Bathroom - wall panels or tiles? What Flooring ?

[TeaOneSugar]

I'm about to start getting quotes for a complete bathroom refit, so I'm trying to work out what I want (I've had some advice from a plumber who came to do some work recently and will listen to advice when getting quotes but I need a general idea).

I've got tiles at the moment, I'm tempted to go for the plastic wall tiles this time, because it'll be quicker (and cheaper) than fully tiling the bathroom and there's less maintenance. But I do like the look of tiles. Advice appreciated.

I was thinking about vinyl tiles for the floor, again relatively quick to fit and also replace in future, any advice again appreciate. I like ceramic tiles but it's a small bathroom and they are cold, under floor heating won't work in this room.

I do know someone who rented their house out, brand new bathroom with the plastic wall panels. They dent, scratch & hole very easily it seems! Had to all be redone once they had vacated, only 8 months after it was fitted.

I would stick to a whole vinyl flooring for bathroom rather than tiles. We moved in to a house that had vinyl planks on the bathroom floor. Looked really good but turns out there was black mould under them where water had got between the joins, maybe due to the fitting - I don’t know, but they were a nightmare to try and rip up so seemed pretty well stuck down.

We tiled the bathroom floor, and regret it. They don't sit flat and the grouting falls out. Going back to lino....

I love my wall panels, and they look like tiles

I had my bathroom refitted in January this year and went for pvc panels. I love how they look and how easy they are to keep clean... BUT, they damage really easily. Where the shower riser is, there’s little dents just from turning the shower head to the side and it touching the wall. I wouldn’t have them again.

OK, that's two comments about them damaging easily, this isn't good. I have a heavy handed teenager.

Ours have been up for 3 years (bathroom including walk in shower) and 2 years (ensuite) with only 1 tiny dent down behind the toilet and my DH and DS are bloody clumsy. Plus they have resisted a variety of hair dyes
We are about to do the ensuite and will certainly be using them again

As for flooring luxury vinyl planks or sheet are good

I did a lot of research into this over the summer, because we considered panels in our new bathrooms. I decided against them because the affordable ones look very institutional and don't have great reviews, while the ones that looked good and were well reviewed (and many of them do look great!) were a lot more expensive than tiles + labour.

Microcement. Looks great, easy to clean, no grout.