How to make a plastic box for pipes in the bathroom

Pipes left in sight are not the best complement to a bathroom interior. In order for the room to have a neat and complete look, communications must be hidden. Moreover, it is desirable to do this in such a way as to have access to the pipe joints, valves, meters and filters. The optimal solution to this problem would be the manufacture of boxes. Consider how to make a pipe box in the bathroom from plastic panels.

Advantages of the plastic box

The design for masking pipes can be made of plastic or drywall. Each of these options is good in its own way, but from the point of view of practicality, the plastic box leads. It has many indisputable advantages:

• The ability to quickly disassemble without damaging the material. This property of the construction made of plastic is especially relevant for pipes joined by fittings and threaded connections that are not insured against leaks. After eliminating the breakdown or scheduled maintenance of the pipes, the box is easily assembled back.
• No need for further decoration. Plastic panels themselves are already the finishing decorative material, unlike drywall, which requires final processing.

• Resistant to deformation and ease of repair. The plastic used to make the panels is strong and flexible, so the likelihood of damage is lower than that of tiles that can be accidentally broken. Even if one panel is damaged, it is easy to replace it with a new one without sacrificing the entire structure.
• Moisture resistance. PVC is not afraid of water, does not rot, nothing will happen to the box, even if it is installed close to the bathtub or becomes wet due to condensation formed on the pipes.
• Easy to install. Installation of the box will take only a few hours, does not require the use of expensive or specific tools.
• Affordable price. Plastic panels for bathrooms - one of the most inexpensive finishing materials.
• Roominess and compactness. Due to the small thickness of the panels, the plastic structure is very spacious and does not take up much unnecessary space in the bathroom, which is especially important for a small room.

Plastic box is very practical: it can be disassembled and assemble the required number of times.

Preparatory work

Before proceeding with the assembly of the box, you need to carry out several preliminary activities.

• Inspect all pipes to be hidden. Repair defects while communications are in sight. If a new pipeline is being installed along the way, try to minimize the number of connections.

• Decide what kind of box the bathroom will have. It can hide only a small area where the pipes pass, or occupy a sufficiently large area. The advantage of the first option is to save material and there is no need to sacrifice free space. When choosing a larger modification, the additional space inside the structure can be adapted for storage of things.

Tip: if you are going tiled walls, then it will be more convenient to first make a box. He will hide part of the floor, and in this place you will not have to lay tiles.

• Take the necessary measurements and draw a box. At this point, consider important additional features such as hatches to access meters, valves, and unreliable connections.
• Calculate the amount of material you need with a small margin.

It will be more convenient to dock the panels horizontally. In the vertical version, to ensure structural rigidity, it will be necessary to mount additional transverse trims of the frame every 40 cm.

Necessary materials

To make a plastic box you will need:

• metal profiles for the frame type UD and CD;
• polymer panels;

• silicone sealant;
• PVC skirting boards to mask joints;
• revision doors;
• self-tapping screws;
• sharp construction knife.

Making the frame of the box

When mounting the structural frame, follow the instructions below.

• On the walls adjacent to the corner, install guides (UD profiles), which will set the dimensions of the box. Do not forget to use the level. To fasten the bearing profiles to the wall, use European screws and dowels. If the surface is tiled, you can take self-tapping screws for metal 2.5 cm long and 3.5 mm in diameter. They are twisted into the seams between the tiles.

Tip: To save space in the bathroom, install the profiles closer to the pipes. The minimum distance is 3 centimeters.

• If the pipes run horizontally, place the profile parallel to the floor and fix it on it.
• Start forming the outer corner. Twist the corner post from the two UD profiles. Direct their shelves in different directions at right angles and connect with small screws - "fleas".

• Cut the CD support profile into parts whose length will correspond to the dimensions of the structure. Fix the corner stiffener to the wall. Insert the finished pieces of the profile with one end into the guide installed at the first stage, with the other into the stiffener. Thus, both parts of the corner are connected to the profile.
• After every 50 centimeters, add jumpers, which are necessary for subsequent fastening of PVC panels.
• The second corner profile is attached in a similar way to another wall.

Sheathe the frame with PVC panels

After the supporting structure is ready, you can proceed in its casing. You need to do this in the following sequence:

• Set your start profile. Carefully, avoiding deformation, fix it with the help of "fleas" on the installed guide.
• Measure the strip of plastic panel of the desired length, cut it with a sharp knife.
• Fix one panel in the start profile, attach the second to the corner profile and install it on another plane of the box. To connect, use all the same “fleas”, or “bugs”.
• Assemble the second side of the box in the same way. On the last plastic panel, fix the start profile, then fasten it. If you do this with silicone, then you can ensure yourself the ease of dismantling in the future in the event of an emergency.
• Cut the inspection holes in those places where you need unhindered access to important elements of the pipeline: taps, meters and joints. Using silicone sealant, fix special hatches in the holes.

• The last step will be the installation of plastic skirting boards at the joints of the panels with each other, as well as with the floor, walls and ceiling.

The pipe box in the bathroom is ready. With the right colors for the panels, it looks neat and harmonious, even in combination with tiled finishes.