Wetwall™ vs. the Competition
Bathrooms and wet spaces work harder than most areas of a building or home. They see constant use, frequent cleaning, and nonstop exposure to moisture — all while needing to look great year after year. For decades, tile has been the default solution. But today’s projects demand more speed and durability.
That’s where Wetwall Waterproof Wall Panels come in. Wetwall is the modern alternative to traditional tile, engineered for both commercial and residential wet spaces where performance and efficiency matter as much as aesthetics. Trying to specify the right material for your next project? Discover how Wetwall measures up to competitive surfaces and keeps you moving forward.
Wetwall outperforms tile in every category.
Installation
Our patented tongue-and-groove panel system easily snaps into place with little to no demo work required for install.
Performance
Wetwall is waterproof, scratch-resistant, antimicrobial and less likely to break than traditional tile.
Costs
While certain material costs may be comparable, the ease of installation and longevity of Wetwall make it consistently more affordable than tile.
How do our bathroom wall panels stack up?
With Wetwall, you only pay for Wetwall; with tile and other renovation materials, you pay for so much more.
Luxury Look at a Fraction of the Cost
Less Materials Required
Because the durable, lightweight Wetwall material is less breakable, you need less material to cover your shower. And Wetwall is easily installed with standard woodworking tools.
When you spec out a shower or bathroom project, you usually have to buy 10-15% more tile than you think. That's because breakage, discoloration and cuts increase your cost. And after you purchase the necessary tools, you may be in for more than double your total estimate.
Less Labor Intensive
Wetwall is quicker and easier to install than tile or stone, and labor is one of the most expensive costs of bathroom remodeling. With materials readily available and little-to-no prep work or grouting, you save hours (and days) of tedious work. Wetwall is so easy that pros can quote less hourly labor, and many DIYers can skip the cost entirely.
Between prepping the space, cutting tiles, and doing the grout work, days of tedious tile labor can quickly exceed the cost of your materials.
Less Repairs Down The Road
Wetwall’s innovative design material withstands scratching, cracking, buckling, and tenting. So you can deliver long-term durability in high-use shower and bath environments.
Tile is an easily breakable material, and even the most careful shippers will end up chipping corners or shattering pieces. Cracked pieces, discolored grout, and the constant bleaching and cleaning are inevitable — and can really add up over the years. And when you buy replacement pieces, they don’t always match your existing tile.
Wetwall bathroom wall panels install in 2.5 hours. It’s easy to see why tile takes so long to install.
Fast and Easy Installation
Exceptional Service
Wetwall offers exceptional and reliable service with on-time delivery. Our panels have a seven-day lead time and can arrive in as little as two weeks. This keeps your timeline on track, whether it’s a new build, addition, or remodel.
Certain speciality or imported tiles require an eight-week lead time (and shipping costs can be shocking). Even locally stocked tiles can run low on inventory, bringing your project to a grinding halt.
Less Prep
With Wetwall, panels can install right over existing tile, greenboard, or drywall. That can save days of tedious prep and demo.
For tile installation, existing tile needs to be completely demolished before a remodel can begin. This is often labor-intensive and time-consuming, ballooning project costs and waste. Tile demolition can also be dangerous, as tile installed between 1920 and 1970 often contains asbestos. If necessary, abatement processes are lengthy, often requiring additional testing, specialty equipment, and materials.
Saves Time
Wetwall's lightweight, tongue-and-groove panel system snaps together quickly, creating a virtually seamless look. Experienced pros can be in and out in as little as 45 minutes, while the typical DIYer only needs 2.5 hours.
Installing tile is a challenging, painstaking process. It’s heavy to manage (often coming broken right out of the box). Tile rarely lines up and requires spacers, grout, and thinset. Precision cuts often take two or three tries to get right, requiring additional material and cost. And tile can be brittle, which is apparent when you start to cut holes for a showerhead or drill to secure a shower door.
Snap-together Panels
Simple-to-follow instructions and snap-together panels (down to the shower pan) make for foolproof installation for anyone, from contractors to DIYers. We manufacture our own adhesive for a bond that won’t buckle or pop. Our color matched sealant assures you’ll get a consistent, flawless look, without trial and error.
Tile issues often start with what’s behind it: Uneven walls? Bad adhesive or bonding? Shifting concrete? It can cause tile to crack, buckle, and tent. If it’s not the backing, another install problem is the joining. When tiles don’t meet the shower pan or are adhered only by the corners, leaking and damage are inevitable.
Wetwall bathroom wall panels are engineered to last through wear, tear, traffic, and more.
Performance That Never Fades
Easy To Clean
Wetwall’s patented, waterproof wall panels withstand everyday use and feature a grout-free surface that wipes clean with soapy water and a damp cloth — making maintenance easy and stress-free.
Tile is porous, allowing moisture to seep in, especially when it’s humid. This leaves watermarks and discoloration and provides a wet environment where mold and mildew can easily grow. When tile absorbs moisture, it leads to damage, like popping, tenting, and buckling.
Stain Resistant
The innovative technology of Wetwall inhibits the growth of stain and odor-causing bacteria, mold, and mildew. Additionally, Wetwall's color coordinated sealant features a PUR-based MS Polymer and antifungal additives that also resist mold and won't degrade.
Everyone knows grout is difficult to clean. What they don’t know is that over time, grout will compress and lose its bond, letting water in and causing tiles to crack or dislodge entirely. And different grout manufacturers use different formulations, causing changes in grout coloring. Plus, you’ll have to regrout eventually.
Scratch Resistant
Built to last, these durable yet lightweight panels feature AEON Performance Technology. AEON reduces scuffing in transit, on the job site, during fabrication and installation, and long afterward. Even glossy surfaces and darker colors stay looking better, longer.
Tile is porous, prone to scratches, and easily broken or chipped. Over time, the effects of everyday wear and tear take their toll on tile, and because it’s more tedious to clean, it often loses its luster, leading to renovations down the road.
Uniquely engineered for every wet space
Wetwall is engineered from the inside out for wet environments. Each panel features a high-performance decorative surface bonded to a solid waterproof composite core and a durable backing layer. This creates a fully waterproof, grout-free wall system.
Unlike tile, there are no grout lines to crack, stain, or collect moisture. That means better long-term performance and easier upkeep. Wetwall panels also feature scratch-and-scuff-resistant AEON™ Performance Technology and antimicrobial protection, helping every surface maintain its appearance even in high-traffic commercial bathrooms. Facilities and maintenance teams rave about Wetwall’s ability to inhibit mold, mildew, and bacterial growth.
When it comes to demanding wet spaces, Wetwall is simply engineered to win.
Legacy Ash W7042
Urban Soapstone W7067
Perfect for pros
Wilsonart created Wetwall with professionals in mind. Unlike traditional solutions, installation is fast and efficient — a full tub or shower surround can be completed in as little as 2.5 hours. Lightweight panels are also much easier to handle than individual tiles.
For contractors and GCs, this means tighter timelines are easier to hit and labor costs are lower. For designers and architects, Wetwall offers aesthetic flexibility without the complexity of tile layouts or specialty labor. Our sturdy wall panels are designed to look just like woodgrains, stones, textiles, patterns, and solids to create the upscale look clients want. The result is a spa-like oasis that looks stunning for years to come.
But Wetwall is more than a beautiful solution for complex jobs. It’s also manufactured domestically in Temple, Texas, which helps you avoid supply chain delays while supporting reliable scheduling and scalable rollouts.
From fast installation and simple maintenance to beautiful design and fewer project delays, every pro can find a reason to love Wetwall. |
Using Wetwall for your next project
Wetwall is ideal for a wide range of applications — including hospitality, multifamily, student housing, and other commercial environments. Panels can be installed over existing tile or common wall substrates with proper preparation. This makes Wetwall especially valuable for high-volume projects or quick-turn renovations.
For a large student housing project, see how Wetwall was used at Colorado Mesa University. Or check out a commercial shower installation at Gold’s Gym in Tampa, Florida!
Wetwall isn’t about replacing tile everywhere. It’s about offering a better option when performance, efficiency, and long-term beauty matter most. For both commercial and residential wet spaces, Wetwall stands apart from the competition with real-world advantages for any pro.
Discover the Modern Alternative to Tile
Meet the revolutionary, lightweight design material that transforms bathrooms and wet spaces more quickly, easily, and with long-term value versus tile.
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