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How to choose the right bath panel

How to choose the right bath panel

By Benjamin Clarke | Published on 22nd February 2022

If you are upgrading your bathroom, or even just giving it an economical spruce-up, one of the jobs that can instantly transform the room is by choosing the panel that runs alongside your bath.

A nice bath panel can add a real sense of style to your bathroom and it provides the very important task of covering up the plumbing underneath your bath. This adds a sleekness and sense of conformity that adds lovely clean lines to any bathroom.

While it's not a particularly difficult job to fit a bath panel, especially if you are using a pre-made panel, you still need to be a little bit handy with some basic tools and DIY skills. You'll also want to ensure you're make a decision on the right bath panel that suits your bath and decor.

This article will go through the process of explaining how to choose and replace a pre-made bath panel step-by-step.

Your type of bath

When making your choice of bath panel, it's very important to establish what type of bath you have and whether you actually need a bath panel to be fitted to it.

Standard baths

These are the most common type of baths up and down the UK and is usually identified by being rectangular and fitted up against two walls within the bathroom. In this instance, you'll likely need one long side panel and and shorter panel to be fitted at one end. The most common material for these types of bath panel is acrylic.

Shower-bath combo

Increasingly common among those who want to maximise their use of space and combine a traditional bath tub with a shower at one end, the shower bath usually also needs two panels attached to it. A small panel at one end, much like the standard bath but the panel alongside will be slightly different. Due to the extra space at one end of the bath to accommodate the shower, the side panel will usually need to be L or P shaped, depending on the type of shower bath.

Corner bath

If you have a bathroom where the best use of space is to have a curved bath installed in one corner of the room, you'll need an appropriate bath panel. This will be curved and will fit in across the entire bathroom facing side of the bath. These tend to be designed especially to fit the bath and are usually provided together.

Freestanding bath

If you have a freestanding bath then you will not need a panel. The full bath is complete and the style of freestanding baths is deliberate so as not to need a side or end panel.

Stunning white bathroom with wooden panel wall

Bath panel materials

The two most common types of material used in bath panel manufacturer are acrylic and wood, mainly in the form of MDF.

Acrylic

The most common form of bath panel, acrylic is durable, easy to shape and is relatively cheap. Usually available in white, acrylic bath panels contain a fibreglass core with a plastic coating. Acrylic is light and easy to fit and can be styled with smooth, grooved and curved design.

Wood

Unless getting something custom made on a generous budget, wooden bath panels are usually made from MDF. While MDF is easy to paint, manufacturers often lay a customer finish over the MDF so they can match up with other pieces of bathroom furniture or tile designs. The nature of an MDF panel also often allows for storage or shelving to be incorporated into the design, giving your bathroom an added feel of luxury.

Bath panel sizes

For most bathrooms, the available bathtubs come in a standard range of sizes. Unless your bath has been custom built, you'll tend to find it's quite easy to find a panel to fit your bath.

The standard lengths for side panels are

  • 1500mm
  • 1600mm
  • 1700mm
  • 1800mm

The standard lengths for end panels are

  • 700mm
  • 750mm
  • 800mm

Regarding heights of bath panel, some are non-adjustable and set to a specific height, while others have room to manoeuvre and can be adjusted or cut accordingly. Common panel heights are 510mm, 560mm and 620mm.

Whirlpool bath - Celcius model

Checking the bath panel frame

If you are replacing the bath panel on an existing bath, it's likely that you have a wooden bath panel frame that exists already.

This is the frame that fits in the space underneath the bath, between the lip at the top and the floor at the bottom and allows you to secure the bath panel in place.

If the existing wooden frame has become rotten and needs replacing, then you should make note of the pieces of wood involved and their measurements.

The frame is usually made up of two long strips of wood that run horizontally top and bottom, and three or four 'battens' that are positioned vertically.

Installing the bath panel

Once you're happy with the underlying frame, it's time to line up your prefabricated bath panel. Most pre-made panels come with screw holes so it's unlikely you'll need to drill any holes.

Do have a spirit level to hand to ensure that you are installing the panel straight and flush against the frame and any other panels.

Give some consideration to how you want to fix the panel to the frame. A fairly common way of doing this is to use some adhesive or super-strong double sided tape.

However, do bear in mind that in the case of any leaks or bath problems, a plumber is likely to need to access the underneath of the bath.

Using screws will make it much easier to remove the panel in the future whereas tearing off a panel that has been fixed in place with a strong adhesive runs the risk of causing irreparable damage.

If you aren't sure that you have the skills to carry out this task, then we always recommend you get in touch with a professional. Not only will they ensure the panel is installed safely, it will also be aesthetically pleasing with the potential to transform your bathroom!

A bath screen on a p shaped bath

Luxury whirlpool baths at LunaSpas.com

Unsure of what shaped of bath tub you require for your bathroom? Here at Luna Spas we pride ourselves of building good relationships with our suppliers so in turn we get access to the best products and latest styles. Our bath type section allows you to shop by bath shape or type. You will find many different style from corner baths to shower baths to large baths to free standing baths.

Whatever it is you are looking for, even if you don’t know yet you are sure to find it here. Think of it as a showcase of great ideas which we have gathered from both our customers and from around the web, to give you ideas for your new bathroom sanctuary.

View all luxury baths

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