Bathroom renovation without tiles - wall and floor in a new look with CERAMIN Tiles

Ceramic tiles were for decades without alternative. Today, they are no longer necessarily contemporary. Tiles are expensive to buy and to process. This applies equally to ceramic and stone tiles. But there are plenty of sensible alternatives for walls and floors - some of them cheaper, more aesthetic, more practical, lighter, healthier and more sustainable. The joints between tiles are a magnet for dirt and later mold. Regardless of the material, seamless wall and floor coverings are fundamentally advantageous for that reason alone. And quite a few can be installed even as a do-it-yourselfer.

Quick note beforehand:

  1. Knocking tiles off walls is very time-consuming, tedious and as a DIYer you run the risk of damaging the plaster in the process. If you do the renovation yourself, it will save you time and frustration.
  2. If your previous bathroom floor substrate is even partially carpeted, be sure to tear it out before renovating. You should not install any of the floors mentioned here over carpet.
  3. For tenants: Renovation of the bathroom does not have to be undertaken by the landlord. However, the landlord must also agree to renovation at the tenant's expense.

Alternatives for bathroom walls and floors

Synthetic - and mineral plaster

Both types of plastering can remain after drying without further processing. Very aesthetically pleasing, for example, if you like the industrial look. You can make the surface smooth or rough, and also plaster over the old tiles.s

Synthetic plaster is water-repellent and a mixture of sand, water and synthetic resin. The practical thing about it is that it can be applied to pretty much any solid surface, even over ceramic tiles.

Mineral plaster is not waterproof, but absorbs moisture and releases it again. It consists of water, sand and optionally lime, clay, gypsum or cement.
Mineral plaster needs pores or capillaries to absorb and release moisture. Therefore, if you want to paint over it, be sure to use mineral paints that are open to diffusion.

But be careful, some types, such as the artistic lime plaster Tadelakt, are not suitable for wet rooms such as the shower. If it comes into contact with water too often and too strongly, it starts to crumble.

Apart from special materials such as tadelakt or stucco, mineral plaster is also suitable for DIY enthusiasts. Lime, gypsum and cement plaster are available in ready-to-use packages that you mix yourself. If you want to make it even easier and plaster yourself, you can ask your specialist dealer for waterproof roller plaster that can be applied with a paint roller or brush.

One disadvantage of plaster in the renovation: it takes a long time to dry. The guideline is 14 days. A rule of thumb is that the more lime it contains, the longer and the more gypsum it contains, the shorter the drying time.

Screed instead of plaster

Comparable practical and aesthetic with plaster is screed for the bathroom floor. In terms of maintenance compared to tiles, screed is much less demanding and is also well compatible with underfloor heating.
Its disadvantage: screed takes a good month to dry completely. So it is rather something for new buildings, but not for short-term renovations.

Damp-proof wallpaper

Vinyl, fiberglass and non-woven wallpapers are suitable for the bathroom and even for wet rooms. They are water-repellent, washable and, unlike conventional wallpaper, do not ripple, even at above-average humidity. The average humidity in bathrooms is between 50 and 60 percent.

Nevertheless, they should not be installed in showers or directly on the bathtub and sink. Their advantage: they are comparatively cheap and quick to install. One disadvantage: they are also suitable for the kitchen, but not only water splashes there, but also fats and other food. Even the smallest stains are very stubborn and clearly visible, especially on light-colored damp room wallpaper.

Wood panels

Wood or wood panels on the walls were considered old-fashioned for a while. This has changed with new designs, new coatings and adhesives. They can give a wonderful atmosphere in both new-age and rustic bathrooms. However, wood panels are a little more demanding than plaster or plastic cladding in terms of application and maintenance.

Take only real wood panels! The recommended types of wood include birch and teak. However, wood is generally not suitable for cladding in showers and directly at the bath and sink.

Installation and sealing should necessarily be carried out by professionals. Since it is a natural product, the complete sealing between the panels is especially important. Wood interacts with moisture, it moves and can swell. Unsealed gaps are a haven for dirt, mold and local small animal fauna.

Wooden panels can be glued to any solid and well-cleaned surface - even over existing tiled walls and plastered surfaces. The most important part of the maintenance of wood panels on wall (and on the floor) is the good and regular ventilation of the room, as well as ventilation that includes the spaces behind the wooden wall.

Parquet in the bathroom

For bathroom floors teak is the preferred choice. However, the maintenance of wooden floors is still a little more complex than wooden panels on the walls.
The parquet floor in the bathroom must be regularly resealed with oil. Optimal ventilation is just as important as for the walls. Splashes are not a problem, but even small puddles should be wiped up directly if possible. If underfloor heating is present, be sure to ask experts beforehand!

Linoleum

Linoleum is particularly popular for floors in hospitals and care facilities. It is much more sensitive to moisture than plastic flooring. What makes it unique is its antibacterial properties.
As a floor in the shower area and immediately around the tub and sink linoleum is not suitable.

Decorative panels and design floors

The variety of materials for decorative panels and design floors, which can be used to cover surfaces without joints, is enormous.

  • Plastics such as vinyl, PVC,
  • Acrylic, linoleum
  • Plastic CERAMIN
  • Aluminum (coated)
  • Glass (coated)

In many cases, the quality of digital coatings of plastic and aluminum decorations is so lifelike that the surface textures are hardly distinguishable visually from original natural stones.

What more or less unites all the above decor materials:

  • They can be glued to the wall and, except for glass, to the floor without joints.
  • Many, especially the plastic decorations are cheaper, more practical and much easier to install than ceramic tiles.
  • Surface maintenance is comparatively easy, the joints are eliminated.
  • Decorations made of plastic are also suitable for wet areas in the shower and directly on the tub and sink. They are also quite easy to cut with a cutter knife.

Doch ab da enden die wesentlichen Gemeinsamkeiten. Bahnen, Panels und Fliesen aus CERAMIN® (CERAMIN® Tiles) unterscheiden sich in weiteren Punkten sehr deutlich von etwa Vinyl- und PVC-Belägen. Deswegen stellen wir dieses Dekor heraus.

CERAMIN Tiles consist of several layers:

Der Schichtaufbau von einem Ceramin Steindekor ist beschrieben mit den einzelnen Schichten mit jeweiligen Beschriftungen.

Dekorplatten und Designböden: CERAMIN® Tiles

Im Vergleich zu Vinyl-, PVC- und vergleichbaren Designböden sind bei CERAMIN® Tiles besonders herauszuheben:

  • CERAMIN® Tiles sind zu 100 Prozent frei von gefährlichen Weichmachern, den sog. Phthalaten. Diese Weichmacher befinden sich in fast allen flexiblen Kunststoffen, ganz besonders in PVC. Im Laufe der Zeit lösen sie sich aus dem Kunststoff. Dabei treten sie gasförmig oder in flüssiger Form aus. Das ist unter anderem abhängig von Temperatur und Feuchtigkeit. Auch Hautfett kann Weichmacher binden.
    But in the bathroom in particular, bare skin comes into contact with the walls and floor more than in other rooms. And especially in the bathroom, the humidity is above average and, for example, in the shower, the walls and floor regularly get wet.
    More information about this topic here.
  • CERAMIN Tiles are fully recyclable without any loss of quality. New CERAMIN Tiles are created from old ones. Compared to all other mentioned coverings, this makes them an outstanding environmentally friendly solution that is just as durable.
    More information about this topic here
  • CERAMIN Tiles are particularly light and especially easy to cut.
    For example, you can fully equip a corner shower with only two tiles - one for each wall. For the corresponding dimensions, we assume 2.55 m x 1.20 m as an example. A CERAMIN Tile of these dimensions weighs just 15 kg. The installation on the wall is therefore quick and easy, even for the do-it-yourselfer.
  • CERAMIN Tiles are produced from local materials and completely made in Germany.
  • CERAMIN Tiles offer a wide collection of motifs (wall and floor). It ranges from slate to sandstone, natural stone and marble. Take a look at our collection.

The advantages of CERAMIN at a glance

CERAMIN Tiles …

  • are 100 percent waterproof and non-slip (flooring),
  • are ideal on hot water underfloor heating due to their thermal conductivity,
  • are about two-thirds lighter than ceramic tiles for the same size,
  • can be laid easily and dust-free,
  • can be easily cut to any desired size with a cutter knife,
  • can be installed glued or floating,
  • are very thin (3 mm) compared to tiles,
  • are extremely robust,
  • durable and do not break,
  • are 100 percent free of PVC and hazardous plasticizers and
  • do not need joints = less potential for contamination.

Step by step guide

View and download the detailed instructions for laying Ceramin Tiles: 

Checkliste und Anleitung - reibungslos das Bad renovieren

Alles, was Sie brauchen und vorbereiten müssen, um Ihr Badezimmer zu renovieren, haben wir in einer ausführlichen, interaktiven Checkliste für Sie zusammengefasst. Wir geben Ihnen nützliche Tipps und Tricks für die Renovierung, die gezielt häufige Fehler vermeiden. Sie können die Liste kostenlos herunterladen.

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