Fast-track Care Home Bathroom Upgrades: How Spring Grove Achieved Stylish Wet Room Refurbs in Just 1.5 Days Each

When Spring Grove Care Home in Hampstead undertook a major wet room refurbishment programme, the challenge wasn’t just to modernise. It was to do so without disrupting the daily lives of residents. With 46 en-suite bathrooms to upgrade, traditional tile-based installation methods posed clear limitations: long downtime, specialist trades, and significant disruption.

Springdene Group, which operates the care home, turned to Multipanel, the UK’s leading bathroom wall panel brand. Its rapid-installation system enabled each bathroom to be completed in just 1.5 days. For care home operators and specifiers working in live environments, that turnaround is more than a number. It is a strategic advantage.

The installation challenge in live care settings

Spring Grove is home to residents living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Routine and consistency are essential in this setting. In any live-in care environment, prolonged bathroom refurbishments can be distressing for residents and difficult to manage operationally.

The key to Springdene’s approach was finding a wall surface solution that delivered on performance, appearance and speed. Tiling was ruled out early in the process due to the disruption it causes. Long curing times, noisy wet trades and ongoing grout maintenance were all barriers to efficiency. In contrast, Multipanel’s wall panel system provided a fully waterproof, grout-free alternative that could be installed quickly by a team of multi-skilled tradespeople.

Each bathroom was completed in just 1.5 days from start to finish, allowing entire floors to be refurbished in a matter of weeks rather than months. This helped keep disruption to a minimum, allowing residents to stay in their rooms or return swiftly.

Combining speed with style

For Springdene, speed was only one part of the equation. The visual appearance of the finished bathrooms also played a crucial role. The team was keen to avoid the clinical or institutional look often associated with healthcare environments. Instead, they wanted a modern, hotel-style aesthetic that felt calm, comfortable and familiar.

Multipanel’s tile-effect panels provided the perfect solution. With clean lines and smooth, gloss surfaces, the panels helped create stylish bathrooms that felt bright and contemporary. The result was a space that improved the daily experience of residents and supported a high standard of living.

“Mutipanel allows the care home to move away from an institutional aesthetic without compromising on hygiene or durability,” said Jamie Sandilands, Specification Sales Director at Grant Westfield, manufacturer of Multipanel. “The installation speed surprised even experienced contractors on-site. Being able to complete each bathroom in just 1.5 days is a game-changer for care home refurbishment projects.”

Inclusive design and long-term performance

Beyond speed and style, the refurbishment also had to meet the requirements of inclusive design. Each bathroom needed to be safe and accessible for users with a range of mobility and cognitive needs.

Slip-resistant vinyl wet room flooring was combined with Multipanel’s waterproof wall panels to create level-access, easy-to-navigate spaces. The design meets both Lifetime Homes and accessibility standards, ensuring long-term safety and usability.

Multipanel panels also reduce long-term maintenance. With no grout and a smooth surface, they are simple to clean and resistant to mould or moisture ingress. This minimises the time staff spend on repairs or deep cleaning, allowing them to focus on care delivery.

From trial to roll-out

The project began with a free trial bathroom installation, provided as part of Multipanel’s specification support. This included complimentary product supply, installation and on-site training led by a trained installer.

The trial gave Springdene the chance to evaluate the product in real conditions and train their trades team at the same time. Following its success, 12 rooms were refurbished, with a further 12 scheduled. The group is now planning similar upgrades across its other care homes, Springview in Enfield and Spring Lane in Haringey, covering nearly 120 rooms.

Supporting specification goals

For architects, developers and specifiers working in healthcare, retirement living and supported housing, Spring Grove’s approach offers a proven model for fast, specification-led refurbishment.

Multipanel panels are five times quicker to install than traditional tiles. Their 30-year warranty, FSC certification and EPD credentials make them suitable for projects with performance, compliance and sustainability targets.

As the care sector continues to face rising demand and operational pressure, solutions that combine design, efficiency and compliance are increasingly important.

“The Spring Grove project is proof that you don’t have to compromise on aesthetics or performance to gain speed,” said Jamie Sandilands. “Our approach allows specifiers to deliver contemporary, durable bathrooms that work for everyone – residents, staff and operators alike.”

Experience it for yourself

Multipanel’s Free Trial Scheme allows care providers and specifiers to experience the installation, performance and support service first-hand before committing to a full rollout.

For more information, visit www.multipanel.co.uk or contact the specification team to discuss upcoming projects. 0131 290 286.