While tiles have long been the go-to choice for bathroom installations, this doesn’t have to be the case. Fibo, the leading UK supplier of tile-effect panels, has a wide range of beautiful waterproof wall panels that offer the look and feel of tiles but with many more benefits. They are also better for the environment, providing a carbon saving of 37 per cent.
Fibo’s market-leading wall panels are made from a layered plywood core, which provides a durable and solid base for the high-pressure laminate on the front and an enhanced moisture barrier on the back. The front laminates can have a 3D grout line routed in to give the feel of real tiles. Thanks to its innovative Aqualock tongue and groove system, which simply clicks together upon installation, Fibo’s wall panels are guaranteed to stay 100 per cent waterproof. They are five times faster to install than regular tiles, requiring only basic carpentry tools and skills, meaning labour costs can be minimised. They can also be fitted directly over existing tiles, enabling any bathroom to be transformed and refurbished with minimum disruption and wastage.
With bathrooms being one of the busiest spaces and projects in any residential or commercial building, design trends are changing all the time. Fibo is always introducing new designs, colours and surfaces, which reflect the latest interior design trends. Biophilic design is one example that has taken off in recent years and shows no sign of going out of style. With more time being spent at home in the last few years, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, bringing the outside in has become a great way to embrace natural features, enhance well-being and create a spa-like feel in the bathroom. This can be achieved by incorporating natural colours into the bathroom, such as Fibo’s Ocean Blue and Olive-Green decors, or taking inspiration from natural textures with the new Rough Wood and Avalon Pine wooden vertical plank designs.
However, design isn’t the only area of concern for specifiers and architects. With the UK Government committing to being at net zero by 2050, the construction industry must move forwards to help achieve this target. Construction accounts for roughly 39 per cent of the UK’s energy and process-related carbon dioxide emissions and is consistently one of the top reasons for excess carbon emissions. For this reason, many specifiers and architects are looking for more environmentally friendly options to use. Fibo’s wall panels tick this box too, having a 37 per cent smaller carbon footprint when compared to regular tiles, providing a more sustainable option for specifiers and architects.
Made primarily from timber, which is sourced from FSC or PEFC certified forests, Fibo’s wall panels will retain the carbon they contain throughout their lifetime. Only releasing this carbon when recycled, degraded or incinerated at the end of their lifespan. The layered plywood accounts for 80 per cent of the panel weight, making the predominant material in the panel a renewable one.
