FAQs

Yes, just clean down the old tiles and then fit them over the top. If you have loose or protruding tiles, you can remove them and fill those areas with our amazing gap filling adhesive, then fit the panels over the top.

Yes it's true, you might pay slightly more for a m2 of one of our panels than the equivalent in a tile. However, if you take into account the cost of removing the old tiles (if you are renovating), or the cost of tanking or preparing your walls with tile backing boards (in a new build situation), and then add the cost of the sundries to fit tiles and the labour cost (Reco can be fitted in /4 of the time), Reco panels are 40-70% cheaper. What is even better, is the fact that once installed you will never have to re-grout or clean them with harsh chemicals and at the end of their life you can recycle them (unlike tiles) and do your bit for a better world..
Check out our cost comparison calculator.

Yes, you can fit them behind an electric or induction hob as long as you have a gap of 8-10cm from the back of the hob and the panel. You should also only use our PVC fire rated panels and our recommended adhesive. Hot cooking Pans should not be left in direct contact with the panel. Gas hobs should have a piece of toughened glass fitted over the panel or just fit our panels either side and add a feature panel in another material to your cooking area.

We are great at making beautiful panels and we like to stick to what we do best. The good news is that basically anyone who has reasonable DIY skills can fit them. In fact we originally designed this system for the DIY market. Any local handyman can do it, but please be careful when choosing one, as not all of them were created equal!
5) Why are your panels so thin, surely thicker panels are better?
In the 15 years we have been selling these panels there has never been a wall that you couldn't fit our panels to providing it is reasonably level and not behind a gas hob. Once our panels are bonded to the wall with our special gap filling adhesive, they are as strong as tiles. They don't sound hollow when you tap them or break / scratch easily. The flexibility of the panels is an advantage as you can easily handle them in a small space and your bathroom doesn't get smaller after fitting. The wood backed laminate panels are heavy, difficult to fit and if water gets in they can expand and come away from the wall.

We roll the panels up to send them to you, so they take up less room and are cheaper to ship. Once you unroll the panels, they will return to their original flat state ready for fitting. Once they are fitted to the wall they become completely solid, just like tiles.

Some fitters would rather fit tiles as they can charge more. The good news is that there are also lots of really progressive / open minded fitters out there too. They understand that times change and if you do not embrace the future, you will get left behind. Learning to fit a new product should be a challenge they feel ready to rise to and if they don't then that usually means they are not confident in their skills and don't want to lose money when they mess it up.

Please click here to see details of our trade showroom.

Yes, you can click here.

We offer a 10 year manufacturers warranty.

To enquire about selling our products nationally or internationally please contact us here.

For trade and volume customers please contact us and a member of the team representing your area will be able to assist.

For trade credit payment terms please contact us here, including your company name and registration number.

Sadly, for small orders we currently only offer a shipping service to the UK. For larger orders we can deliver worldwide, email info@recosurfaces.com for rates. If you are interested in becoming a distributor or would like information on agents in your area, please get in touch.

No. When you attach the panels to the wall you flatten them against the wall to ensure good contact all over (just like wallpaper). This method, plus the adhesive means the panels become solid. If you tap them they sound like tiles. Most people cannot tell they are plastic until they touch the wall and realise it is warm and not cold.

All of our trade panels are 1220 x 2440 which is 3m². Measure your walls and multiply the height x the width to find your square metre area then add a small amount for wastage (10%) and divide by the panel coverage of 3m. For further help calculating coverage please select technical help option when calling 01205 769002

No - the panels can not be used on floors due to the slip rating and panel composition/structure. 

Reco is the brand name of Reco Surfaces Ltd. We specialise in producing waterproof panel materials for public & trade customers. Our products have several patents that make them unique to any other product on the market.

Our flat sheets are 1220 x 2440 x 2mm in White and Grey in 1050 x 2500 x 2mm

As the panels can be joined at any tile divide there is little wastage. We recommend you allow around 10% to be safe.

Reco Tile Acrylic and PVC tile panels are moulded so they look and feel like tiles but there is no grout. Our sophisticated  moulding process means that you can also join them together seamlessly without the need for joining profiles. Reco Design is a flat sheet of PVC (1220 x 2440 x2mm) that we print with graphics and then coat with a PVC or acrylic hard-coat. You can read more about the differences between our products here.

The panels are very easy to clean as there is no grout and nowhere for the dirt to get trapped. If you have the panels in your shower, then we recommend you rinse the panels down after your shower and clean the silicone joins using a mild detergent and cloth 1-2 times a week. For other areas, we recommend a wipe down with mild detergent a few times a month to prevent dirt build up.

All of our panels are 100% waterproof. Grout is porous which means that it will eventually fail and cause a leak. Our panels do not have grout so they will not leak. The joining system has been tested for over 10 years and we have never had a single leak.

All gloss panels are coated with an acrylic capping (the same as a bath) which makes them very scratch resistant. Any small scratches can be polished out. The satin finish panels are covered with a PVC protective coating that is anti-scratch & anti-graffiti. We do not however, recommend abrasive cleaning or the use of harsh chemicals on our panels as they are unnecessary.

Reco Tile, Reco Design, Reco Protect, Reco Glass EFX and Reco Gloss can all be fitted behind a hob as long as they are at least 80-100mm from the back of the burner. If it is a gas hob then we recommend a piece of toughened glass over the hob area to protect the panel from flames. For a commercial or trade installation we recommend using only PVC or Reco Glass SFX (flame) panels. Acrylic panels class 3, PVC and Reco Glass SFX (flame) Class 1.

The panels have been designed to fit over existing tiles, or into tight spaces, without sacrificing  from the room. The 2-4mm thickness of the panels means they are easy to cut and flexible, which enables them to be fitted in small or tight areas.

For commercial or large trade projects we do have a network of fitters that we can put you in touch with. For more information please contact us here.

Yes, the panels can be fitted over any level surface (except floors) and as they are only 2-4mm you will not lose space. There is no need to strip off the old tiles. Just clean and rinse down thoroughly then fit the panels over the top.

Our Reco joining system is a unique, patented installation method that gives the panels a seamless waterproof join. First apply our high tack adhesive ‘Reco Seal Tape’ to the wall and then apply HG adhesive to the back of the panel and place the panel onto the wall and over half the tape. Thereafter, you apply a 3mm bead of silicone down the side of the panel and onto the tape. Proceed to butt the joining panel up to it, leaving a small gap of about 2mm. Then using a wet finger or silicone tool, clean the join leaving a small amount of silicone sitting at the bottom of the join. You can read full installation instructions here.

The panels are easy to cut. The Reco Tile acrylic panels can be cut using a Stanley knife or fine toothed saw and a metal straight edge. For Reco Design, Reco Protect, Reco Glass, and Reco Tile PVC we recommend you cut them face up using a fine toothed Jigsaw with a down-cutting blade. Holes for pipework can also be easily cut using a standard hole cutter. Track saws can also be used for cutting long lengths.

We have tested a host of joining systems in the past but our engineers unanimously agree that none of them do a better job than standard silicone. For our panels you can either fit them to the wall before you install the shower tray or bath, or you can fill the gap between the tray/bath and the wall with silicone before bedding the bottom edge of the panel down into it. Once you have fitted all of the panels, silicone the front of the join between the panel and the bath/tray and then weight the shower tray down using a heavy tool box and or fill the bath with water to weight it down. This means that the silicone will set at the maximum stretch point and reduce the potential of splitting and leaks. You can read more and watch installation video here.

The panels come with a rounded edge which means most of the time you do not need an edge trim. If you purchase a ‘Reco backing Strip’ (2495 x 50mm), then you can fold it into a right angle and fit it onto the edge of the external corner (making sure its plumb level). Then you can butt the rounded edges of the panel up to each other to give the perfect finish without the need for a trim. You can then put the cut edge of the panel into the internal corner. The only time you might need an edge trim is when you are boxing in pipework or if you are cladding the internal sides of a window. The exposed cut edge can then be covered with one of our ‘Reco Edge Trims’ or you can use traditional tile trims (of no more than 5mm internal height).

You do not have to use ‘Reco Backing Strips’ but we do recommend them. A backing strip is a PVC strip of plastic (2495 x 50mm) that you fold into a right angle and then fit into the corner of the room with the HG Adhesive on the back. Then use your spirit level to ensure that it’s plumb. Once the backing strip has set you can then fit the panels over the top of it. The backing strip means that you do not have to trim the panels to fit the wall and once the first panel is on the wall plumb then it’s easy to panel around the rest of the room. The backing strip is also an extra protection in the corners to ensure there are no leaks.

The panels will remain secure to the wall throughout their lifetime. However, should you wish to remove them then you can cut the silicone at the join between the panels and then using a chisel or other flat instrument prise the panel from the wall. The adhesive should remain on the back of the panel making it easy to then apply a new one. You can then easily peel the adhesive from the removed panel and send it to the local recycling plant or send it back to us to make into a new panel.

As a manufacturer, we don't offer a fitting service however, anyone with basic DIY skills can fit the panels. Most people use a local handyman.