Mounting a shower back wall made from PLEXIGLAS®

© Röhm GmbH – Acrylic Products

You can easily install a shower back wall made from PLEXIGLAS® yourself – even over a tiled splashback. You can find instructions for a removable fastening here.

If those tiles have become outdated and your bathroom could do with a refresh, you don't have to spend all that time and effort trying to remove the tiles from the wall. With PLEXIGLAS® wall cladding, you can renovate your bathroom without creating dust and noise, with stunning results in your desired color. With large surface areas instead of tile grids, and high-gloss, easy-to-maintain surfaces instead of stained joints which are difficult to keep clean.

PLEXIGLAS® is easy to clean and can withstanding the high humidity and constant temperature changes in the bathroom. Before cutting, it is important to bear in mind the clearance needed to allow PLEXIGLAS® to expand in heat and humidity, as explained below.

A shower back wall made from PLEXIGLAS® is a great starting point for a seamless bathroom with large homogeneous surfaces. Using the appropriate tools and materials described here, even DIY amateurs can cut and mount their own shower back wall. PLEXIGLAS® is easy to work with and is very lightweight compared with glass.

Which type of PLEXIGLAS® is suitable for use in a seamless bathroom?

All types of PLEXIGLAS® sheets can be used for wall cladding. The brand acrylic glass from Röhm is available in a wide variety of colors. PLEXIGLAS® Hi-Gloss, PLEXIGLAS® Optical HC and PLEXIGLAS® Optical HCM are particularly popular for wall cladding in the bathroom.

Design options with PLEXIGLAS® for a bathroom without tiles

Seamless bathroom

Materials with high-gloss surfaces such as PLEXIGLAS® Hi-Gloss are an elegant alternative to tiled backsplashes.

 

IDEAS OF APPLICATION

© Röhm GmbH – Acrylic Products

Water landscape

Feel as if you're showering in nature! A beautiful landscape motif provides well-being and relaxation. PLEXIGLAS® Optical HC can be backprinted with an individual design.

 

IDEAS OF APPLICATION

© Röhm GmbH – Acrylic Products

Wellness room

You don't need to go to all that effort of tiling walls to convert a room into a wellness oasis. A shower back wall made from PLEXIGLAS® is not only waterproof, but it looks exquisite.

 

IDEAS OF APPLICATION

© Röhm GmbH – Acrylic Products

List of materials: Fastening PLEXIGLAS® to the wall

  1. Waterproof pen
  2. Medium to fine machine file
  3. Card scraper
  4. Spray bottle
  5. Hole saw for plastic and acrylic glass processing
  6. Stepped drill bit
  7. Cone drill bit
  8. Countersink cutter
  9. Metal drill with a bit suitable for acrylic glass (tip angle 60° to 90°)
  10. Trimming cutter with thrust ring
  11. Contour cutter with thrust ring
  12. Jigsaw blade with straight teeth and a tooth spacing of 2.5 mm
  13. Circular saw blade with straight teeth (ideally trapezoid/flat tooth) with approx. 13 mm tooth spacing
  14. Aluminum profiles
  15. Wall and sheet bracket, 6 mm thick
  16. Double-sided foam tape
  17. Spacers

Instructions: Mounting a shower back wall made from PLEXIGLAS®

We'll now explain how a removable fastening works using the lock-and-key principle. The brackets on the wall and the brackets on the PLEXIGLAS® sheet fit into each other. The advantage is that the sheet can expand further and the PLEXIGLAS® shower back wall can also be removed easily if needed.

 

© Röhm GmbH – Acrylic Products

1

Check the surface condition

The surface must be clean, dry, flat, free of dust and grease, firm, and stable. No parts may protrude from the wall. Smooth out bumps as necessary. If you want to mount PLEXIGLAS® sheets on a tiled backsplash, remove loose tiles and fill open gaps with tile pieces and adhesive.

© Röhm GmbH – Acrylic Products

2

Allow for clearance

The wall and panel brackets should be at least 6 mm thick to allow for ventilation space between the PLEXIGLAS® sheet and the wall and to prevent mold from building up.

Moisture-resistant wood, plastic, or metal are all material suitable for wall and sheet brackets. Use a circular saw or jigsaw to bevel one edge at a 45° angle. For sawing materials such as wood, we recommend applying a clear or colored coat for better adhesion of the foam tape.

© Röhm GmbH – Acrylic Products

3

Mount the wall brackets (lock)

Depending on the type of wall surface, glue or screw the prepared wall brackets horizontally to the wall. Note: For large surfaces, screwing is recommended.

© Röhm GmbH – Acrylic Products

4

Draw the holes for water connections

Mark the exact position of the holes for the water connections the right place on the PLEXIGLAS® sheet. Important: To allow for an expansion clearance on the PLEXIGLAS®, the hole must be at least 5 mm in diameter larger than the water connection.

© Röhm GmbH – Acrylic Products

5

Drill the holes

Now drill the holes for the water connections. Use a hole saw suitable for acrylic glass to drill the PLEXIGLAS®. Select a slow speed and cool the bore continuously with water from a spray bottle. Then deburr the hole with a file or scraper.

You can find tips for drilling PLEXIGLAS® here.

© Röhm GmbH – Acrylic Products

6

Attach the counter-bearing

Glue the counter-bearing onto the PLEXIGLAS® sheet near the water connection, so the valves can be screwed in securely at a later stage. The counter-bearings should be as thick as the wall brackets.

© Röhm GmbH – Acrylic Products

7

Attach the sheet brackets (key)

Apply double-sided foam tape to the sheet brackets on one side. Do not remove the protective film on the outside of the tape. Then insert the prepared sheet brackets loosely into the pre-assembled wall brackets.

© Röhm GmbH – Acrylic Products

8

Attach the profiles

Cut the U-end profiles and the corner profile to the sheet size. Then attach the profiles to the PLEXIGLAS® sheets. The corner profile should be attached to the PLEXIGLAS® sheet, which is first mounted to the wall.

The profile is positioned flush on one edge and lightly tapped along the entire length of the PLEXIGLAS® sheet edge. If the edges of the profile fit well and do not protrude, tap it firmly to the bottom.

© Röhm GmbH – Acrylic Products

9

Remove the protective film from the adhesive tape

Now remove the protective film from the foam tape on the sheet brackets (the key).

© Röhm GmbH – Acrylic Products

10

Place spacers

Place 3 mm-thick spacers along the edge of the shower tray.

© Röhm GmbH – Acrylic Products

11

Mount the first PLEXIGLAS® sheet

Now you can remove the protective film from the PLEXIGLAS® sheets. Start mounting the PLEXIGLAS® sheets for the shower back wall with the holes for the water connections.

Place the front edge of the sheet at an angle on the spacers and initially hold the sheet at a slight angle from the wall. Then, firmly push the sheet up with your hand, so that it sticks to the adhesive strips of the sheet bracket. As soon as the PLEXIGLAS® sheet adheres to the wall, use a soft rubber roller to roll vigorously over the mounting points.

© Röhm GmbH – Acrylic Products

12

Mount the second PLEXIGLAS® sheet

Now, place the second PLEXIGLAS® sheet on the spacers and press onto the adhesive tape of the sheet brackets from the bottom toward the top. Insert this PLEXIGLAS® sheet into the corner profile of the first sheet. As soon as the PLEXIGLAS® sheet adheres to the wall, use a soft rubber roller to roll vigorously over the mounting points.

© Röhm GmbH – Acrylic Products

13

Remove the spacers

Check that the PLEXIGLAS® sheets are firmly attached to the shower back wall before removing the spacers.

© Röhm GmbH – Acrylic Products

14

Apply the silicone sealant

Seal the gap between the shower tray and aluminum profile with a neutral-crossed linked silicone sealant and allow to dry for a while.

Frequently asked questions about PLEXIGLAS® shower back walls

  • This depends on the type of installation. The PLEXIGLAS® sheet can be easily removed if you used a removable fastening. With a fixed fastening, the PLEXIGLAS® may be damaged if the shower back wall is dismantled.

  • The adhesive will hold if the surface is roughened beforehand and a suitable adhesive tape and the correct silicone for the joints are used. Please refer to the manufacturer's instructions.

  • PLEXIGLAS® is not water-permeable. If the joints and gaps are carefully sealed, moisture cannot form behind the sheet.

  • If a water pipe bursts behind the PLEXIGLAS® sheet, you need to remove the sheet. That is why we advise mounting your PLEXIGLAS® shower back wall with a removable fastening.

  • PLEXIGLAS® is easy to clean and maintain. Lukewarm water with a splash of detergent on a soft, lint-free cloth or a viscose sponge is usually all you need. In case of heavy build-up, you can also use vinegar essence diluted with water.

    General guidance: To remove tougher and especially greasy stains, a strong plastic cleaning agent or benzene-free petroleum ether (light petroleum) may be used. However, cleaning agents should not contain benzene, ethanol, and other alcohols, organic materials, or thinners, as these can damage the surface.

    You will find more details about cleaning, disinfecting, and maintaining PLEXIGLAS® here.

Instructions for Installing PLEXIGLAS®


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