When hardboard paneling was first introduced, its sole purpose was to provide an alternative to more costly products on the market, like tile, marble and solid surface material. Basically, it was a 4 x 8-foot sheet of hardboard with a photograph finish. Most of us quickly learned that this product (especially when we used it as a tub/shower enclosure) just didn't hold up. I suppose it was used mostly in rentals and low-cost projects. Over the years, the concept has undergone many changes and today there's an improved product that's worth checking out.

Aqua Tile, by ABTco, Inc., is a tileboard vastly different from previous products, mainly because more care has gone into the fiber blend substrate. It's much stiffer and appears to be of higher quality. The surface of Aqua Tile features realistic-looking embossed grout lines, produced with high heat and pressure. The embossed and decorative print is protected by an infrared-cured, high-gloss acrylic topcoat that provides superior moisture resistance, washability, toughness, and flexibility. Edges are finished so there's no need for molding. There's an alkyd-melamine base coat and sealer/filler between the print and the substrate. The substrate is tempered to restrict water absorption and create a highly coatable surface. Board integrity is maintained through a hot-press embossing process with engraved plates (unlike scoring techniques which weaken panel surfaces).

Figure 10-16 shows the tileboard in a Pewter Rose Mosaic pattern that makes a handsome bathroom or kitchen wall covering. If your customer has ceramic or marble tile tastes, but not the budget, then Aqua Tile tileboard may be the answer.

Photo Courtesy of: ABTco, Inc.

Figure 10-16 Aqua Tile used in a bathroom remodel

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