Multipanel Calacatta Marble ensuite bathroom

[oz0707]

Here are some pictures of some Multipanels that I recently installed in an ensuite bathroom, these panels are Calacatta Marble. For anyone that does not know what Multipanels are, they are basically a sheet of external grade plywood, with a laminated face, they currently come in three sizes-

• 598 x 2400 x 11mm panels available with Standard Clean Cut Edge or Hydrolock (Tongue & Groove).
• 900 x 2400 x 11mm panels available with Standard Clean Cut Edge or Hydrolock (Tongue & Groove).
• 1200 x 2400 x 11mm panels available with Standard Clean Cut Edge or Hydrolock (Tongue & Groove).

The panels cost approximately £190 each according to the customer, then of course you need the panel adhesive, which is the one that they recommend at about £9.00 per tube. I’m sure they recommend one tube per panel, but we ended up using two tubes per panel.

In this ensuite bathroom for the shower area, we used three 1200*2400 clean cut panels, plus two invisible corners, two L shaped end caps and a Multipanel shower panel seal (£54)

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We then needed a 1200*2400 tongue and groove panel to cover the area behind the toilet and basin. Off cuts from the other panels were used for the shelf and for the skirting board, plus another length of L shaped end cap (£10)

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This was a relatively easy bathroom to install the panels in, although the shower tray was bowed (don’t ask me how), so the shower seal was bowed, as this followed the contour of the tray.

We did have a problem with one of the Multipanels, as the surface of the sheet had started to delaminate away from the plywood. This became evident after I had cut the sheet and was brushing off the sawdust with my hand. One thing I don’t like about the Multipanels is that they recommend you remove the masking prior to installing them, then you can inspect them, obviously if you do this you are removing the protection from the panel and run the risk of damaging it during installation!

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Anyway, because the panel was delaminating, the customer had to ask the plumbers merchants to replace the panel, this took several days, as I was installing the panels at the weekend. Obviously, this added a long time onto completing the job, at this point I was really glad that I did not install these panels for a living, just imagine having to leave a job and then go back to it a week later, due to something out of your control!


This is the shower area, the edges have been sealed using an anthracite grey coloured silicone, as white silicone stood out a mile. White silicone was used between the ceiling and the top of the shower panels.

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Installing these panels can be a real challenge, as the sheets are large and you only have a small gap, once you have cut the panels to the correct size. I tried to leave a 5mm gap at the top of each panel, but sometimes the ceilings were not as flat as they looked and often a couple of mm more would need removing from the panels. You can get a trim for the top (which might give you a few more mm of clearance), but the customer opted for a silicone bead instead.

I did not do any other work in this ensuite apart from fitting the Multipanels and trim and I did all of the siliconing on the floor etc.

We had some good off cuts, which I used to make skirting boards.

Total approximate cost for the Multipanels, sealant and trim etc.-


4 Multipanel Calacatta Marble shower panels £760.00
10 Tubes of Multipanel adhesive £90
1 Shower panel seal kit £54
3 L shaped polished aluminium trims £30
2 Multipanel invisible corner trim £38
1 tube of anthracite grey silicone £10
1 tube of white silicone £10

Total cost of materials £992

Thanks to my mate Paul for helping me with the larger panel at the back of the shower. Obviously moving 8’ X 4’ sheet up stairs and into a small room is very difficult on your own.

[Razor]

Looks really good Chez. Did you use glass suckers to move the panels about? Makes things a lot easier

[ultimatehandyman]

Looks really good Chez. Did you use glass suckers to move the panels about? Makes things a lot easier

Thanks Ray

Yes, but mine are only cheap (Silverline) ones, they often came unstuck!

That's the problem with these panels, I did three bathrooms, two of which were gloss, but one was like a matt finish. If you removed the masking first (like the instructions tell you to), there is no way you can get the panels into position as most glass suckers will only work on a shiny surface.

Ironically the main bathroom was the easiest, as there was a lot more room!

We really struggled in the other ensuite though, because it had a long shower tray and the panels had to be joined (I'll post about that in future, once I've sorted out the photos)

[oz0707]

Looks good I think I will consider these on my next place. One part of me says they may not last the test of time like tiles but they're more practical. No grout to go mouldy. Plus tiles inevitably end up going out of fashion before they wear out!

My leaking toilet scenario would be a nightmare on that job. I left a cut out like 12 inch high by 8 inch wide around the waste and flush pipe which the toilet pan covers when back to wall. Also a removable top. Be a nightmare if that one ever leaks or needs attention! Obviously nothing to do with you just do what customer asks for

[ultimatehandyman]

Looks good I think I will consider these on my next place. One part of me says they may not last the test of time like tiles but they're more practical. No grout to go mouldy. Plus tiles inevitably end up going out of fashion before they wear out!

My leaking toilet scenario would be a nightmare on that job. I left a cut out like 12 inch high by 8 inch wide around the waste and flush pipe which the toilet pan covers when back to wall. Also a removable top. Be a nightmare if that one ever leaks or needs attention! Obviously nothing to do with you just do what customer asks for

Yeah, they look good, but just like you I was concerned about the toilet leaking or if it needs servicing. I was quite shocked to be honest when I walked in and saw that all three bathrooms had the cisterns and pipework plaster boarded over and skimmed with plaster, I had to ask a mate of mine and he reassured me that you can service the toilet, via the square hole where the flush mechanism goes.

In the main bathroom there was a leak, but luckily it was from the bath, even though the bath waste had been pressure tested, I was so glad that it was not behind the panels, or it would have been a nightmare!

[oz0707]

Yeh tbf the better toilet cisterns can be serviced thru square hole, although you could still get a leak where I did. Where the water connects to the cistern. Ohwell fingers crossed sure it will be okay.