So cracking and loosening issues will be reduced. Both these products expand at similar rates to tiles. Tile backer boards would probably be a better option as they have more strength and are not affected by water. It also acts like a sponge if it gets wet and loses its structural integrity. Plasterboard is another option but is a bit fragile if you are going to make the panel removable. It is probably best to coat it with something waterproof to be on the safe side. But this should be minimal with a bath panel as exposure to water will be sporadic and not excessive. Plywood and MDF both suffer when exposed to water (even the water-resistant grades). There are specialist adhesives and grouts available that are flexible and go some way to alleviating these issues. In a shower, this would be a serious problem but obviously, on a bath panel, it is less critical. This can lead to tiles working loose and grout cracking. Wood and MDF expand and contract at different rates to ceramic tiles. Plywood or MDF would seem like the obvious candidates but these have a few downsides. There are a few methods you can employ to provide the substrate onto which you can fit the tiles.
This is a popular option and is one of the methods that help tie the whole bathroom design together.īy using the same tiles on the walls and the bath panel you give the bath a built-in look. Bathroom Design – Working With Soil Pipes.
