Many home owners overlook the option of putting in decorative and beautiful bathroom wall panels. These types of panels are excellent for creating a bathroom that is personable and unique while also maintaining functionality. The cost and time of putting up bathroom wall panels is not much different than the traditional wall-papered sheet rock that the majority of home owners use.

Selecting Panels

When shopping for bathroom wall panels, you will find that paneling comes in many different designs and even price tags. You will first want to determine roughly how many panels you will need to cover your bathroom and then add two additional ones for your budget for unexpected events. After you have set a budget for the paneling, it is time to pick out one that matches your home décor and theme for your bathroom.

Molding

You will also need to select molding or trim pieces that will match the paneling to cover the panel seams and to trim the top and bottom of the walls. You will want to use very narrow and flat pieces for the panel seams and wider molding pieces for the wall trim.

Most people will use a decorative top trim and a plain bottom trim. You will need one piece of trim for each seam and then enough edge trim for the tops and bottoms of all the walls.

Type of Paneling Material

It is recommended that you use a paneling material that will hold up well to steam and moisture that is in a bathroom environment. It is best to purchase paneling that is specifically for bathrooms and other high moisture areas such as basements. This will keep the paneling from becoming damaged and keep repairs in the future to a minimum.

Removing the Sheet Rock

Once you have all the paneling and trim at home, you will have two options. One option is to completely remove the sheet rock that is in your bathroom leaving the frames and stud boards. The other option is to place the paneling on top of the existing sheet rock.

The majority of people remove the sheet rock so that it easier to attach the new paneling. Carefully remove the sheet rock, clean the area and dispose of the material.

Cutting the Paneling

Measure the width of space between the stud and frame boards. This should be uniform and only one measurement will be needed. Next measure the height of the wall. You will have to do the wall height measurement for each section if the ceilings are slanted or angled.

Using a table saw you will want to cut the paneling to fit into the sections according to the dimensions you measured out. Allow for a slight narrow gap between pieces so that two pieces can be attached to the same frame or stud wood.

Attaching Paneling

The next step is to attach the bathroom wall panels to the stud and frame boards. Using a staple gun or wooden screws attach along the stud and frame boards. Further secure at the top and bottom edges of the panels.

Finishing Pieces

The next step of your bathroom wall panel project is to cut the trim pieces for the overlapping or gapped areas in the wall panels. You will secure these with small nails to the board and the panel.

Trimming

The final trim for the bottom and top of the bathroom wall panels will go on last. You normally use a wider trim at the top and a thinner trim at the bottom. Try to cut one piece that will cover the entire length of the wall instead of section by section. This will give a nice quality finish to the
project.

See Also: Removing Old Paneling