Porcelain panels are the latest in a long line of trending bathroom coverings but this one is very different and I am here to tell you why.
The reason porcelain panels and porcelain sheets are booming for bathroom renovations and new builds comes down to three really important factors that I will cover below and lastly my honest opinion on having them in your bathroom.
- What Is Porcelain Panel?
- Are Porcelain Panels Suitable For Bathrooms?
- Can Porcelain Panels Be Expensive?
- Pros and Cons Of Using Porcelain Slabs In Bathrooms
- Other Uses For Porcelain Panels
- Honest Truth About Using Panel Slabs In Your Bathroom
- Porcelain Panel Installers and Suppliers List
What Is A Porcelain Panel?
A porcelain panel a very large format tile ranging from 1m x 3m wide to 1600mm x 3.6m wide and often 4mm, 6m to 8m in thickness that can be laid in hard-wearing areas such as a bathroom wall or bathroom floor.
Importantly the best way for me to break this down for the everyday renovator is to tell you that a porcelain panel or porcelain slab is just one really big porcelain tile.
Contrary to your average 600 x 600 tile the porcelain panels are covering a much larger area so come with their own challenges.
Are Porcelain Panels Suitable For Bathrooms?
Without a doubt the number one question I get asked about these porcelain slabs is if they are suitable for bathrooms. and the answer is of course.
Porcelain slabs are just the natural progression of larger tile sizes reaching their natural conclusion which are just really big tiles.
These panels are waterproof slip-resistant, fire-resistant, stain-resistant, shock resistant, easy to clean and environmentally friendly everything you want for a bathroom.
Porcelain panels and larger format tiles are the best bathroom covering on both floor and walls around perfect for all bathrooms.
Can Porcelain Panels Be Expensive?
Like anything in life if you are looking for something expensive you will find it.
Generally porcelain panels are not that expensive in comparison to most bathroom coverings on the market though.
A quick break down on the cost of these panels is they range from about $250 to $1000 per panel for a 1200mm x 3600mm sheet which is a bloody bargain if you ask me.
Whereas stone coverings could cost you thousands and thousands these panels are a fraction of that cost for your average bathroom.
The ranges are becoming more and more affordable with the popularity of these massive tiles.
Pros and Cons Of Using Porcelain Slabs In Bathrooms
Below are the pros and cons of using porcelain slabs in your bathroom and reasons you may need to avoid.
Pros
- Extremely cost effective in comparison to similar products
- Massive range of finishes and colours
- So much less grout in comparison to smaller tiles
- Wow factor from many different angles
Cons
- Stock is super hard to find throughout Australia
- Logistics for apartment renovations is not always possible
- Lack of knowledge on the product for tradesman
- Extremely brittle depending on the thickness
For me the biggest con is the lack of knowledge of the product, the brittle nature and the logistics.
Sometimes especially in tight spaces like apartments, they are hard to get into the rooms.
So always be careful to see if you can fit the sheets into your space both height and width-wise.
3200mm is a massive size with most ceiling 2.5m so do your research.
Other Uses For Porcelain Panels
Kitchen and laundry splashbacks are the other biggest uses of these panels by far.
The large nature of the product allows you to have a plain or stunning feature without any lines breaking it up.
The key for these are lining up the height around 1200mm or 600mm width of the panels.
You can also use a double display or island covering and splashback combination.
Porcelain panels on splashbacks are the most popular as they are a lot more simpler sell to the day to day homeowner.
Additionally, porcelain slabs are being used for bathroom and kitchen benchtops.
Where as stone can be a massive hassle to have waterfall and mitre finishes large porcelain sheets are perfect for mitring.
Honest Truth About Using Panel Slabs In Your Bathroom
My friends you have come to My Truth about using porcelain panels in bathrooms and here it is.
I love them and I think they are going to be a game changer in bathroom renovations and new builds for the next 10 years.
Why do I think this? I do not only think this I guarantee this for two major reasons.
The first being is everyone hates grout and if you want to know why I wrote two thousand words here that break that down.
Secondly and most importantly these panels have replaced luxury wall coverings as the number one finish for hotels and high-end apartments.
With the wave of concern about engineered stone coverings regarding health and the amount of cost/maintenance required for actual natural stone products
The porcelain panels create 95% of what you get from those stone products at a fraction of the cost of those.
SO WHY JIM are porcelain slabs not popular already? Well, that comes down to the fact that so many tilers and installers are not used to the product.
It its not the easiest to install for a new build let alone a renovation.
Combined with the normal homeowner not confident or familiar with these large porcelain sheets.
You need the flattest and straightest walls to make it all work so the prep work required is massive nothing crazy.
Lastly, I guarantee that porcelain panels in bathrooms will be the best decision you ever made.
Porcelain Panel Installers and Suppliers List
If you are looking for installers and places to purchase these products just check out my list below
We also cover installers of porcelain sheets in your area.
Suppliers (Australia Wide)
Below are a list of the best places and top quality porcelain panels through out Australia. CLICK THE NAME BELOW
Installers
For my list of large porcelain panel installers I have broken it down to one team per state. CLICK THE NAME FOR THE WEBSITE
WA
On the Ball Bathrooms and Tilers (Perth Porcelain Panel Installer)
NSW
Soho Bathrooms (Sydney Porcelain Panel Installer)
VIC
MJ Harris Group (Melbourne Porcelain Panel Installer)
QLD
Peroni Tiling (Brisbane Porcelain Panel Installer)
As more and more tradesmen become familiar with the product I will update the list.
If you are a tradesman or company that uses large porcelain panels just let me know and I will add you to the list.
GROUTLESS BATHROOMS
One of the major appeals of large porcelain tiles are they require less grout so why not create a groutless bathroom.
CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW OR HERE for a full breakdown on every groutless bathroom you will find.
It’s important to note that all our advice is general in nature and all bathrooms are unique so always speak to your local qualified tradesman for the best advice.
If you are looking for a bathroom renovation advice/consult or want to collaborate together just drop me an email at jimthebathroomguy@gmail.com
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Jim The Bathroom Guy 
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