A commercial gym shower block sees hundreds of users a day, and keeping the walls looking clean is a constant battle. In this case study, Wall Panels in Glasgow helped Tom Wilson solve a persistent maintenance problem at his independent Finnieston gym, replacing failing tile grout with a solid, waterproof alternative. The project covered 35 Monza Plain Wall Panels and was completed by a contractor team over three days during the gym’s quietest hours.
The Problem
Tom owns an independent gym in Finnieston, Glasgow. His men’s and women’s shower cubicles were causing constant headaches.
Because the cubicles were used hundreds of times a day, the traditional tile grout was failing. That led to leaks and mould build-up that no amount of surface cleaning could shift. The shower block never looked clean for long and started to feel dated within months of any refresh.
The Solution
Tom needed an absolute guarantee against water damage, but he also wanted a finish that still felt modern and easy to live with. After researching his options, he decided to completely panel the shower blocks using the Monza Plain Wall Panels.
The dark, near-matte finish hides daily water marks well between cleaning shifts, and the seamless design removes the grout lines that had been causing all the trouble. Because the panels are 100% waterproof with a built-in anti-fungal and anti-mould layer, Tom also gets long-term protection rather than a quick cosmetic fix.
The Installation
A team of contractors worked during the gym’s quietest hours over three days to strip the old tiles, waterproof the backing board, and fit the new panels securely.
The existing tiled walls had to come off first, because Pro-Tek wall panels cannot be installed over old tiles. Once the substrate was prepared and waterproofed, the panels were adhesive-fixed in place. The full 2800mm panel height meant most of the walls could be covered in a single piece, with no horizontal joins to weaken the waterproof finish.
The Result
The showers are now completely watertight. The dark finish looks fresh and modern, and the maintenance routine is dramatically simpler.
The constant regrouting that used to eat into the gym’s budget has stopped completely. Staff can wipe the panels down between cleaning shifts without scrubbing at grout lines, and there is no mould coming back through the surface.
Tom’s verdict:
“The constant regrouting was costing a fortune. Moving to a solid panel system has stopped the hassle completely. The dark finish looks great, and the maintenance savings are huge for the business.”
Project Snapshot
- Client: Tom Wilson
- Location: Finnieston, Glasgow
- Room Updated: Gym Shower Block
- Product Chosen: Monza Plain Wall Panel
- Panels Used: 35
- Time to Complete: 3 days