Seratone panels have been around for some years, and they continue to be used widely, especially in new builds for bathrooms and laundries and in bathroom renovations. However, a recent refresh of the range has seen two new collections launched — a tile-look offering and a collection of metallic finishes in elegant neutral hues.
“Because Seratone is a prefinished panel, it’s a sought-after solution for both builders and specifiers as well as DIY renovators to whom the ease of installation appeals in comparison to the labour and time required for tiling,” Placemakers’ Rebecca Collier-York says.
For Rebecca, who heads the group’s internal linings category, the updated Seratone collections were an instant choice when fitting out a new Placemakers store in Wairau Park, Auckland. “We wanted to show customers what can be achieved with this versatile and now contemporary collection of wet wall linings,” she says.
“The Seratone Aqua range, in particular, is a drawcard because of the tile-look options, including subway tiles, a herringbone pattern and a matt concrete-look tile design," she says. "While they are designed for wet areas, these new offerings have diversified the range of uses we’re seeing. Many of our customers are using Seratone for a variety of settings, from firebox surrounds to kitchen islands.”
By creating a realistic tile-look finish, without the ongoing maintenance tiles require, and without the initial investment tiling requires, this sleek finish is appealing to a wide range of people and projects.
The second new collection, Specialty, offers a metallic range of colours in neutral tones — finishes particularly suited to feature walls and areas where an element of texture and colour is needed, such as hallways and entranceways, Rebecca says.
Seratone panels are sold in three sheet sizes: 2400 x 1200mm, 2700 x 1200mm and 2400 x 900mm. They are installed using either a colour matched aluminium jointer or silicone around the edges of sheets. “The main consideration with Seratone is if you're using it for large expanses of wall, then where the joins will be needs to be planned out,” Rebecca says.