PVC panels: varieties and applications

PVC panels are a very economical and practical option for renovating bathtubs and any other rooms, such as a hall, a toilet or even a hallway, if you do not want to spend a lot of money and effort on it. They are presented in a variety of colors, from which you can find the best option. PVC panels conquered the market with their popularity as soon as they went on sale, as they are versatile and economical.

PVC panels contain polyvinyl chloride, which is a lightweight and high-quality material. Due to this, the ceilings in rooms, in offices and in supermarkets are often covered with these panels. Also, on PVC panels, an interesting pattern is depicted using lamination, thermal printing and other modern technologies. After that, a matte or glossy varnish is applied to this material, which is a protection for the material.

Thanks to this treatment, the panel does not wear out quickly and is very resistant to ultraviolet rays.and also to any damage, for example, protected from scratches. For the safety of the health of a person and his family, no harmful chemical components are used in the production of such PVC panels. Also, when painting surfaces, only water-based dyes are used, which is also absolutely safe.

There is a difference between the plastic panels used on walls and ceilings. It lies in the fact that the wall options are slightly stronger, and they are also not flexible, therefore, such panels are able to withstand heavy mechanical loads. Also options for walls are thicker than for ceilings. The more PVC, the thicker the panel. The stiffening ribs inside the PVC wall panels are 1 mm thick, so it will not be so easy to cut them with a knife.

The length of this material is 3 meters, the width is only 10 cm, and sometimes it can reach up to 12.5 cm. Plastic lining can be used for both external and internal processing of premises. In total, two types of this material have become popular on the market. These are "polka" and "european". The "polka" has a small lock connection, while the "European" has a much wider one.

External PVC panels have a seam. This is due to the fact that the material has a high coefficient of linear expansion. Therefore, the lining, which was not mounted indoors, must change from a change in temperature conditions. There is also another feature of the front paneling. It lies in the fact that the dyeing of raw materials with different colors occurs even during production, and is not applied on top as in other types. Because of this, the lining keeps its initial color longer.

Sheet panels, consisting of plastic, have a wider width than plastic lining. Their length ranges from 105 to 405 cm. These panels are the most famous and most consumable. Sometimes the surface of the sheets is sent for special processing, but not everyone does this, but only some good manufacturers. Thanks to this operation, the panels become stronger and more stable.

Sheet panels can be mounted with glue and nails. The slots can be sealed with a sealant of the appropriate color or with a narrow strip. Conventional panels are 260 and 270 cm long, sometimes even 300 cm, and about 25 cm wide.But you can also use panels with a width of 50 cm for interior decoration. The varnished and painted side of the outer surface also forms a seam that is not very noticeable when it is assembled.

There are also GOST PVC sandwich panels, which are modern and highly exploited. The peculiarity of these panels is the presence of two sheets of plastic. Polyurethane foam or expanded polystyrene foam is used as various added substances, they impart thermal insulation properties to the material. The degree of flammability of the products is indicated on the packaging. The plastic lining has the highest coefficient.

This material has become so popular due to its many benefits.

• Versatility. Usually PVC panels are used as wall and ceiling decoration. This material can be used to clad the edges of doors and windows, used in showers and bathrooms, and also under steps to create interesting shapes. Summer residents use this building material to form garden beds.
• Installation is quick and easy. Ordinary homeowners can now decorate a wall or any other surface. Work is done quickly and easily with flat walls or ceilings. In such situations, they are fixed with “liquid nails”. To make curved surfaces smoother, use a metal or wood frame.
• Easy to care for. PVC panels can be wiped with a regular soapy cloth, but you should beware of panel joints, because these places are weak.
• Such panels are absolutely environmentally friendly. This material is non-toxic, does not release harmful substances into the environment.

• Strength. This indicator depends on the correct choice. For ceilings, this material is slightly lighter.
• There is sound and heat insulation. These panels provide good sound insulation and do not let the cold into the room.
• A large number of colors and shades. The standard color of PVC is white, but manufacturers have created a huge number of colors for every taste of the consumer. At the moment, panels with drawings or imitation of the texture of stone or wood are popular.
• Moisture resistance. Due to the flat surface, they do not retain moisture. Since there are no pores on the material, dirt, mold and other harmful microorganisms do not linger on its surface. Therefore, they are often used in rooms where humidity is high.
• Resistant to sudden changes in temperature. Plastic panels can withstand temperatures from -50 to +50 degrees Celsius.

Like other building materials, PVC panels have disadvantages.

• UV-resistant. White plastic panels may turn yellow after a certain period of time and lose their original appearance.
• Impact resistance. Such panels can withstand some loads, but they are not protected from dents or scratches on the surface of the material.
• The material contains chalk, which is the determining component of the strength of the product. The amount of chalk in the panels is determined solely by the manufacturer.
• Characteristic smell. When buying and using panels, a specific smell is present for several days, but then it completely disappears.
• This plastic cannot be called absolutely safe, as many manufacturers claim. It should not be used to decorate children's rooms.

At the moment, three types of PVC panels have become popular in the building materials market.

• Rack and pinion. To attach this kind of panels directly to the wall surface, you must use a metal bracket. This panel has a length of 1 to 12.5 meters, a width of 15 to 30 centimeters, and a thickness of no more than 1 centimeter. If you use this view to decorate a room, then it will visually look higher or lower, depending on the position of the panels themselves.
• Under the tiles. The sizes of this species can range from 30 cm to 1 meter. The method for decorating a room is the same as for slatted panels, but differs in its result. Such PVC panels can be laid out in an interesting pattern in the bathroom or in the kitchen.
• Leafy. These panels are recognized as the best of all the above types. To install this material on walls or ceilings, you will need glue and nails. The thickness of the sheet panels ranges from 3 to 6 millimeters.

Also, PVC panels can be divided by decorativeness.

• Seamless. These panels are very popular and look expensive. Seamless panels with a matte surface look great. They are available for both flooring and furniture.
• Embossed. They look exactly the same as wooden ones, but their price is much lower. Moreover, they can be used even if the walls have a certain curvature. Embossed laminated panels offer very accurate imitation of textures.

There are also several types of panels, depending on the design.

• Monochrome. They are ideal for furnishings where practicality and minimalism are valued. To give a one-color solution originality and beauty, you can independently make multi-colored shelves or use paintings.
• With drawing. Such panels often imitate the appearance of a stone or fabric, but there are also those that attract attention with a spectacular print, for example, clouds. But difficulties may arise when installing them, since it will be necessary to accurately calculate their position, then the drawing will turn out to be solid.

PVC panels are used in bathrooms, showers, kitchens, and they are also often used to decorate offices, restaurants, supermarkets, schools, gyms, hospitals and other premises.

PVC panels can be divided into three standard types, namely:

• lining;
• sheet models;
• rectangular or square tiles.

The lining has a length of about 3 m, a width of 10 to 12.5 cm. The "European" version, which has a large lock, is more in demand in the construction market than the "polka", which has a narrow lock. If you use PVC panels with a length of 260, 270 or 300 cm and a width of 15 to 50 cm, then there will be no seams during installation. Square or rectangular tiles have become more popular. They are used mainly for kitchen decoration. They are very easy to install and light in weight. Their length is 30 cm, as is the width, and sometimes these dimensions reach 100 cm in length and width. Sheet panels, in which the top layer is quite shock-resistant and also characterized by smoothness, are 150–405 cm long, 80–203 cm wide and 0.1–3 cm thick. These dimensions are standard for sheet panels.

Sandwich panels are also important. They are the most demanding material for partitions in rooms or window cladding. They won their popularity for a reason. All thanks to their high class and excellent quality. Also, such products look very elegant. This type is also standard and has dimensions: 3000x1500 mm, 3000x1150 mm and 3000x900 mm, thickness - 10, 24, 32 mm, respectively.

The decor of PVC panels is varied. There are brick-colored models as they look pretty stylish and look great. This type of material saves space, is easy to install, and is also versatile. It can be used in any room: from the hallway to the loggia. Also, such products have a very large number of colors and sizes, so you can choose an option for every taste. In addition, this type is much cheaper than decorative bricks.

There are also models that imitate the surface of natural stone or natural wood. Dark colors of natural wood are in great demand. They look very realistic and are often used in hallways, living rooms and kitchens. Rack, tiled and sheet panels are often presented in a color similar to natural material.

The torn limestone design is mainly used for facing fireplaces and arches. Also, this material can be used for exterior decoration. In the bathrooms, the Jurassic stone pattern looks good. Today, mirror and transparent PVC panels, as well as the "panda" look, have become popular.

Among the most popular colors are the following:

• wenge;
• red;
• black and white.

Panels that imitate the surface of materials such as bamboo, pine, blue marble, slate and others are often used. The cut of the stone fascinates many with its beauty.

It is very important to choose a good manufacturer before starting work. In order not to be disappointed in the quality of the building material, you should get acquainted with the main manufacturing companies that make a quality product, have mostly only positive reviews.

The following manufacturers are in great demand:

• "Metal Profile";
• "Century";
• Isotex;
• Artpole;
• AGT;
• Shanghai Zhuan;

• Racoon Plastik;
• Polimerpanel;
• Pareti;
• BellerPlast;
• Plastek;
• Plast Decor;
• KronaPlast;
• "Aquaton".

When buying PVC panels, you should pay attention to the cost of the goods. The higher the price, the better the product is.

In order not to make a mistake in the choice and not be deceived, it is worth familiarizing yourself with some points of purchase.

• The thickness of the panel is required. The universal thickness of vinyl for walls should not exceed 10 mm, and if you need to choose a building material for the ceiling, then you should pay attention to the thinner one.
• The strength of the front surface. This is important and necessary in order for the building material to be able to withstand damage and impact, without leaving dents or scratches on it. If the ribs of stiffness are visible from the outside, then it is better not to use such panels for lining the walls. It is better to use them for ceilings, but such work will not look very good and of high quality.
• The number of edges, their position and stiffness. The stiffness of a building material depends very much on the number of edges itself. The greatest distance that can be between them should not exceed 10 mm.

• The uniformity of the paint coating on the surface of the material indicates how the paint was applied to the panel. Most manufacturers cover the surface from the front, instead of adding a color-giving element to the resin composition. This is bad because during the work with the material, the paint can easily peel off the surface. Also, due to such a PVC coating, the panel may burn out, and the paint will be unevenly located, which is another disadvantage of such a manufacturer's work.
• When buying building material in a store, you need to inquire about its weight. This can help determine the stiffness of the ribs and the wall thickness of the material. The optimum weight of PVC panels should be 1.1–1.5 kg / sq. m.
• Are the panels firmly connected? It is better to check the strength of the connection of the PVC panels during the examination of the goods.

• What percentage of the chalk contains the material. Many professionals assure that the percentage of chalk in a product should not exceed 20%. If this percentage is higher, then there is a high probability that this material is fragile enough. Chalk is very affordable and not expensive, so some manufacturers, in order to reduce the cost of their products, add more of it than is required by the norms. By peeling back the corner of the product, you can check the amount of chalk in it.If no white stripe remains on the plastic, then the panel contains the required amount of chalk.
• Panels containing toxins. It's okay if the sealed lining has a characteristic, but not too strong smell. But if a specific smell comes from the panels, which are exhibited in the form of a sample, then it immediately becomes clear that this material contains toxic substances and it is better not to purchase it.

• Brand. If the product is from a reputable seller, chances are good that the material is of fairly good quality. Indeed, in order to earn such fame, the manufacturer has worked for a long time on the quality of its goods, and values ​​its reputation, therefore, it offers only high-quality products for wall and floor use.
• Product decor. The cladding panels must be thermal transfer. They belong to the economy class. Thanks to thermal printing, you can choose a variety of decor. The drawing is not afraid of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and also does not wear off over time. The frieze options are in demand as they are decorated with various prints. Typically, such products imitate the surface of marble, tile or natural wood.

First you need to prepare for the work itself. There is no need for special preparation of the walls before installation. But you need to very accurately measure the surface that will be finished, and also accurately calculate the number of panels. You also need to decide how the installation will be done.

If the ceilings and walls are even, without errors, then the panels can be glued. But if it is necessary to give the room even parameters, then it is better to assemble the frame. In this way, the rooms will have an aesthetic appearance, and all irregularities on the surface will be hidden and invisible.

To work, you need tools such as:

• stepladder;
• drill;
• hacksaw for metal;
• roulette;
• knife;
• self-tapping screws;
• hammer.

All of these items must be purchased before starting work. As soon as you have all the tools on hand, you can start working. Usually, panels with a width of 100 mm are used for ceiling mounting. It is better to measure the lines every 0.4 m.First, it is worth marking the lowest point on the ceiling and from it to put marks that will be equal to the width of the panel. Then you need to mark the points where the anchors or dowels will be installed, which are important for fixing the frame.

The frame must be placed perpendicular to the panels to be attached. For ease of markings, professionals advise to stretch a thin cord instead of marks. To use it, you need to rub the cord with colored chalk and attach it to the marked wall. After this procedure, a clearly visible trace will remain on the surface.

Profiles can be of different types: made of wood or metal, and also be presented with a plastic crate. Each material is suitable for certain conditions of use. For example, it is better to install a timber frame in rooms with low humidity. This material must be treated with high quality impregnation, which will protect it from moisture and the multiplication of various microorganisms. If, nevertheless, a wooden frame is used, then fasteners should be made every 0.6 m. A backing can be used if the correct level is needed. Wood material is slightly worse than plastic or metal.

Plastic profiles have some advantages: low price, light weight, easy to attach, can withstand moisture, temperatures and other factors. This installation is carried out every 0.3 m. The fastening tools are fixed every 1 m. The installation of the profiles is installed at an angle. This will allow you to check the evenness of the joints.Since PVC panels are lightweight, it is not necessary to build a solid frame.

For the installation of PVC profiles, you should adhere to the following rules:

• it is better to start installation when the panels are "accustomed" to room temperature, especially if the building material has been lying in a room for a long time, where the temperature was below +10 degrees;
• lamellas must be attached perpendicular to the frame;
• it is worth making ventilation cuts if the room has high humidity;
• since the material can change its shape when the temperature changes, you need to leave 5 mm for the gaps;
• if the panels are without a pattern or pattern, then the installation can be carried out arbitrarily, but if there is a pattern on the panel, then it is better to start work from the left corner and continue towards the right;
• you cannot use PVC panels for installation in rooms where the temperature reaches +40 degrees and above, for example, in baths or steam rooms.

Once the frame is installed, you can start assembling the panels themselves. You need to start work from the extreme strip, it is attached to the corner, to the transverse material with the help of self-tapping screws. So, the next panel will be installed in the groove of the previous one. This procedure should be continued until the opposite wall is completely finished.

If necessary, the last panel can be cut, but only when it doesn't fit. Since the material is brittle, it is prone to scratching, cracking or dents. Therefore, when working with the panels, do not apply too much pressure. It is recommended to take a clerical knife, and it can also be used to move the panels in the desired direction.

After the last panel has been attached, you can start installing the skirting board. It is secured with "liquid nails" which are applied to the interior and attached to the ceiling. After that, you need to hold them for 10 seconds, and carefully remove the excess glue. "Liquid nails" dry rather quickly, so the removal of excess substance from the surface should be done quickly.

Owners of houses or apartments can quickly make the interior of a bathroom or toilet practical and comfortable, and all this thanks to PVC wall panels. They are very easy to clean and will last for many years. Mounting walls is very similar to mounting a ceiling.

A frame is also installed on the wall, which has already been treated with antimicrobial agents. It can be plastic or metal. This is at the discretion of the user. The first panel is inserted together with the corner into the profile, followed by other products. They are fixed on metal guides. For this, claymore is used. The last panel is glued into a U-shaped corner. After this procedure, you can start installing the corners and make the slopes. Dismantling is carried out in the same sequence.

When installing the panels, you need to cut a hole where the places for switches and sockets were previously marked. Such places are difficult to wash and paint. The panel can be made in the form of a panel and various crafts can be hung on it.

The cladding of the kitchen is qualitatively made with a PVC plastic panel with a pattern on half the wall. Such a room interior looks very impressive and aesthetically pleasing. It can also be supplemented with photo printing in the style of "Provence".

This living room is decorated with vinyl siding. The room looks very delicate thanks to the light tones of the material.

Decorative PVC panels with a pattern look beautiful. Everything looks very high quality and expensive, but with a simple design.

For PVC panels for decorating bathroom walls and the secrets of choosing plastic, see the next video.