Can you Screw into a Shower Panel?
Can you Screw into a Shower Panel or Bathroom Wall Panel?
You can screw into a Wall Panel or a Shower Panel no problem at all but there is an important BUT…the screw must travel through the panel and grab either a stud or solid wall behind.
To hang a cabinet or towel rail or whatever you intend to fix to the wall you must look at the wall behind the panel as the anchoring point, you simply drill or screw through the panel. The panel itself will not support weight.
We look at the finer details of screwing into a PVC Panel and fixing items to a wall with cladding in our guide below.
Can you screw into all PVC Panels?
We have three key PVC Wall Panel categories and a question we often field is can we drill or screw into all of them
- Shower Panels
- Wall Panels
- Ceiling Panels
Yes. The only difference really is the rigidity of the panel and how thick the outer layer is and this determines the method you would use.
The key factor in fitting anything to a wall with PVC Cladding is the wall behind. The screw is merely passing through the panel, the panel itself does not offer any structural support.
How to screw into PVC Cladding | Recommended tools
Fixing screws through PVC Cladding is straightforward although it is better to puncture or pilot before you drive the screw.
What Tools do I need?
To drive a screw you can use your preferred driver;
- screwdriver
- combi drill
- impact driver (variable speed preferable)
Whatever tool you use it is recommended to drive the screw slow as it is very easy to over torque and that will crush the hollow core PVC Panel.
You do get a nice finish driving a screw into a wall panel. If you compare this with the stress levels drilling through a tile – wall panels are the winner here.
What is the best Drill Bit for Drilling Bathroom Wall Panels
Shower Panels and Bathroom Wall Panels are very easy to drill, they offer limited resistance so it does prompt the question – what is the best drill bit for drilling shower panels and bathroom wall panels?
In most if not all scenarios when you will be drilling through a shower panel you will be doing so to fix an accessory to the wall / panel, this helps with drill bit selection as it means the drilled hole will not be visible.
Brad point bit, HSS metal bit and Masonry Bit
The image shows drilled holes with the respective bit next to the drilled hole. This is into a 10mm shower panel which offers more resistance than a 5 or 8mm wall panel. You will note there is very little difference with any of the bits.
My preference is the brad point bit and that is mainly because you dont have to pilot hole the panel first. The metal bit and masonry bit require a pilot hole, without a pilot hole it is very easy for the bit to drift and scratch the panel you are drilling.
How to hang a mirror over bathroom wall panels
A mirror is an essential in the bathroom but how do you hang a mirror over bathroom wall panels or shower panels? Its a simple process and is very similar to hanging a mirror over a tiled wall. Our five step guide outlines fitting a mirror over a bathroom sink…
Step 1 – check for any pipes or electrics in the area you want to hang the mirror
Step 2 – Mark the holes using the slots spacing from the rear of the mirror as a guide. Check that the marks are level.
Step 3 – Use a bradawl or a fine drill to pilot the holes.
Step 4 – if its a solid wall use a masonry bit and wall plugs, if its stud and plasterboard use a good quality wood screw. For a solid wall, drill the holes to the required depth and fit the wall plugs, if it is stud and plasterboard, drive a good quality wood screw using the pilot hole. Leave the required length of screw visible to hang the mirror.
Step 5 – (optional) add a dab of silicone sealant around the screw to seal the hole. I regard this as optional as there shouldn’t be a lot of water behind a mirror in a bathroom.
What Tools & Accessories are required to fit PVC Wall Panels?
Related Pages for Drilling into a Shower Panel
Glen Coulson
Glen is one of our expert bloggers in bathroom design, cladding and all things DIY. If he isn’t fitting PVC panels, he’s talking or writing about PVC Panels and really should get out more.
Read his posts for the latest coverage of style trends and easy to follow guides.