How to repair holes in wet area panelling?

[TinyHomeWA]

I have built a tiny house on wheels and used the wet area panelling from Bunnings (3mm New York White Tile) on our bathroom and laundry walls.
However I have since had to redo some of the configuration for the shower and bath area to better suit our growing family and now need to patch up holes in the wet area panelling where old tapware was. 

I am at a loss as to how to do this as smoothly and seamlessly as possible. 
Any suggestions? 

Thank you 🙏🏻

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @TinyHomeWA. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about repairing holes.

Repairing holes in wet area panelling, especially the manufactured tiled panels like the ones you've used, can be a bit tricky, mainly because it's difficult to match the texture and appearance of the surrounding area seamlessly. That said, there are a few methods that might work for you to make the repair as smooth as possible, even if it’s not perfect.

One approach would be to reinforce the back of the panel where the hole is. You can do this by applying a backing board or piece of timber behind the hole, ensuring it’s securely attached. This will give you a solid surface to work with. Once the backing is in place, you can fill the hole with Builder’s Bog. Make sure to apply the filler in thin layers, allowing each layer to dry completely before adding the next. Once filled, sand it down smooth with fine-grit sandpaper, being careful not to damage the surrounding surface. It’s important to protect the edges of the panel with painter’s tape or masking tape to avoid accidentally scuffing the tiles during this process.

After you’ve patched and smoothed out the area, the tricky part is colour-matching the tiles. Unfortunately, matching the exact finish of the panel is challenging, but a tile-sized piece of adhesive film, like the Boyle 1.5m x 45cm Self-Adhesive Film in White Gloss, could be a good solution. This self-adhesive film can cover the patched area and create a more uniform look, mimicking the glossy, tile-like finish. It’s not a perfect solution, but it should blend the patched area in with the surrounding tiles better than trying to paint the filler.

Another option could be to consider using a decorative tile or insert to cover the patched area if it’s large enough. A small decorative tile placed over the hole, with adhesive applied around the edges, could add an aesthetic element to the space while also covering the repair. Alternatively, if this is still within your shower recess, the holes could be filled with wet area silicone, and a shower caddy or soap dispenser could be installed in that location to hide the repair.

Ultimately, while it may be difficult to achieve a completely seamless result, these steps should help you achieve a repair that looks neat and blends in reasonably well with the rest of the panelling. Just make sure that whatever you use is suitable for wet areas, as you’ll want to ensure the repair is waterproof and durable, especially in a bathroom or laundry setting.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell