Bathroom Wall Panel Trims
Bathroom Wall Panel Trims | Buying Guide
A key part of your Bathroom Wall Panel installation will come down to the trims. Although not strictly essential – we always advise using trims because of the difference they make to the finished installation.
Where do you start with Bathroom Cladding Trims? What trims will you need? How do you cut trims? How do you fit trims? Aluminium or PVC? What is the best option?
We will answer all the questions above and go through all of the options for selecting and fitting Bathroom Wall Panel Trims – they really do make a big difference.
Multiple Trims – Multiple Applications
Trims for PVC Wall Panels are available in both PVC and Aluminium with each trim designed for a specific purpose.
There is little to no difference between Aluminium and PVC trims with regards performance, the main difference being quality of finish and choice of finish.
The trims fall into five main categories:
- Ceiling
- End of panel
- Join panels
- Corner – internal and external
- Waterproofing seal to shower tray or bath
We will outline the benefits of each trim below…
Ceiling Panel Trims | Quadrant & Scotia Trims
There are two types of ceiling panel trims you can use – trims you fit before the ceiling panels and trims you fit after the ceiling panels.
Trims to fit before the ceiling panels are fitted…
The trims to fit before fitting ceiling panels are the trims one must slot the panel in first. The two main types are end cap and coving.
Trims to fit after the ceiling panels are fitted…
The trims to fit after fitting ceiling panels are easier to fit in that you do not have to slot the panels in place as you would with the former.
The two main types are Quadrant and Scotia / Coving (modified),
We recommend these trims as they are easier to fit but it really does depend on personal preference.
Ceiling Panel Trims | Quadrant Trim
The trim to use to cap the end of a panel, known as the End Cap Trim or End U Trim. It is also known as a starter trim.
When would you use an End Cap Trim?
You would typically use this trim to start or end a wall panel installation in the middle of a wall either vertically or horizontally, an example would be if you fitted shower panels and fitted the shower screen a few centimetres in from the end of the panel, you would use an end cap trim to ‘cap’ that cut edge.
How do you fit an End Cap Trim?
Fitting an End Cap Trim is straightforward, apply a thin bead of selant to the inner front and inner rear faces of the trim and then slide the trim over the cut end or start of the panel. You could also apply a thin bead of sealant to the front and reaf face of the panel.
Fix with masking tape until the sealant fully cures – this will prevent any movement.
Ceiling Panel Trims | Coving / Scotia Trim
There are two types of ceiling panel trims you can use – trims you fit before the ceiling panels and trims you fit after the ceiling panels.
Trims to fit before the ceiling panels are fitted…
The trims to fit before fitting ceiling panels are the trims one must slot the panel in first. The two main types are end cap and coving.
Trims to fit after the ceiling panels are fitted…
The trims to fit after fitting ceiling panels are easier to fit in that you do not have to slot the panels in place as you would with the former.
The two main types are Quadrant and Scotia / Coving (modified),
We recommend these trims as they are easier to fit but it really does depend on personal preference.
How to fit ceiling cladding trim
Trims for end of Panel | End Cap Trim
The end cap trim is one of the most popular trims as it is the trim you use to cover a cut edge when you reduce the width of the panel. Available in both PVC and Aluminium and in a range of colours.
PVC Trims for the end of a Panel
The trim to use to cap the end of a panel, known as the End Cap Trim or End U Trim. It is also known as a starter trim.
When would you use an End Cap Trim?
You would typically use this trim to start or end a wall panel installation in the middle of a wall either vertically or horizontally, an example would be if you fitted shower panels and fitted the shower screen a few centimetres in from the end of the panel, you would use an end cap trim to ‘cap’ that cut edge.
How do you fit an End Cap Trim?
Fitting an End Cap Trim is straightforward, apply a thin bead of selant to the inner front and inner rear faces of the trim and then slide the trim over the cut end or start of the panel. You could also apply a thin bead of sealant to the front and reaf face of the panel.
Fix with masking tape until the sealant fully cures – this will prevent any movement.
Trims to join Panels | H Trim
PVC Panels join via the tongue & groove found on the sides of every panel but there occasions when you will have to cut the panel losing the T & G profiles. This is when you would use a H trim.
PVC Trims to join Panels
The H Trim is used to connect two cut panels where the tongue & groove has been removed.
When would you use a H Trim?
The H Trim replaces the tongue & groove found on a PVC bathroom panel. Common applications would be:
- Joining to a panel where the T or G has been removed
- Joining panels that have different depths e.g. 8mm to 10mm
- Adding to the height of a panel e.g. a 2.4M shower panel may be too short for the ceiling height
How do you fit a H Trim
Like all PVC trims you apply a thin bead of sealant to the inner edges of the trim then slide the panels into the trim creating a waterproof seal. If you using two panels of different depths you would pack out the slimmer depth – read our guide here
Trims for External & Internal Corners
Internal Corner | External Corner | External L Shape
Trims for both internal and external corners are a key addition to your panel installation. This is where two panels meet on a 90 degree and the trims offer a neat finish to cover the gap that will more than likely have ragged edges. We outline the key corner trims below
Internal Corner Trim
There are many applications when you will need an internal or external corner trim and this is an occasion when trims really do make a difference.
Internal and External corner trims come in three types: internal corner, external corner and L shape external corner
When would you use use internal & external corner trims?
As the title states, in an internal corner or on an external corner. Examples would be…
- Two shower panels meeting together in an internal corner.
- Where two panels meet on an external corner.
- To trim a window.
How do you fit internal & external corner trims
All PVC trims are fitted using the same method – a bead of selant in the inner edges and masking tape until the sealant cures.
External Corner Trim
The H Trim is used to connect two cut panels where the tongue & groove has been removed.
When would you use a H Trim?
The H Trim replaces the tongue & groove found on a PVC bathroom panel. Common applications would be:
- Joining to a panel where the T or G has been removed
- Joining panels that have different depths e.g. 8mm to 10mm
- Adding to the height of a panel e.g. a 2.4M shower panel may be too short for the ceiling height
How do you fit a H Trim
Like all PVC trims you apply a thin bead of sealant to the inner edges of the trim then slide the panels into the trim creating a waterproof seal. If you using two panels of different depths you would pack out the slimmer depth – read our guide here
L Shape External Corner Trim
There are many applications when you will need an internal or external corner trim and this is an occasion when trims really do make a difference.
Internal and External corner trims come in three types: internal corner, external corner and L shape external corner
When would you use use internal & external corner trims?
As the title states, in an internal corner or on an external corner. Examples would be…
- Two shower panels meeting together in an internal corner.
- Where two panels meet on an external corner.
- To trim a window.
How do you fit internal & external corner trims
All PVC trims are fitted using the same method – a bead of selant in the inner edges and masking tape until the sealant cures.
PVC Trims for Shower Tray or Bath
This trim adds a finishing touch for where the panels meet a bath or shower tray, not only does it aesthetic appeal it performs a key waterproofing function. This is one of two trims that a supplier will always recommend and out of all trims this is the most important.
Cladseal Trim for Shower Tray or Bath
How do you fit shower panels or bathroom wall panels to a shower tray or bath? The default recommendation is a Cladseal trim as this is the best performing trim for the task.
When would you use a CladSeal Trim?
For when Panels (either hollow core or solid core) meet a bath or a shower tray. This trim has an angled profile to shed water and offers a large surface area underneath for seklant to form a waterproof seal.
How do you fit a Cladseal Trim?
Measure the length and width of the bath or shower tray and cut the trim to length. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions (important) which essentially involves adding sealant to the back where the trim meets the wall and underneath where the trim meets the tray or bath.