How to Install Bathroom Wall Paneling

Bathroom wall paneling is an excellent way to spruce up your bathroom. It makes for a quick remodel because it’s simple to install over your existing bathroom wall covering. Once the bathroom wall paneling is up, it’s also easy to decorate. Bathroom wall paneling also keeps moisture out of the bathroom walls.

Step 1 - Measure

Before you buy your bathroom wall paneling, you need to know exactly how much paneling to buy. Measure the surface that you plan to cover and buy enough bathroom wall paneling so that you can complete the entire job. It’s best if you buy a little more than you need to allow for any mistakes during installation.

Step 2 - Studs

If you are installing bathroom wall paneling over the existing wall, you are going to need to know where the studs are because you’ll be screwing the paneling into them. Studs are either on a 16-inch center or a 24-inch center. This means the distance from the center of one stud to the center of the next is either 16-inches or 24-inches in length. Use a stud finder to locate the studs on the wall; it should be relatively easy to work out which is the correct measurement for the wall you are working on.

Step 3 - Cutting

Because you’ll be attaching the bathroom wall paneling to the studs, you need to make sure that the panels are cut to the correct width. As two panels will abut each other on a stud, you need to be certain that you measure the distances on the panel correctly. Use your tape measure carefully, always remembering that your first panel will begin in a corner. Measure twice, check your figures, then draw the line on the wall panel and cut with your saw.

Step 4 - Putting Up the Panel

Although a few bathroom wall panels are self-adhesive, most need to be attached to the wall. To do this, hold the panel against the wall and drill a hole on each side before driving in screws to hold it in place. Once you’ve done that, you can add more screws to hold it securely in place against the studs. The screws should be placed about 12-inches apart.

Lay the next panel butted against the first before drilling holes and screwing into place in the same way as you did with the first panel. Repeat the procedure until you’ve covered the entire wall or walls.

Step 5 - Finishing

Fill over the screw heads with spackle and smooth it over so that it is level with the bathroom wall panels. Use drywall tape over the gaps between the bathroom wall panels and smooth down so the surface is even with the panels. Cut the top and bottom trim to size and attach to the bathroom wall panels by nailing into place using thin tack nails. Finish by painting or staining in your preferred color.