Shower walls and bathrooms
Resin shower walls: no grout lines
A resin or microcement wall finish goes on in thin coats over a waterproofed base, so there are no grout lines to clean or crack. It costs €60 to €120 a m² fitted, often over sound old tiles. A 10 m² bathroom, floor and walls, over old tiles comes to €1,500 to €3,500.
Free, no obligation. One local resin specialist prices it, not five.
Price guide
What resin walls cost
| Job | Typical cost | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Shower and bathroom walls, resin or microcement | €60 to €120 a m² | Over old tiles or new boards, corners, niches. |
| Bathroom floor and walls together | €80 to €150 a m² | The waterproofing, the floor's falls to the drain. |
| A 10 m² bathroom, floor and walls, over old tiles | €1,500 to €3,500 | The state of the old tiles and the walls behind them. |
| A whole bathroom, start to finish | €1,500 to €6,000 | Size, new boards or over tiles, and the extras. |
| For comparison: tiles, fitted | €50 to €120 a m² | Plus €20 to €40 a m² to take old tiles off. |
Ask for VAT to be stated on the written price.
The options
Three ways to a jointless wall
- Microcement. Cement with a resin binder, trowelled on in thin coats and sealed, usually with polyurethane. A soft, stone-like, matt look.
- Resin coatings. Epoxy or polyurethane systems rolled or trowelled over a primed, waterproofed base, in a satin or gloss finish.
- Solid surface panels. Factory-made acrylic resin sheets, cut to size and bonded to the wall, with few joins. Not poured on site.
The DIY check
DIY or hire a pro?
Three taps: the project, the size and how much epoxy you've used. You get an honest verdict, the reasons and what a specialist charges.
Hire a pro
One for a specialist
- A shower wall has to be waterproof behind the finish, not just on top of it.
- Corners, niches, the tray edge and the window reveal are where water gets in.
- There's no second go: a failed wall means water in the wall.
Jointless resin or microcement walls: €60 to €120 a m². A 10 m² bathroom over old tiles: €1,500 to €3,500.
Send this for a real priceHow this is worked out
Anything you walk on, cook on or shower against, at any real size, is a specialist job: the preparation, the cure and the waterproofing decide whether it lasts. Small pieces are what DIY kits are made for. Experience moves a borderline job, never a shower wall or a commercial floor. Prices are our price guide; your written price comes from the specialist.
Waterproofing
Waterproof behind the finish
The finish is the face. The waterproofing is behind it: a tanking membrane or a waterproof board system, taped at every corner, the tray edge, the niche and the window reveal. That's where showers leak, whatever the finish. Ask how the walls are waterproofed before the price is agreed.
Over tiles
Can it go over old tiles?
Often, if the tiles are sound, fixed and flat. Loose or hollow tiles come off first, and the grout lines are filled so they don't show through. Taking tiles off and fitting new ones costs €20 to €40 a m² for removal, then €50 to €120 a m² for the tiling.
Upkeep
Living with a resin bathroom
- A pH-neutral cleaner and a soft cloth. No bleach, no limescale removers with acid, no scouring pads.
- Squeegee the shower after use in hard water areas.
- A worn sealer on microcement can be recoated without stripping the walls.
The written price
What the quote should list
- The area in m², walls and floor separately.
- The system, named: microcement, resin coating or panels, and the sealer.
- How the walls are waterproofed, and what happens to the old tiles.
- How long before you can use the shower.
- VAT.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Are resin shower walls waterproof?
The finish resists water, but the waterproofing is the membrane or board system behind it. Ask how the walls are tanked.
Is microcement the same as resin?
No. Microcement is cement with a resin binder, sealed on top. Resin coatings are epoxy or polyurethane. Both give a wall with no grout lines.
How much is a resin bathroom?
€1,500 to €6,000 for most bathrooms. A 10 m² bathroom, floor and walls, over old tiles: €1,500 to €3,500.
Can I do resin shower walls myself?
We wouldn't. A shower wall that fails puts water into the wall, and the waterproofing has to be right before the finish goes on.
Do resin walls crack?
They can, over a moving or poorly fixed base. That's why loose tiles come off and joints in boards are reinforced first.
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