利用者:Insulated Panels
Choosing the Perfect Bath Panel for Your Bath
A bath panel is an essential bathroom fixture for any fitted bath. They are designed to hide the underside of the bath, provide a neat and tidy finish and coordinate with the bathroom suite. There are many different types available in a huge range of colours, styles and finishes. When choosing the perfect panel it is important to select one that suits your bath and if you are fitting it yourself, choose one that you are capable of fitting. Some panels just require a length of wood fixed to the floor at the base of the bath and are secured at the top beneath the lip of the bath whilst others require a fixed wooden frame.
Materials
Bath panels are most commonly made from wood, MDF, acrylic or a combination of these materials.
* Solid wooden panels are available in modern and traditional styles and tend to be more expensive than their MDF or acrylic counterparts. Available unfinished so that you can choose the stain colour or varnish type, or finished with a varnished, stained or painted treatment to make them water and splash resistant.
* MDF or Medium Density Fibre-board, is a man-made material formed by glueing together tiny wood fibers under high heat and pressure. MDF is flexible and grain-free which reduces the chance of splinters and splitting. If sealed properly MDF resists warping when exposed to moisture making it an ideal material to use in a bathroom. Environmentally conscious consumers can buy it safe in the knowledge that it is can be made entirely from recycled wood.
It is also possible to wrap MDF in a plastic laminate or vinyl wrap that gives the appearance of real wood; or routed, where little grooves are cut into the surface, to give a 'Shaker' style appearance.
Acrylic is a man-made material that can be moulded and cast into shape. It can be coloured, is available with gloss and high-gloss finishes and is a perfect material for use in a bathroom, being water-resistant and highly scratch resistant, durable and long-lasting. It is possible to buy a bespoke acrylic bath panel for most, if not all shower baths.
What type of bespoke panels do I need?
This will depend on the type of bath you have. If the bath has been fitted into a corner you will need an end and side panel. If the bath has been fitted into a run you will only need a side panel; if the bath projects into the room you'll need two side panels and one end panel. If you have a shower bath you may need a bespoke panel made to perfectly fit the make of bath that you have chosen.
What colour should I choose?
This will depend on the look you are trying to achieve. White panels are the most popular and will usually match the bathroom-suite, but a wooden or wood effect panel could match the toilet seat, the detail on your architrave or the shape of the moulding on a skirting. A wooden panel could be painted to co-ordinate with curtains, the tiles or the paint finish on the walls.
It's also worth bearing in mind that some panels are produced as part of a range and it may be possible to buy a coordinating basin cabinet in the same colour and finish.
What style should I choose?
This is a matter of taste and is largely determined by the style of the suite.
- Traditional - a shaker style, panelled, wooden or wooden effect panel with plinth or moulding detail would suit a traditional or Victorian style bathroom.
- Contemporary - for a more pared down look choose an unmoulded wood or wood effect panel, a painted MDF panel or a bespoke acrylic panel.
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