Bath panel

[LittleFrieda]

I'm looking for a 1900 bath panel to adorn my new bath, in my newly tiled bathroom. But ugh. All the panels I've seen are horrid: shiny plastic or pretendy walnut.

Has anyone come across a beautiful bath panel? Or should I get the tiler to tile the bath panel?

Would be grateful for any assistance.

Can you get a carpenter/joiner to make you a proper wood one? (It only needs to be MDF really). You can then add beading to give the period look, and stain or paint it to desired colour.

Don't do MDF. Honestly, unless totally waterproof, it will get water damaged. I second making one yourself from wood.

Wickes have quite a nice one in fake wood panels, it is fairly solid and painted (off) white but you could repaint it to your whim.

Yes, it is made of MDF so it would be best to fit it slightly raised off the floor on a batten or backboard.

The plastic ones are very flimsy.

If I was going to the trouble of making one, I think I would use WBP ply which is waterproof, or marine ply which is waterproof and has a hardwood veneer you can varnish like the deck of a boat.

Or, glass (coloured/frosted) backlit? You can attach rope lighting to just under any panel, the light will gently wash the floor with light.

Previously we've made bath panels from tongue and groove cladding, varnished or painted, gives a bit of a traditional look. As per here

Thanks for suggestions and help. We've decided to tile it. Tiles on marine ply.

Fair enough

Do try though, to make the panel so that it can be removed, e.g. with a few dome-headed screws. Much distress is caused by people who are reluctant to fix a leak or change a tap because it can't be done without breaking tiles.

Piglet John - I've ordered sufficient spare tiles for it to be repaired all over again twice. How often does something go wrong under the bath? The taps come out of the wall and they will have to be removed by taking off the tiles in the shower.

I reckon bath overflows leak ever 5 years and 4 months. More often if the grill is moved.

Bath waste traps leak ever 8 years and three weeks.

Piglet

We had a tiled bath panel that was simply "glued" in place with silicone sealant around the edges. When we needed to get behind the panel, we could simply cut through the sealant and remove the panel.