I'm currently building an addition for my primary suite, and I've hit a design snag with my contractor regarding the bathroom. We're placing a freestanding tub in an alcove, surrounded by three walls and about 3 inches away from them. My idea is to use vertical panel wainscoting, like beadboard or tongue-and-groove, instead of tile. However, my contractor is firmly pushing for tile, claiming that paneling won't withstand water in the long run.
To give you some context: this bathroom will primarily be for me and my partner, but our toddler might use the tub occasionally, so excessive splashing shouldn't be a huge concern. Also, our house is nearly 100 years old and has a Cape Cod style, which makes me hesitant about using tile as it feels too modern. Additionally, we plan to have a pony wall by the shower with vertical paneling, which the contractor approves of. Having tile around the tub and then paneling on the pony wall feels inconsistent, while tiling both just seems too overwhelming. I'm also open to spending more on durable materials, as I want to avoid MDF.
So I'm here to ask: has anyone installed paneling around a bathtub? How has it held up over time? Should I go with my original plan for paneling, or is tile truly the safer option? Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
You can actually find wainscot paneling made from PVC, which might be worth considering! I used it in my own bathroom, and it looks fantastic. It has the appearance of real paneling and can be painted too. You can check it out at places like Home Depot or Lowe's. That way, you won't have to compromise on your design vision with tile!
While I'm not a fan of wood around a tub, I do side with your contractor on this one. To prevent wood rot, you'd need to apply marine-grade sealers and regularly ensure no water remains on the surface. Do you really want to be crawling into that 3-inch space to wipe up water?
I appreciate your perspective! It sounds like a real hassle to keep up with that.
If you’re only using the tub and there’s no shower, you might not need a waterproof wall system. That said, you will still want to ensure that whatever material you choose is sealed properly, whether you opt for tile or something like PVC paneling to minimize water issues.
Exactly! So waterproofing would be crucial even with materials like tile or PVC, right? Thanks for clarifying!
Thanks for the tip! Did you use the PVC for an entire wall or just for half wall wainscoting? I’ll definitely mention this to my contractor!