Tile vs. Laminate Showers: Which Is Best?

The bathroom may not seem like one of the most important rooms in your home until you realize how much time you spend in it. Whether you’re getting your children ready for school in the morning or unwinding after a stressful day at the office, your bathroom acts as a sanctuary where you can relax. But if your bathroom is dated it may be hard to get into a relaxed mindset if you’re tiptoeing around in a shower that is falling apart.

If your bathroom shower needs a facelift, you may be wondering what is the best way to spruce up its appearance. Two popular options for shower walls are tile and laminate panels — but which is best? Follow along as we share advice and recommendations on which material is best suited for your shower surround.

What Are Shower Tiles?

Shower tile is relatively self-explanatory, as it is tiles that can be installed as your shower surround. These tiles come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, textures, and materials, such as stone, ceramic, and porcelain — allowing you to customize the overall appearance of your shower to your exact specifications.

What Are Laminate Shower Panels?

Unlike traditional tiles which are installed one at a time to create the desired pattern, laminate shower panels come in large sheets that can be adhered to the shower walls with an adhesive. Similar to tiles, they work to protect the wall from water damage and come in a multitude of colors and patterns.

Laminate Wall Panels vs. Traditional Tiles

Now that we understand what each of these options is, it’s time to outline the differences between the two so you can make a well-informed decision when designing your new bathroom.

Installation

Are you renovating your bathroom yourself or are you hiring a contractor to bring your vision to life? If you’re making your shower surround a DIY project, you may be more inclined to install laminate shower panels due to their ease of installation. Their flexibility allows them to work in showers of many shapes and sizes, and the installer has fewer panels to align on the walls than they would with traditional tile. Tile takes much longer to install but may provide a longer lifespan depending on the wear and tear your shower is likely to face over the years.

Budget

Your budget will likely play a major factor in deciding between traditional tile or laminate shower panels. While there are low-cost tiles on the market, the quality is often representative of the price — cheap. You’re more likely to experience cracked or damaged tiles over time if you opt for an inexpensive tile option. Instead, laminate shower panels allow you to get your dream aesthetic at a lower price point (that doesn’t compromise quality). Laminate panels also require fewer materials for the installation, such as grout or specialized equipment, which can also lower the installation costs.

Durability

One of the most important aspects to consider when selecting a material for your shower walls is maintenance and durability. The last thing you want is to install something that causes you endless headaches due to regular maintenance or repairs. Something to keep in mind is that traditional tiles have grout lines between each individual tile which may act as a weak point and require regrouting or maintenance to keep your bathroom free of trapped mold. Because shower panels don’t have grout lines, there is no risk of mold buildup or damaged grout that requires repair.

Appearance

Now we can’t forget about the appearance of your selection! You’re likely renovating your bathroom to give it a fresh new look and rid your home of an outdated bathroom. To be honest, you can’t go wrong with traditional tile or laminate shower panels if you’re looking to elevate the overall aesthetic in your space. However, depending on your desired look, traditional tile may make it easier to bring your vision to life. Tile offers more variety than its counterpart, allowing you to select whatever pattern, design, color, shape, texture, or size that you’ve been envisioning in the space. Shower panels will still elevate the look and feel of your space but you will have fewer options to choose from. If you’re hoping to achieve the look of tile, you’re better off going with traditional tile than a laminate panel that tries to replicate the appearance of time. The multitude of tile options allows for much more customization of your bathroom.

Which Is Best?

Unfortunately, we can’t give you a clear-cut answer as to which is best because it depends on your specific priorities for your bathroom remodel.

While tile is widely available, comes in a variety of design options, and is available to fit most budgets, there are still some cons to consider. If they aren’t properly maintained, the grout lines can become damaged or discolored and lead to mold growth.

Laminate panels may not offer as much design customization, but they are easy to clean, don’t require grouting, and can be fitted directly over your existing tile (versus having to remove outdated tile before installing new tile).

You will be happy with whichever option you choose for your shower!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are laminate shower wall panels cheaper than tile?

Yes, although there are cost-efficient tiles, shower panels are typically going to be less expensive every time. Both the cost of materials, installation, and maintenance are substantially less.

Which are the best shower wall panels?

Like tile, shower wall panels come in a variety of materials. We recommend installing laminate shower wall panels for their quality and affordability.

Can shower wall panels be cut to size?

If you have a shower that has some non-traditional wall sizes, you may be wondering if the shower panels can be cut to fit your specific need. Laminate shower panels can be easily trimmed with a knife to fit around your corners or shower fixtures.

Can shower wall panels be installed over ceramic tiles?

One of the top reasons homeowners choose laminate wall panels is because of their ease of installation. If their current, dated shower boasts tile, they can simply install the shower panels directly over top of the tile to create a completely new look.