How to Repair Bathroom Wall Panels How to Repair Bathroom Wall Panels Utility or drywall knife If you have damage to your bathroom wall panels, such as a hole, slice, or any other kind of damage, you don’t need to remove the entire panel to fix the problem. Bathroom wall panels can need repairs for a number of other reasons as well, such as installing a new sink or vanity or moving any existing pipes or plumbing. A simple patch to the paneling can go unnoticed and will provide a much easier fix than removing the panel and replacing it with a new one. Step 1- Assessing the Hole and Determining Panel Size Measure the portion of the damaged wall you want to replace, creating an imaginary rectangle or square around the area of the damage that covers it completely. Using this measurement, purchase the appropriate piece of paneling, matching it as closely as you can to the original paneling. If the color doesn’t match, you can use the color of the rest of the paneling to paint over when the repair is complete.

Step 2- Measuring the Patch Area Use your damaged bathroom wall panels as a guide, and cut out a rectangle or square shaped patch that covers the entire area of damage. Hold the patch in place, and use chalk or a pencil to trace the area of the rectangle or square. Cut out the area you traced using a utility knife or drywall knife. Try not to cut into any dry wall underneath the paneling. You might need a chisel to help pull the damage paneling away if there is a lot of adhesive. Make sure the patch fits snugly into place without too big a gap. Step 3- Replacing the Damaged Bathroom Wall Panels Once your patch hole is cut, use paneling adhesive to attach furring strips to the holes. Attach one furring strip in each corner of the hole, placing it halfway under the existing paneling and sticking halfway out. Let the adhesive dry based on the directions that came with it. Once the adhesive is dry, apply adhesive to the panel patch. Attach it to the bathroom wall panels by nailing it to the furring strips using finishing nails.

Step 4- Finishing the Repair Wait until the patch is dry, and use a nail set to sink the finishing nails into the panel. Delta Waterfall Faucet RepairUse wood putty or spackle to cover the nail holes. Water Saving Shower Head FactsCaulk or spackle can be used around the perimeter of the patch to make sure it is one with the existing bathroom wall panels. Buy Duvets Online NzApply a coat of paint to the new patch if necessary. If the panel doesn’t match, you might want to consider priming and painting the entire wall panel to ensure everything looks smooth. How to Stain Bathroom Wall Panels• Place a drop cloth or piece of cardboard in the tub to protect the finish from chips and scratches as you work. • Take off the shower handle and trim cover and spout.

There are a few different types of spouts – this one twists off, but other spouts may have a set screw that needs to be loosened first. • Draw a horizontal guide line for the panels all the way around the alcove. • Since dimensions can vary, check the manufacturer’s instructions for the correct height above the tub your line should be placed. For this enclosure, the directions say the distance should be 58 inches. • Measure up from the tub in several places and mark, then use a carpenter’s level to finish the line. • To properly align the panels, it’s important that this line be level, even if the tub itself is not. If necessary, you can trim pieces at the bottom to fit. You should also draw a vertical line on the sides in line with the tub to serve as a guide. • When you’re finished, the area for your enclosure will be outlined for all three walls of the alcove. • Painted surfaces should be roughed up with sandpaper to ensure a stronger bond with the adhesive.

• Also, the surface must be clean, dry and free of dust and flakes. Spending the time to thoroughly prep the walls will help you avoid complications later. Tub surrounds come in three- or five-piece kits. These individual panels overlap each other to compensate for different dimensions and out of square walls. • Dry fit a few panels first, just to make sure everything will fit the alcove without having any gaps. • Set the back wall in place, with the bottom resting on the tub, and the panel itself centered on the wall. • Use strips of tape to keep it from falling down. • Place the side panel against the wall along the vertical mark you made earlier. • Place the corner panel in front. The lip on the panel should overlap by about an inch. • Once you’re satisfied the new shower enclosure is going to fit, remove the panels. • If you need to trim the panels for a proper fit, you can use a piece of masking tape on the panel to mark it.

This will help give you a more definitive line and a cleaner cut. • Make your measurements and draw the cut line using a straightedge. • Use a jig saw to cut the panel to the proper size. • If you need to trim the corner panels, you can do that with scissors. • When you’re finished, clean up any rough edges with sandpaper. • Before installing, cut holes in the shower wall for the shower trim handle and tub spout. • On the plumbing wall, measure the distance from the vertical line to the center of the tub spout and trim handle. • If everything is in line, these measurements should be the same. • Then measure up from the top of the tub to the spout and the trim handle as well. • Transfer the markings to the side panel of your glue-up shower enclosure. To avoid mistakes, double check your measurements before cutting. • Use a hole saw to cut the holes for the fixtures. • Choose a size for each hole that will be large enough for the opening, but small enough so that the trim plate will cover it.

• Rock the hole saw back and forth as you work, and drill from the inside out to give you a cleaner cut. • Before gluing everything down, dry fit all the panels one more time to make sure the enclosure fits together properly. The back panel should be centered on the back wall. • The side panels line up with the front edge of the bathtub. • Use strips of masking tape to hold each panel in place. • Dry fit the corner panels and make sure there’s a slight overlap with the panels. • Confirm that all the pieces fit together, and line up with the reference mark you made in the beginning. • Then remove the corner panels, followed by the side and back panels. As you do, use a pencil to mark the position for the left and right sides. This will help guide you in the glue-up installation of the panels. • To install the panels, be sure to use an adhesive specially designed for glue-up tub surrounds. • Loctite Power Grab bonds to most surfaces, and is repositionable for several minutes after installation.

• Apply it with a caulk gun in a zigzag pattern across the entire section you need to seal. • Then use a notched trowel to spread it around evenly on the wall. As you do, be sure to keep the adhesive within the lines you’ve marked. • Do not apply the adhesive to more than one section at a time. In this project, we install the side and back panels first, but other units may work differently, so consult your manufacturer’s instructions for the proper installation of your unit. • Before installing the first panel, lay a bead of caulk along the edge of the tub base. • Apply the adhesive to one of the side walls as described earlier, and then spread it around with the trowel. • Take the panel, press it onto the wall, and make sure it engages with the adhesive over the entire surface. • Then pull it away for 30 seconds. This will allow the solvents to escape. • Repress it firmly against the wall to make it adhere properly. • Finally, wipe down the walls with a damp rag, putting pressure on the panel to ensure it makes full contact.

• Repeat this same exact process for the other side panel. • Lay a bead of caulk along the bottom edge of the back wall near the tub base. • Apply the tub surround adhesive to the back wall, and use a trowel to spread it over the entire surface where the panel will go. As you do, try to keep the adhesive inside the lines. • Press the back panel onto the wall and then pull it away for 30 seconds to allow the solvents to escape, just as you did in the previous step. • Re-press it firmly against the wall to make it adhere properly. • Make sure the panel lines up with the marks you established earlier, and reposition if needed. • When you’re finished, wipe any excess adhesive off the walls with a damp rag. • Install the corner panels in the same way as the others, first laying down a bead of caulk on the tub base and then applying adhesive to the wall in one of the corners. • Since a strip of the corner panels will overlap the back and side panels, run a bead of sealant on the back edges of the corner panels to make them adhere.