alloy aluminium panels.
• DuraPanel (25-year warranty) — three different ranges to cater for all budgets and installation requirements.

Step 2 | Choose your design style & decorative finish

Modern printing technology means you get the luxury look of natural stone, wood, or tile with zero ongoing maintenance.

Step 3 | Choose your panel dimensions & measure

Wall panels come in a standard UK bathroom height of 2400mm, with some boards now available in 2700mm height. Choosing the right thickness and width makes the difference between a smooth DIY installation and a tricky one.

Thickness: rigidity & edge profiles

Panel depth doesn't affect waterproofing — all Bath & More panels are 100% waterproof regardless of thickness. Instead, depth dictates structural rigidity and how the panel sits against your fixtures.

• 4mm (Aluminium Composite — Alloy by Wetwall, Nuance Fusion): ultra-slim and lightweight. Perfect for tight spaces, fitting close behind basin taps, or installing directly over existing wall coverings without building out your walls.
• 10mm to 11mm (Laminate, Ply & MR-MDF Core — Multipanel, Fibo, Perform Panel, Wetwall, Nuance): premium, heavy-duty boards. These rigid panels feel as solid underhand as a tiled wall and easily bridge minor unevenness or dips in plasterboard.

Width: minimising joins in wet zones

Choosing the correct width depends on whether you are fitting a single shower enclosure or wrapping a full room.

• 598mm to 900mm widths (tongue & groove): featuring precision click or interlocking joint systems like Multipanel Hydrolock or Fibo Aqualock. Ideal for wrapping continuous bathroom walls or tight alcoves with near-invisible seams.
• 1200mm wide (straight edge or tongue & groove): designed so a standard 1200mm shower cubicle can be fitted out with only corner joins. Available in straight edge and also tongue & groove so that areas longer than 1200mm can be covered.
• 580 or 1200mm wide (postformed): feature pre-finished curved outer edges, allowing you to end a wall run with a neat, trimless edge without buying extra end cap profiles.

Panel height: floor-to-ceiling coverage

Most boards in the Bath & More range are supplied at a standard 2400mm (2.4m) height, with select ranges reaching 2700mm (2.7m) height.

• Since typical modern UK ceiling heights range between 2300mm and 2400mm, single boards will run continuously from shower tray to ceiling without requiring horizontal joins.

How to calculate what you need

1. Decide where you're using the panels:
   • Full bathroom
   • Shower enclosure
   • Around a bath
   • One feature wall
   • Behind a basin
   • Splashback
2. Measure wall widths: measure the length of each wall at three different points (bottom, middle, and top) in millimetres. Use the largest measurement to account for slightly out-of-plumb walls.
3. Calculate board count: divide your total wall length by the usable width of your chosen panel. Tongue and groove panels have a smaller usable front face than the board width, so for a 2400mm wide wall you may need 5 x 600mm tongue & groove boards — check the manufacturer specification for exact widths.
4. The 10% waste rule: always add 10% extra to your total coverage area to allow for cuts, corner overlapping, and window recesses.

Installer tip: if your walls are slightly off-square, don't worry about cutting perfect lines against floor trays or ceiling joints. Your finishing trims and anti-mould sealants will cover up to 10mm of cut variance.

Each wall panel has a calculator to help you order the correct quantity. If you need further help calculating how many panels to order, just get in touch and we'll be happy to help!

Step 4 | Complete your installation basket

A wet wall installation is only as waterproof as its joins. Every job requires specific finishing trims and adhesives to validate your warranty.

Note: you don't need to worry about making factory-perfect saw cuts — all raw panel edges slide neatly inside the finishing trims, hiding up to 10mm of cut lines.

Before you hit "checkout": the complete ordering checklist

Use this quick basket check to make sure you have everything required for a 100% watertight installation and to validate your manufacturer warranty.

• Wall panels: have you measured total wall width and added 10% extra for cuts and off-cuts?
• Internal corner trims: do you have 1 trim for every 90° inside corner (e.g. inside shower cubicles or room corners)? (Not required for all board types, e.g. Wetwall Elite or Wetwall Alloy.)
• External corner trims: do you have 1 trim for every outside 90° corner (e.g. window recesses, boxed-in pipework)? (Not required for all board types, e.g. Wetwall Elite with Postformed Edge board.)
• End cap profiles (J-trims): do you have end caps for any exposed outer panel edges where panelling stops mid-wall? (Not required for all board types, e.g. Wetwall Elite with Postformed Edge board.)
• Bottom / shower tray seals: do you have base profiles or seal strip kits to protect the bottom edge of panels sitting directly on shower trays or baths? See installation instructions for your chosen board type. (Not required for all board types, e.g. Wetwall Elite or Wetwall Alloy.)
• High-grab panel adhesive: have you ordered enough adhesive? (Rule of thumb: 1 tube per 1200mm wide board, or 1.5 tubes if fitting onto existing tiles.)
• Anti-mould sealant: do you have enough to seal every trim channel, base of boards, and tongue-and-groove click joint if required? (Rule of thumb: 1 tube per 2–3 panels.)

Frequently asked questions

Can I install wet wall panels over existing tiles?

Yes. You can glue panels directly over smooth, clean, existing and sound tiles or sound plasterboard using high-grab neutral cure adhesive, saving time and the mess of stripping walls.

Do I need specialist tools to cut the panels?

Plywood and laminate boards (Multipanel, Fibo, Wetwall, Perform Panel, Naturepanel) cut easily using a standard circular saw or jigsaw with a fine-tooth blade. Acrylic and aluminium panels (Mermaid, Alloy) cut cleanly using a fine-tooth handsaw or jigsaw. Boards should be well supported before starting cutting.

How do I clean and maintain my wall panels?

Wipe panels down using warm water, a microfibre cloth, and a mild household detergent. Avoid abrasive scouring pads, bleach, or harsh chemical sprays, as these can scratch the face and invalidate your warranty.