Choose The Best Material For Your Restrooms

Fast, practical guide to HDPE, Plastic Laminate, Phenolic, SCRC, Stainless, and Powder-Coated Steel — pros, cons, and best-fit picks.

TL;DR — Quick Picks

Best For Schools / High Abuse: HDPE (Solid Plastic) — durable, graffiti & moisture resistant.
Best For Budget Renovations: Powder-Coated Steel — lowest cost, many colors.
Best All-Around: Phenolic — excellent durability vs. cost; good in humidity.
Best For Designer / Coastal: Stainless Steel — premium look; consider textured finishes.
Best For Dry Low-Traffic: Plastic Laminate — huge color range; keep dry.
Best For Heavy-Duty Public: SCRC — near-indestructible; great vandal resistance.

Material Overview

HDPE (Solid Plastic)

• Waterproof & rustproof
• Easy to clean
• Great for schools, pools, parks
• Higher upfront than steel

Plastic Laminate

• Most color/pattern options
• Lowest cost panels
• Must stay dry
• Not ideal for showers/steam

Phenolic

• Dense, tough and slim
• Excellent moisture resistance
• Great value durability
• Mid-to-high price

SCRC (Solid Color Reinforced Composite)

• Extremely impact-resistant
• Graffiti & scratch resistant
• Ideal for transit & stadiums
• Limited color range

Stainless Steel

• Premium architectural look
• Durable, recyclable
• Fingerprints show (use textured)
• Higher cost

Powder-Coated Steel

• Best entry-level price
• Broad color selection
• Vulnerable at cut edges in moisture
• Best in dry areas

How To Choose (3-Step Checklist)

Traffic & Vandal Risk: High abuse? Favor HDPE, SCRC, or Phenolic.
Moisture / Humidity: Wet areas? Avoid Plastic Laminate & standard steel; prefer HDPE or Phenolic.
Design & Budget: Premium look → Stainless; Lowest price → Powder-Coated Steel; Balanced → Phenolic.

Best Material By Venue

K-12 Schools, Parks, Aquatic Centers: HDPE or Phenolic
Stadiums, Transit, High-Vandalism: SCRC or Phenolic
Offices, Retail, Dry Low-Traffic: Plastic Laminate or Powder-Coated Steel
Upscale Hospitality, Class-A: Stainless Steel or Phenolic
Industrial / Food Service (wet washdowns): Phenolic or HDPE

FAQs

Which material is most durable overall? Phenolic and SCRC are both exceptionally durable. HDPE is also excellent, especially around water.

What’s the lowest-cost option? Powder-Coated Steel generally wins on price; Plastic Laminate can also be economical in dry areas.

What about lead times? Powder-Coated Steel and Plastic Laminate typically ship fastest; stainless or special finishes may add time.

Which ones handle moisture best? HDPE and Phenolic. Avoid Plastic Laminate and standard steel in wet or humid environments.

Can I mix materials across restrooms? Yes—match material to each room’s conditions to optimize cost and longevity.

Get A Fast, Accurate Quote

Send your layout or rough dimensions. Our project managers will recommend the right material and ship nationwide.