Jamie Sandilands at Multipanel explains how recent National House Building Council (NHBC) changes on waterproofing bathrooms are making panelling a more efficient choice compared to tiling.
There’s a quiet revolution underway in UK housebuilding, driven by new technical standards that are changing how bathrooms are constructed — and it’s beginning to reshape the choices developers make.
Recent updates from the NHBC require showers delivering more than 12 litres per minute to have an impermeable waterproof layer beneath the finished wall surface. It’s a change aimed squarely at stopping water ingress, protecting structures and reducing long-term maintenance headaches.
While the goal is simple, the ripple effects are significant. Traditional bathroom tiling, which has long been the default option, is now under scrutiny. The new rules mean that tiling directly onto standard plasterboard is no longer acceptable. Developers must either upgrade to marine-grade waterproof boards or install membrane systems (commonly known as ‘tanking’) before laying tiles. Both approaches are technically sound, but come with clear downsides: more materials, additional trades and time, and tighter sequencing in already pressured build programmes.
Balancing time, cost and compliance
For large-scale housebuilders, time is every bit as important as money. On projects building 500 homes a year, even small changes add up. The extra drying periods that come with tanking membranes, for example, can collectively extend the build schedule by hundreds of days.
This is driving a renewed look at alternatives, with pre-finished waterproof wall panelling high on the list. Systems like Multipanel, which carry independent certification and the all-important UKCA, UKNI or CE marking to EAD 030437-00-0503, can be installed straight onto standard walls without adhesives, grout or tanking. In one cost and time study for a 500-home development, choosing Multipanel over traditional tiling saved approximately 1,000 days across the build programme by cutting out wet trades and drying steps.
The cost implications are equally compelling. Historically, there’s been an assumption that wall panelling is more expensive up front than tiles. But that’s shifting. When factoring in the added costs of tanking systems (around £30/m²) or marine-grade boards (£40/m²), alongside extra labour and extended timelines, wall panels can actually offer notable savings. Recent comparisons found that installed costs per bathroom dropped by £175 to £235, translating into annual savings of £87,000 to £117,000 for typical housebuilders building over 500 houses per year.
Performance, sustainability and style in focus
Regulations are only part of the story. For many developers and specifiers, peace of mind comes from knowing the products they choose won’t lead to costly call-backs. That’s why robust testing and EAD-compliant certification matters; it proves panels can stand up to heavy use and prevent leaks over time.
Sustainability is also climbing the agenda. Traditional tiling involves more water consumption on site, greater material waste from cuts and grout, and a larger carbon footprint. By contrast, modern wall panel systems often perform better on sustainability metrics. Multipanel, for example, reports lifecycle assessments indicating up to a 60% improvement. Reduced water use, less waste, and simpler recycling options make them a better fit for developers trying to meet stricter environmental targets, and for buyers who increasingly expect greener choices in their homes.
Then there’s the question of aesthetics. For years, tiles set the gold standard for bathroom style thanks to their endless combinations of sizes, layouts and finishes. But new-generation panels are bridging that gap fast. Today’s ranges include everything from marble and stone effects to subtle matt textures and even tile-effect designs, offering a look that’s virtually indistinguishable from ceramics. Plus, without grout lines to crack or stain, the finished result is sleeker and simpler to maintain; something that pleases both minimalist tastes and facilities teams focused on low-maintenance solutions.
Shaping the future of bathroom specifications
None of this means that tiles are disappearing from UK bathrooms any time soon. But under new NHBC requirements, tiles now bring extra steps, extra costs and added programme risk that developers can’t ignore.
For many, the decision is becoming less about which product looks best on a mood board, and more about which approach truly aligns with modern build realities — combining compliance, speed, sustainability and long-term performance. Increasingly, wall panelling is emerging as the answer that ticks all these boxes.
To explore more about these solutions, visit www.multipanel.co.uk.
