How water proof is it?
Decos panelling is 100% water
proof. The panels clip into each other tightly allowing no water through
creating a seamless watertight join. In the 8 years we have been selling
this product we have never had any come backs with customers saying they
have had leaks.
Can the panels be used in a shower?
Yes. They are ideal for
use as shower wall panels. They can be fitted inside an existing shower
cubicle or around the shower area of a bath (if you are using a shower over
a bath) . If the existing tiles are still secure the panels can be fitted
over them. Before fitting over tiles in a shower, you should ensure that
there is enough "play" to allow fixtures such as an existing shower mixer
valve to be moved to allow for the extra thickness of the panel
(panels are 10mm thick).
Is decos wall panelling cheaper than
tiles?
It depends. Decos wall panelling is designed to be better
than tiles, not cheaper than tiles. Walls need to be thoroughly prepared to
take ceramic tiles, and this can be a quite significant cost on top of the
installation and purchase costs. Waterproof wall panelling is much more
forgiving and will go up over a variety of substrates without any
preparation. It is also relatively easy to install so the average DIYer will
be able to install wall panelling themselves.
How do the panels fit together?
The panels easily push together to make a
seamless water-proof join.
Can the panelling be installed over
existing tiles?
Yes. Providing the existing tiles are securely fixed and the
extra thickness of the decos wall panelling does not interfere with the
operation of existing fixtures such as bath taps, shower mixer valves, doors
and architraves. Some older bathrooms have walls that are half tiled, and
have been stuck on using cement. These ceramic bathroom tiles are very
difficult to remove, so providing the extra thickness is not a problem, the
top half of the room can be battened out level with the tiles, and the wall
panelling can be stuck to the tiles and stapled to the battens.
Will decos panelling help with
condensation?
Yes, in as much as condensation will not form on bathroom
cladding as it is warm to the touch. It will not stop condensation - the
only way to eliminate condensation is to extract it, either by use of an
extractor fan or using a dehumidifier, and bathroom cladding will help this
process. If you have a condensation problem it can be worth hiring a
dehumidifier for a few weeks to see how much moisture it extracts from the
air in your property.
Should I panel all of my bathroom or just
around the bath or shower?
Decos panels offer several benefits - easy to clean, no
grout to grow mould, no maintenance etc. The more cladding you install, the
greater the benefit will be. If you only panel 20% of the room, you will
only get 20% of the benefit!
Can Decos Panelling be used on
ceilings?
Yes. All of our decos cladding can be used on ceilings,
although some designs look better than others.
What items will I need to fit the white gloss
ceiling panels in my bathroom? will they also fix to artex? How do I fit
the recessed lights, before or after installation of the panels? Thanks in
advance!
You can simply use our
'Superflex' silicone adhesive and a staple gun to fix the panels direct
to your ceiling. Apply the sealant to the back of the panel and press
onto the ceiling, you can then staple through the tongue side of the
panel. When you do the same with the next panel the first staples will
be hidden. You can also use the coving trim to help hold the panels in
place until the sealant has had chance to set.
To fit the lights, use a
holesaw and cut through the panels once they are in place and then fit
the lights in the normal manner, only use domestic lights upto 60w.
Hope this helps, please let
me know if you need any further help
Should I fit the bathroom suite or the
panelling first?
A bit of both. For a complete refurbishment the best
installation order is:
-
Install the bath
-
Install the panelling
-
Install the basin & toilet
Remove the existing suite, install the bath in accordance
with the manufacturers instructions to ensure it is totally rigid (there
needs to be zero movement when you stand in the bath). Completely seal the
bath to the wall(s) so that no water can get down the joint, using silicone
sealant. Next fit the waterproof wall panelling, and apply a second bead of
silicone along the joint between the panelling and the bath. Continue
fitting the panelling around the rest of the walls. Then fit the wash hand
basin and toilet.
If you are using built in bathroom furniture, fit this
before the panelling.
If using wall hung basins or wall hung toilets special
procedures have to be followed. contact us for more details.
Should I fit the shower tray or the
panelling first?
The shower tray. Install the shower tray in accordance with
the manufacturers instructions to ensure it is totally rigid (there needs to
be zero movement when you stand on the tray). Completely seal the tray to
the wall(s) so that no water can get down the joint, using silicone sealant.
Next fit the decos wall panelling, and apply a second bead of silicone along
the joint between the panelling and the shower tray. If you are fitting the
shower cubicle on top of the decos panelling make sure that there is enough
adjustment in the frames to allow for the extra thickness of the panels. You
can also buy the
'Cladseal' shower tray drip trim.
Can Decos wall panelling be used in
kitchens?
Yes. The easy clean nature of waterproof wall panelling
makes it ideal for use in kitchens. Care has to be taken when installing the
panels near sources of direct heat such as open hobs. Ceramic tiles or a
stainless steel panel should be used in this area or anywhere where the
temperature rises above 50deg C.
Do you have a showroom near me?
No - sorry! We do not have any panelling showrooms around
the country as we sell directly to the public from our web site. As we are
an independent company and are not part of a group, however we do have a
small display area in our premises which is located in Andover, Hampshire,
SP10 3HR.
How would I be able to change/replace the panelling in the
future, if it is stuck to my existing tiles or walls?
Decos panelling should be stuck to the tiles/walls using silicone
sealant rather than panel adhesive which will make the panels easier to
remove.
What needs to be done to ensure shower walls remain
waterproof when the shower fixings are fitted through holes in the panels,
or when fittings are screwed onto the shower walls after the panels have
been fitted?
Any holes that need to be made
through the panels should be sealed with a bathroom quality silicone sealant
such as our 'multi-purpose sealant', in exactly the same way that
you would for ceramic wall tiles. Obviously the smaller the holes you make
the better, so items that require larger holes, like shower valves, it is
worth seeing if they can be fitted on top of the panels rather than the
panels being cut around them but this will depend on the shower valve design
and the design of the pipework supplying it.
When fixing any item through panelling you should
make sure not to over tighten as this may crush or indent the panels
back to top
Can the panels be fitted behind a radiator?
Yes they can. The only stipulation from the manufacturers is
that the surface of the wall panel does not exceed 60deg C.
In practice we have had no reports whatsoever of any
problems associated with this type of installation.
Can the panels be used in a shower in a motor home?
Yes our wall panels can be used in this situation, but you
must ensure that the panels are sealed effectively against the shower tray
in case there is any movement.
What do I use to cut the panels?
Our panelling is best cut with a hand saw - the finer the
teeth, the neater the cut you will achieve. A hacksaw and Stanley knife can
also be used. Although UPVC is quite soft, it will become more brittle if it
is kept cold. Make sure the panels are at room temperature to avoid
chipping.
back to top
Why should I use your recommended sealant
adhesive?
Because its tried and tested
and we know it works. It is very important that you use the correct sealant
adhesive, you need to be using a 'neutral curing' sealant or adhesive.
Neutral curing means that it contains no solvent, solvent based sealant
adhesives are not recommended for use on plastics. You can buy or use your
own if you wish, but at your own risk.
Do I have to use the internal/external
corner trim?
No, they are optional, when it
comes to internal corners you have three options:
1. Use the internal/external
corner trim
2. Slit the back of the panel using a Stanley knife (make sure not go
through the front skin) and fold the panel into the corner. You will need to
make the slit in the correct position and allow for walls which may be
out-of-line. This is the most difficult but the most effective. (see below)
3. Cut through both front and back skins using a saw and then seal the
corner using a bathroom grade silicone.
External corners are very
difficult to fold around, but it can be done if you slit more of the
back out. So normally the internal/external corner trim would be used here.
back to top
Question From
Mr Chris Curtis:
Q. I am looking
to order a couple of packs of Sumatra panels. However I have just got a
couple of questions:
1. For the
internal corner of the shower, what is the difference between trims 111
and 102?
2. When
ordering sealant, do we need to order extra sealant for the clad-seal
system or does it come supplied?
3. I assume
the finishing trim will fit along the top edges of the panels as well as
the vertical edges (ie. around the top of the shower)?
Thanking you
in anticipation,
Chris Curtis
A. Hi Chris, In answer to
your questions:
1. The difference between to
two corner trims, 111 + 102 is that the 102 can be pulled apart into two
sections to make fitting the panels into a corner much more easier, for
example you would pull the two sections from one another, fix the
internal section to the wall, either with sealant or a fixing of your
choice, then fit the panels into position and then push the second
section of the corner trim into the corner (as they clip into each
other) thus making the panels easier to fit into a corner. Secondly the
102 corner trim can be used either for internal and/or external corner,
where as the 111 is only for internal corners.
2. Yes, you need to order
extra sealant for the Cladseal, 1.5 tubes per length (1.9m)
3. Yes, the finishing trim
can be used either as a vertical edge or top and bottom.
Question From Mr Bharat Pathak
Q. How
are the panels fixed to the wall. Do you need to screw them to the wall or
glue them. If glue, is there a recommended glue?
A. It depends on your wall
type, if its plaster then it can be both stuck and/or fixed using our
'Superflex Clear' silicone adhesive and it can also be stapled on the
female side. If you are fixing onto battens then it will be fixed though
the female side of the panel only. It can also be stuck using our sealant
adhesive directly onto existing tiles. back to top
Question From Mr Geoff Green
Q.
I am ready to
stick the panelling to the wall. What method do you recommend? Beads
of adhesive vertical or horizontal? How far apart? Some other method
like spots/patches of adhesive? I look forward to receiving your advice.
Thanks, Geoff
Green
A. Putting the sealant
adhesive on is your own personnel choice, however in my experience I
like to make a wiggly snake like bead down the back of the panel from
top to bottom, but spots are also good. When you put the panel on the
wall for the first time, try to move it a little to help the sealant
grab hold, hold the panel for around 10 seconds and let go, the
sealant will stay in place, but can still be moved if needed for about
half an hour.
You can also staple the
panels too, this helps the joins to be tighter together and holds the
panel in-place until the sealant has cured. On one side of the
panel, you have a thin strip (female side), this is where to staple. When the next
panel goes in, it will hide that staple, so you don't see them.
Question From Mr Richard Smith
Q. Hi can you please tell me
how you place these panels around window sills?
Thanks Rich
A. You will require the 'universal corner trim' for this. The trim
itself pull apart and then clips back together again for ease of
fitting. What you will need to do is pull the trim apart and fix the
internal piece into position and then fit the panelling, once this is
done you can then clip/push the second piece or external part of the
trim onto the first part to finish it off.
How do I measure to see how many packs
I will need?
Each pack will cover a width
of 1 meter and are either 2.6m, 2.7m, 4.5m or 6.0m
high. So measure the width of each wall in meters (allow for windows and
doors), the total amount of meters will give
the total amount of packs needed. ie, 5m = 5 packs. You may need to
round up, i.e 2.7m = 3 packs or in some cases you may be able to get two
lengths out of one board i.e only doing half the wall or by buying a longer
panel such as 4.5m or 6.0m.
What is the thickness of the panels?
The panels are 10mm thick
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FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS !