Slatted wood wall panelling has taken the home interior world by storm this last year. There’s no denying these simple panels of wood create a big impact whether on a wall or on the ceiling. This eye-catching trend offers a luxury addition to any room in the home as well as use in a commercial setting.

Whilst many other interior products usually come with a hefty price tag or have added installation costs, wood panelling has the advantage of being more affordable and also easy to install by any home DIY novice.

Ideal surfaces to fit acoustic wall panels

Our acoustic wall panels are super versatile when it comes to attaching them to walls and ceilings. They can be installed to almost any surface, including:

• Drywall
• Plywood
• Wood
• Brick
• Lath and Plaster
• Cement

Preparing your wall space for installation

To ensure a simple installation process we advise that you prep your underlying material and make sure it is in a good enough condition to withstand the weight of the panels and to ensure they have a decent surface to adhere to.

Check there is no damaged plaster, loose tiles or other uneven surfaces. You will firstly need to repair any issues to the underlying area, this may simply be fixed with a bit of sanding.

Equipment needed

To ensure an easy installation, make sure you have the following tools:

• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Spirit level
• Fine tooth saw
• Sandpaper/Sanding block
• Construction adhesive glue
• Adhesive glue gun
• Hammer/ Rubber Mallet
• Power drill
• Black matt coated 38mm screws

Preparing your panels

Upon delivery of your new acoustic wood panels, they will need to acclimatise to the temperature and humidity of the room they will be installed in. Lay your panels on the floor either strapped together or laid flat in loose sheets for 48 hours before installation.

Ready to install

Firstly, make sure your walls are dry and dust free. If you’re installing your panels in sections rather than fully covering your area then we advise to decorate the area first before adding the panels, this helps to avoid any paint spillage if you were to paint after installation.

Each of our acoustic panels discreetly  join to each other, the design and overall appearance helps disguise any joints between each panel section.

Using adhesive construction glue to install

Using construction glue to install the panels to the wall is an easy and straight forward procedure that can be done in a few simple steps:

Step 1: Prep the wall  

Remove any nails that may be on the wall, ensure the wall is smooth and dry.

Step 2: Measure the wall

Be sure to measure your walls so you can calculate how many panels you’ll need. To start, calculate the square meterage by multiplying the width by the height of the wall. Make sure to include any doorways, windows and uneven corners. Divide the length of the wall by the width of the panel sheet to see how many panels you’ll need.

Step 3: Install the panels

Use a spirit level to ensure the wall panel is straight because often than not, especially in older houses, walls and skirting boards aren’t always completely straight. You can trim any panels using a fine-tooth blade and smooth off any rough edges using sanding paper.

Step 4: Glue to the wall

We suggest using a strong construction adhesive glue. Use a caulk gun to apply the adhesive. Apply in a zigzag motion and then carefully press the panel into place on your wall. You can use a rubber mallet to gently tap the panel into the wall. We recommend finishing an entire row first before moving on the next row.

Step 5: Add screws for extra support

If you’re wanting to ensure your wall panels are super secure or are attaching panels to the ceiling, we recommend using Black matt coated 38mm screws and a power drill, drilled into the felt backing, this will give extra support.

How to cut wood wall panels

When installing the acoustic wall panels you’ll no doubt come across a point when you need to cut or trim down the length or even width of your panels. Uneven skirting boards, sockets and switches and curved corners will give reason for cutting your panels. The tool you use to trim the wood will depend on what type of cut you need to make.

See below the different types of cutting tools you can use:

Handsaw

If you need to create a cut out for a plug socket or light switch, we recommend using a handsaw as this tool allows you to cut on the down stroke. After you have pencilled in your measurements, put your panel between two sawhorses and slowly cut taking your time to ensure no splintering. A handsaw can also be used to cut down the length of the panels, be sure to use a sanding block afterwards to give a smooth finish.

Sabre saw

This type of tool is perfect for detail and precision cutting. Be careful though, this type of saw gives a quick cut and can be difficult to keep in a straight line.

Circular saw

Use a circular saw if you need to roughly cut a few panels at once.

Installing wall panels around sockets, switches, windows and fixtures

Sockets and switches, windows and other fixtures will require extra attention when installing wood wall panels as you need to make sure the cut out is completely accurate to ensure a flush fit. However, this can be easily completed with the correct tools and simple planning and preparation.

For sockets and switches follow this simple procedure:

• Measure the length up from the skirting board to the socket and then do the same from the ceiling to the socket
• Then measure from the side of the nearest wall to the socket
• Allow for around1/4 inch all the way round just to be sure it fits
• Get your panel and use the same measurements pencilling this onto the panel
• Drill holes in the corners of the pencilled area
• Use a hand saw to make the required cuts

When it comes to panelling around windows and doors, a different approach is required:

• Use a tape measure and measure the area around the window or door
• Mark out the same measurements on the panel
• As before, allow for around 1/4-inch all the way round in case of any minimal expansion
• Use a handsaw to cut the panels and again create a smooth finish by sanding down the cut edges