Bathroom wall panels have become one of the fastest-growing alternatives to traditional tiling, with both installers and homeowners increasingly choosing panels for modern bathroom projects.

To understand how the market is changing, Wetwall commissioned a survey of more than 250-bathroom fitters across the UK. The results show that bathroom panels are no longer a niche product but are an essential part of the installer toolkit.

The research found that every installer surveyed has used bathroom wall panels, with almost 99% continuing to use them today.

One of the biggest reasons behind this growth is customer demand. Nearly six in ten installers (59%) say they first started using bathroom panels because homeowners specifically requested them.

This suggests that consumers are becoming more aware of the benefits that wall panels can offer compared with traditional tiling, particularly when it comes to speed, maintenance and achieving a premium finish.

According to installers, homeowners are looking for solutions that deliver long-term value rather than the lowest upfront cost. When asked about the factors that matter most to customers, installers identified:

1.      Durability and reliability (62%)

2.      Premium finish and visual appeal (59%)

3.      Price (50%)

These findings show that homeowners still value quality and design, even if the budget for projects is shrinking. For most homeowners, bathroom wall panels provide the opportunity to create a high-end look that isn’t going to be demanding to maintain.

Speed remains one of the biggest advantages of bathroom wall panels.

More than half of installers (58%) say quicker installation and better all-round value influenced their decision to use panels, while 55% believe bathroom wall panels help them complete projects faster than tiling.

Faster installation means less disruption and quicker project completion for homeowners who want their space back. On the other hand, for installers it creates opportunities to work more efficiently and take on more projects throughout the year.

An impressive 87% of installers say they have seen customer demand increase over the past two years, with very few reporting any decline in interest.

What was once considered secondary to tiling has become a mainstream solution for modern bathroom design, driven by changing homeowner expectations and the need for quicker, more efficient renovations.

Although the residential refurbishment remains the largest market, wall panels are increasingly being used across a wider range of projects.

The research found strong adoption in commercial and contract environments, showing that modern bathroom panels are valued for their durability, ease of maintenance and speed of installation in high-demand settings.

The research makes one thing clear: bathroom wall panels are now firmly established within the industry. 

Installers have confidence in the category, with 98% saying they would recommend bathroom panels to homeowners and 94% recommending them to fellow tradespeople. 

Rather than replacing tiles entirely, wall panels are giving installers and homeowners another high-performance options that delivers speed, durability and premium deisgn.