The Panel Hub® | Commercial-Grade Acoustic Wall Panels for Homes

Author: The Panel Hub

  • Office Fit-Out Wall Panels: A Specification Guide for Commercial Interiors

    Office Fit-Out Wall Panels: A Specification Guide for Commercial Interiors

    The office fit-out market has changed dramatically since 2020. The shift to hybrid working, the need to make office environments attractive enough to draw employees in voluntarily, and the influence of hospitality-led design on workplace aesthetics have combined to raise the specification quality of office interiors significantly.

    Wall panels are a beneficiary of this shift. Where painted plasterboard was the default wall finish in most Cat B office fit-outs a decade ago, designers are now specifying wall panels across reception areas, meeting rooms, collaboration zones, and even open-plan floor plates as a way of creating environments that feel designed rather than functional.

    Cat A vs Cat B: Where Panels Fit in the Office Fit-Out Sequence

    In commercial leasing, Cat A fit-out refers to the base level of finish provided by the landlord — typically raised floors, suspended ceilings, mechanical and electrical services, and white-box walls. Cat B is the tenant’s fit-out — the transformation of the white box into a working office that reflects the occupier’s brand, culture, and ways of working.

    Wall panels are almost always a Cat B specification. They’re installed by the tenant’s fit-out contractor into the completed Cat A shell, which means the substrate (typically plasterboard) is known, level, and ready to receive adhesive.

    Acoustic Performance: The Critical Specification Requirement

    Acoustic comfort is consistently the most cited workplace dissatisfaction factor in post-occupancy surveys of open-plan offices. Unwanted speech from nearby colleagues, poor speech intelligibility in meeting rooms, and high ambient noise levels on open-plan floors all directly affect productivity and wellbeing.

    Acoustic slat panels from the SoundPanel™ range contribute measurably to reducing reverberation time on office floor plates. For meeting rooms and phone pods, acoustic panels on wall surfaces are an important part of creating a space where speech is clear and private conversations stay private.

    Reception and Brand Environment

    The reception area is where company culture and brand values are expressed physically. A reception with a feature wall in GroovePanel® solid wood or RockSurface® stone effect panels communicates quality and investment in the workplace environment. For clients and visitors, the quality of the reception finish is a direct signal about the organisation they’re visiting.

    Installation During a Live Fit-Out Programme

    Office fit-outs typically run to tight programmes. Panel installation is usually one of the final trades on programme, installed after partitioning, MEP second fix, and floor finishes are complete. This means panels need to be on-site and ready to install at the right moment in the programme — not held up by long lead times or supply issues.

    Confirm stock availability and delivery lead times with The Panel Hub at the point of specification, not at the point of order. For large-volume office fit-outs, it’s advisable to place a confirmed order ahead of the installation window to secure stock.

    Office Wall Panel Specification from The Panel Hub

    The Panel Hub supplies SoundPanel™ acoustic panels, GroovePanel® solid wood panels, and RockSurface® stone effect panels for office fit-out projects. Contact the trade team to discuss your project requirements, programme dates, and technical specifications.

  • Restaurant and Bar Interior Cladding: Specifying for Durability and Atmosphere

    Restaurant and Bar Interior Cladding: Specifying for Durability and Atmosphere

    Restaurants and bars place some of the most demanding requirements on wall surface materials of any commercial interior typology. The combination of high footfall, kitchen proximity, liquid spillage, regular commercial cleaning, fire safety compliance, and the need to create an atmosphere that makes guests want to stay and return — all on a tight fit-out budget and programme — makes wall panel specification in F&B environments a genuinely complex brief.

    The Atmosphere Requirement: Why Panels Work in F&B

    The defining quality of a successful restaurant or bar interior is atmosphere — a quality that’s difficult to define but immediately felt. Wall panels contribute to atmosphere in two ways that flat painted surfaces cannot: through texture that engages the eye and changes character under different lighting conditions, and through acoustic absorption that prevents the space from becoming oppressively loud as it fills.

    A RockSurface® stone effect panel on a back bar wall, lit with warm directional light, creates a surface that looks genuinely architectural at every level of occupancy. GroovePanel® fluted solid wood panels on booth dividers and perimeter walls bring warmth and material quality that reads as premium without the cost of real stone or specialist joinery.

    Durability: What F&B Environments Demand

    Impact and Abrasion

    Restaurant and bar walls are impacted by chairs, bar stools, service trolleys, and the general movement of staff and guests in a busy environment. Panel products specified for F&B use should have robust surface finishes and edge treatment, with solid core substrates that resist denting and compression.

    Moisture and Cleaning

    Front-of-house surfaces in F&B environments are cleaned daily with commercial cleaning products. Panels near food service areas, bars, and kitchen pass-throughs are exposed to steam, grease, and liquid. Confirm that any panel product specified for proximity to food service areas is compatible with the cleaning regime planned for the space.

    Kitchen Proximity and Heat

    Panels within direct proximity of cooking equipment, open flames, or heat sources require appropriate fire classification and heat resistance. For kitchen-adjacent applications, confirm the panel product’s fire rating and maximum operating temperature with the manufacturer.

    Acoustic Management in F&B

    The restaurant noise problem — a full dining room that becomes so loud that conversation requires raised voices — is one of the most common guest complaints in high-footfall restaurants. The cause is almost always acoustic: hard flooring, hard ceiling, glass surfaces, and flat painted walls create a reverberant environment where noise accumulates.

    Acoustic slat panels from the SoundPanel™ range on perimeter walls or booth linings can meaningfully reduce reverberation time and improve the acoustic comfort of the dining environment. For restaurants targeting a premium guest experience, acoustic treatment is an investment in repeat visits.

    Fire Compliance in Licensed Premises

    Restaurants and bars are subject to specific fire safety requirements under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and Building Regulations Approved Document B. Wall linings in public areas of licensed premises require Class B fire classification or better. Obtain fire test certification from the panel manufacturer and verify compliance with your fire safety consultant before specifying.

    Specifying for F&B Projects from The Panel Hub

    The Panel Hub has supplied wall panels into restaurant, bar, and hospitality fit-out projects across the UK. Contact the trade team to discuss your project requirements, including volume, lead time, fire compliance documentation, and samples for client presentation.

  • Retail Store Wall Cladding: How to Use Panels in Shop Fit-Outs

    Retail Store Wall Cladding: How to Use Panels in Shop Fit-Outs

    Retail interior design operates at the intersection of brand identity, customer psychology, and commercial pragmatism. Every surface in a retail environment communicates something about the brand — the quality of the materials, the considered-ness of the design, the price point of the product on the shelves. Wall panels are an increasingly common specification in retail fit-outs because they deliver a premium finish quickly, at a cost that fits within the tight budgets of most shop fit-outs.

    The Retail Specification Challenge: Premium Look, Practical Budget

    Retail fit-outs are typically on tight budgets and tight timelines. The landlord has a fit-out licence period; the brand has a launch date; the contractor has a fixed price. Wall finishes that require specialist installation, long lead times, or expensive materials are difficult to accommodate in most retail specifications.

    Wall panels address this challenge directly. They install faster than tile, look more premium than painted plasterboard, and require no specialist contractors. A retail space that would take two days to tile can have panels installed in a single day — and the result looks better.

    Where to Use Panels in Retail Environments

    Feature Walls and Brand Backdrops

    A panel feature wall at the rear of a retail space is visible from the entrance — it frames the products displayed against it and sets the visual tone of the store. GroovePanel® fluted solid wood panels behind product displays create a warm, premium backdrop that elevates the perceived quality of anything displayed against them.

    Till Points and Service Counters

    The till point is where the final purchase decision is made. A panel specification behind the counter or on the counter fascia creates a considered, quality finish at the most important interaction point in the store. RockSurface® stone effect panels on a counter fascia create a particularly strong visual statement at modest cost.

    Changing Room Areas

    In fashion retail, the changing room experience directly affects conversion rates. A panelled changing room environment — warm, textured, considered — creates a more positive try-on experience than a generic mirrored box with painted walls. Panel specification in changing room areas is a cost-effective investment in conversion.

    Durability for Retail Environments

    Retail wall surfaces are exposed to customer contact, cleaning staff, and the regular movement of merchandise and display fixtures. Panel products in retail environments need surface finishes that resist marking, can be wiped clean with commercial cleaning products, and hold up to the physical activity of a busy store.

    Retail Panel Specification from The Panel Hub

    The Panel Hub supplies wall panels for retail fit-outs across independent boutiques, multi-site retail rollouts, and flagship store installations. Contact the trade team to discuss your fit-out programme, volume requirements, and brand aesthetic before specifying.

  • How to Install Faux Stone Wall Panels: Step-by-Step Guide

    How to Install Faux Stone Wall Panels: Step-by-Step Guide

    One of the primary reasons homeowners and contractors choose faux stone wall panels over real stone is installation. Where natural stone cladding requires structural preparation, specialist fixings, a skilled stonemason, and days of work, faux stone panels can be installed by any competent DIYer or general contractor in a single day for most room-scale applications.

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    What You’ll Need

    • Faux stone wall panels (plus 10–15% for cuts and wastage)
    • Panel adhesive compatible with your substrate
    • Notched adhesive spreader or trowel
    • Spirit level and measuring tape
    • Pencil for marking
    • Angle grinder with diamond blade, or jigsaw, for cutting
    • Safety glasses and dust mask
    • Colour-matched decorator’s caulk for perimeter joints

    Step 1: Prepare the Substrate

    The most important step in any panel installation is substrate preparation. Faux stone panels require a flat, dry, and structurally sound surface. Plasterboard, concrete, masonry, and existing tiled surfaces can all work as substrates with the right adhesive.

    • Fill and sand any holes, cracks, or unevenness
    • Ensure the wall is completely dry — fresh plaster must be fully cured
    • Prime porous surfaces (bare plaster, concrete) to improve adhesive bond
    • Check for flatness with a long spirit level — any deviation greater than 3mm over 2 metres should be addressed before installation

    Step 2: Plan Your Layout

    Before fixing any panels, dry-lay them against the wall to plan the layout. Consider:

    • Where to start — typically the centre of the wall or the most visible corner, working outward
    • How to handle corners — some panel ranges include corner pieces; others require mitring or butting at 90°
    • Where cuts will fall — avoid very thin cut pieces at visible edges
    • Panel orientation — most stone panels look best with the main coursing running horizontally

    Step 3: Apply Adhesive and Fix Panels

    Apply adhesive to the back of the panel using a notched spreader. For large panels, also apply adhesive to the wall surface. Press each panel firmly into position, checking level as you work. Some panel systems use interlocking edges — ensure each panel engages correctly with its neighbour before the adhesive sets. Work from the bottom up.

    Step 4: Cut Panels for Edges and Openings

    Mark cut lines with a pencil and straight edge. Cut stone-effect panels using an angle grinder with a diamond blade or a tile saw. Always wear eye protection and a dust mask when cutting. Dry-fit each cut piece before applying adhesive to confirm it fits.

    Step 5: Finishing

    Once all panels are fixed and adhesive has cured (typically 24 hours), fill any perimeter gaps with colour-matched decorator’s caulk. Smooth with a wet finger or caulk tool. Some stone-effect panels benefit from a final coat of stone sealant — check the manufacturer’s recommendation for your specific product.

    Where to Buy Faux Stone Wall Panels

    The Panel Hub stocks the RockSurface® stone effect panel collection with full technical installation data available for each product. Request a sample first to confirm the finish in your space, then order with confidence.

  • Slat Panels vs Fluted Panels: What’s the Difference and Which Should You Choose?

    Slat Panels vs Fluted Panels: What’s the Difference and Which Should You Choose?

    If you are considering between slat panels vs fluted panels, this guide is for you. “Slat panels” and “fluted panels” are used interchangeably in many product listings, social media posts, and interior design articles. They’re not the same thing — and choosing between them affects the appearance, acoustic performance, and practical behaviour of the finished wall.

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    What Are Slat Panels?

    Slat panels consist of individual timber slats — narrow strips of wood — attached to a backing panel, typically a felt or MDF substrate. The slats stand proud of the backing, creating gaps between them. These gaps are part of the design: they allow sound to pass through to the backing material, which absorbs it.

    The defining characteristic of slat panels is the negative space between the slats. The gaps are visible and intentional — part of both the aesthetic and the acoustic function. The SoundPanel™ acoustic slat collection from The Panel Hub is a good example: timber slats mounted on acoustic felt backing with precisely engineered gaps for both visual rhythm and sound absorption.

    What Are Fluted Panels?

    Fluted panels are solid panels with a routed or moulded profile — raised ridges running along the surface. Unlike slat panels, there are no gaps: the surface is continuous, with the three-dimensional profile creating the visual rhythm of light and shadow.

    The GroovePanel® solid wood collection includes fluted profiles — solid wood panels with routed channels that create a pronounced vertical texture without any gaps between elements.

    Key Differences

    Acoustic Performance

    Slat panels with acoustic backing perform measurably better for sound absorption. The gaps allow sound to reach the absorptive backing material. Fluted panels have no gaps and provide minimal sound absorption — they’re a purely aesthetic product. If acoustic performance is a requirement, specify acoustic slat panels.

    Visual Character

    Slat panels create a rhythm of solid and void — the eye alternates between the slat surface and the darker gap behind it. The effect is graphic and structured. Fluted panels create a rhythm of highlight and shadow across a continuous surface — subtler, more tactile, and more appropriate in spaces where a softer texture is the goal.

    Durability and Maintenance

    Fluted panels are more robust. The continuous surface is more resistant to impact damage, easier to wipe clean, and doesn’t accumulate dust in gaps the way slat panels can. In high-traffic areas or commercial environments, fluted panels are often the more practical choice.

    Which Should You Choose?

    • Choose slat panels if acoustic performance is required, or if you want the graphic negative-space aesthetic of visible gaps between slats.
    • Choose fluted panels if you want texture without gaps, maximum durability, or a subtler three-dimensional effect on a continuous surface.
    • Use both of these wood wall paneling in the same space to create distinct zones — acoustic slat panels where sound control matters, fluted panels where the aesthetic takes precedence.

    Explore both options at The Panel Hub: the SoundPanel™ acoustic slat range and the GroovePanel® fluted solid wood collection.

  • Spa and Wellness Studio Wall Panels: Creating a Premium Treatment Environment

    Spa and Wellness Studio Wall Panels: Creating a Premium Treatment Environment

    The interior environment of a spa or wellness studio is a direct expression of the treatment experience being offered. Guests arrive with expectations calibrated by the price they’re paying — and in the premium wellness market, the expectation is one of sensory richness: tactile surfaces, warm materials, controlled acoustics, and a visual palette that communicates calm and quality.

    Wall panels are increasingly specified in spa and wellness environments precisely because they deliver this sensory quality at a specification cost that allows the operator to invest in other aspects of the guest experience.

    Material Selection for Spa Environments

    Warm Timber Panels

    Natural wood is the dominant material language in premium spa design. The warmth of timber grain, the tactile quality of a brushed or oiled wood surface, and the organic variation of natural wood finishes communicate exactly the qualities that spa guests are seeking. GroovePanel® solid wood panels in natural oak, warm walnut, or light birch tones are the most commonly specified products in treatment room and relaxation lounge environments.

    Stone Effect Panels in Spa Settings

    In wet areas — changing rooms, hydrotherapy suites, and shower areas — RockSurface® stone effect panels provide the aesthetic of natural stone (slate, limestone, sandstone) without the porosity and maintenance requirements of real stone. In spa environments where guests experience the surfaces at close range and touch them directly, the quality of the finish and the realism of the texture are critical — request samples and assess them under controlled lighting conditions before specifying.

    Acoustic Quality in Treatment Rooms

    Treatment rooms require controlled acoustic environments. Ambient sound — whether silence, music, or nature sounds — needs to be clear and undistorted. Excessive reverberation in a treatment room is immediately noticeable and undermines the sense of calm the environment is designed to create.

    Acoustic slat panels from the SoundPanel™ range on one or two walls of a treatment room provide sound absorption that reduces reverberation and improves acoustic quality without requiring specialist acoustic treatment products. The timber slat aesthetic is also consistent with the warm, natural material palette of most spa environments.

    Humidity and Moisture Considerations

    Spa environments — steam rooms, wet areas, areas adjacent to hydrotherapy pools — are high-humidity environments. Not all panel products are suitable for high-humidity applications. For areas where humidity is consistently elevated, specify panels with moisture-resistant cores and sealed surface finishes, and ensure installation uses adhesive and fixings appropriate for the moisture exposure level.

    For wet zones with direct water contact, real stone or specialist wet room panels are the appropriate specification — faux stone panels are suitable for wall applications with splash exposure, but not for floor-level wet zones or shower interiors.

    Lighting and the Spa Panel Specification

    Spa lighting is typically warm, directional, and low-level — conditions that bring out the texture and warmth of natural wood panels at their best. When sampling panels for a spa specification, assess them under warm white light (2700–3000K) at the light levels planned for the finished space. A panel that looks unremarkable under flat bright light can look outstanding under warm directional lighting.

    Specifying Spa Wall Panels from The Panel Hub

    The Panel Hub works with spa designers, wellness operators, and hospitality interior designers on premium treatment environment projects. Contact the team to request samples, discuss technical requirements, and explore the full range of wood wall panels and stone effect panels available for wellness applications.

  • Stacked Stone Wall Panels: The Look, the Reality, and How to Choose

    Stacked Stone Wall Panels: The Look, the Reality, and How to Choose

    Stacked stone is one of the most enduring looks in interior and exterior design — courses of thin stone laid in horizontal rows, creating a surface that reads as ancient, solid, and artisanal. The problem is that genuine stacked stone is heavy, expensive, and requires skilled installation on a structure capable of bearing the load.

    Table of Contents

    Stacked stone wall panels replicate the aesthetic using lightweight composite or stone-effect materials that can be fitted by any competent installer in a fraction of the time. The result, done well, is visually indistinguishable from the real thing at normal viewing distances.

    Real Stacked Stone vs Stacked Stone Panels: The Honest Comparison

    Weight

    Natural stacked stone cladding typically weighs 50–80kg per square metre. This requires structural assessment before installation, specialist fixings into masonry, and often a plinth or ledger to support the load. Stacked stone panels from The Panel Hub weigh a fraction of this and can be fixed to plasterboard, timber studwork, or existing wall finishes using standard adhesive or mechanical fixings.

    Cost

    The material cost of natural stacked stone, plus structural preparation, specialist installation, and ongoing maintenance, typically runs four to six times the cost of high-quality stone-effect panels. For large-format applications — entire accent walls, exterior cladding, commercial fit-outs — the saving is significant.

    Appearance

    High-quality faux stacked stone panels replicate the natural variation, colour shifts, and texture of real stone. The key quality indicators are the depth of the relief, the colour variation across the surface, and the finish on individual stone faces. Panels using mould-cast textures derived from real stone samples are the most convincing.

    Where to Use Stacked Stone Panels

    Fireplace and Feature Walls

    The fireplace breast is the classic application. Stacked stone panels on a chimney breast or media wall create a rural, artisanal aesthetic that feels grounded and permanent. They work in both traditional and contemporary interiors.

    Garden and Exterior Walls

    Stacked stone panels rated for exterior use give garden boundary walls and exterior house cladding the look of real stone at a fraction of the cost. Always verify UV and frost resistance ratings for any exterior application.

    Bar Fronts and Commercial Feature Walls

    In hospitality and retail environments, stacked stone panels create an artisanal, premium atmosphere on bar fronts, booth dividers, and reception desks — without requiring a specialist stonework contractor.

    Installation Considerations

    Most stacked stone panels are interlocking — each panel’s edge profile engages with its neighbour to create a seamless appearance. Key installation steps:

    • Ensure the substrate is flat, dry, and structurally sound
    • Dry-lay panels before fixing to plan the layout and minimise cuts
    • Use the correct adhesive for your substrate and panel material
    • Cut panels with an angle grinder or tile saw for clean edges around openings and corners

    Stacked Stone Panels from The Panel Hub

    RockSurface® panels from The Panel Hub deliver the stacked stone aesthetic in a lightweight, easy-to-install format. Available in multiple stone tones and textures for both residential and commercial applications. Request samples to assess the finish in your own space before ordering.

  • Student and PBSA Accommodation Wall Panels: Durable Spec for High-Turnover Properties

    Student and PBSA Accommodation Wall Panels: Durable Spec for High-Turnover Properties

    Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) is one of the most demanding commercial interior typologies for wall surface specification. The combination of high occupancy turnover (annual or termly), variable levels of care by occupants, and the requirement for a cost-effective finish that withstands years of use without significant maintenance makes material selection a critical decision.

    Wall panels offer a compelling specification for PBSA operators who want to provide an interior environment that attracts students at premium rental price points while keeping maintenance and replacement costs manageable over a multi-year asset life.

    The Durability Requirement in Student Accommodation

    Student accommodation walls are exposed to a level of incidental damage that most residential specifications are not designed to withstand. Furniture moved against walls leaves marks and abrasions. Posters and fixings leave holes and adhesive residue. Luggage arrives and departs twice a year. In communal areas and common rooms, the level of use is higher still.

    Panel products specified for PBSA environments should prioritise surface hardness, edge durability, and the ability to be spot-repaired or replaced at unit level without replacing the entire wall treatment. Solid core panels with lacquered or UV-cured surface finishes are significantly more resistant to everyday student use than painted plasterboard.

    Individual Bedroom Specifications

    A feature wall panel behind the desk or bed in individual student bedroom units creates a premium visual environment that supports marketing photography and justifies higher weekly rental rates. The specification investment per bedroom is modest — a single feature wall panel — but the perceived quality impact is disproportionate.

    GroovePanel® solid wood panels in neutral, timeless finishes are the most appropriate specification for student bedroom feature walls — visually appealing without being so specific that they date quickly or conflict with students’ own style preferences.

    Common Areas and Social Spaces

    Communal areas in PBSA properties — social lounges, study rooms, cinema rooms, café areas — benefit significantly from panel specification. These are the spaces that feature most prominently in marketing materials and that students experience most frequently. A well-specified communal area communicates the quality of the entire development.

    For social areas, SoundPanel™ acoustic panels provide acoustic management in spaces that are naturally loud — reducing reverberation and improving the experience for students trying to socialise and study simultaneously. RockSurface® stone effect panels on café counter walls and social space feature walls create a hospitality-standard visual quality.

    Maintenance and Replacement Planning

    For large PBSA developments, plan for panel maintenance and replacement in the asset management budget. Ensure that stock of the specified product — or an equivalent — is available for replacement in future years. Discuss long-term stock availability and batch consistency with The Panel Hub at the point of specification, not after completion.

    PBSA Panel Specification from The Panel Hub

    The Panel Hub works with PBSA developers, operators, and asset managers on panel specifications for student accommodation projects. Contact the trade team to discuss volume requirements, durability specifications, and project lead times.

  • Sustainable Wall Panels: EPD-Certified Options for Green Building Specifications

    Sustainable Wall Panels: EPD-Certified Options for Green Building Specifications

    Sustainability requirements in commercial construction have moved from aspiration to specification mandate. BREEAM assessments, net zero carbon commitments, and client sustainability policies increasingly require specifiers to demonstrate the environmental credentials of the materials they choose — including wall finishes that would previously have been selected on aesthetic and cost grounds alone.

    For architects and designers working on green building projects, understanding what the available certification standards mean, how to interpret EPDs, and which wall panel products meet the requirements is an increasingly important part of the specification process.

    What Is an EPD and Why Does It Matter?

    An EPD — Environmental Product Declaration — is a standardised document that quantifies the environmental impact of a product across its lifecycle, from raw material extraction through manufacturing, use, and end-of-life disposal. EPDs are produced in accordance with ISO 14025 and EN 15804 and verified by an independent third party.

    For BREEAM assessments, EPDs for key building materials contribute to credits under the Materials category. For net zero carbon projects, EPD data provides the embodied carbon figures needed for whole-life carbon calculations. For clients with published sustainability policies, EPDs provide the documentary evidence that material choices meet the stated environmental requirements.

    Timber Certification: FSC and PEFC

    For wood wall panels, chain-of-custody certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) confirms that the timber used in the product originates from responsibly managed forests. Both FSC and PEFC certification contribute to BREEAM credits and satisfy the responsible sourcing requirements of most green building standards.

    When specifying timber wall panels for a green building project, confirm that the supplier holds an appropriate chain-of-custody certificate and can provide documentation for the specific product being specified.

    Embodied Carbon: What to Look for in Panel Products

    Timber products are unusual among construction materials in that they store carbon — the carbon absorbed by the tree during its growth is locked into the wood product for the duration of its service life. This “biogenic carbon” storage partially offsets the carbon emitted during manufacturing and installation. For embodied carbon calculations, timber products often compare favourably with alternative materials precisely because of this biogenic carbon storage.

    Indoor Air Quality: VOC Emissions

    For projects targeting BREEAM Excellent or Outstanding, or for healthcare and education projects with strict indoor air quality requirements, VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions from wall finishes are a specification consideration. Look for panels with low-VOC or zero-VOC surface finishes, and adhesives with appropriate VOC emission classifications.

    Sustainable Panel Specification from The Panel Hub

    The Panel Hub can provide sustainability documentation including timber sourcing certification and technical product data for use in green building assessments. Contact the team with your project’s specific sustainability requirements — BREEAM target rating, net zero carbon requirements, or client sustainability policy — and the team can advise on the most appropriate products and the documentation available to support your specification.

  • Wall Panel Installation for Contractors: What You Need Before You Start

    Wall Panel Installation for Contractors: What You Need Before You Start

    Wall panel installation for contractors is straightforward — but only if the pre-installation preparation is done correctly. The most common causes of panel installation problems are substrate issues (uneven, damp, or poorly prepared walls), incorrect adhesive selection, inadequate planning for cuts and edge conditions, and insufficient curing time before the space is put back into use.

    This guide is written for contractors installing wall panels in residential, commercial, and hospitality environments. It covers what needs to be confirmed before installation begins, not during it.

    Substrate Assessment: The Make-or-Break Step

    Flatness

    Wall panels require a flat substrate. Use a 2m straight edge or spirit level to check the wall for high and low spots. Any deviation greater than 3mm over 2 metres needs to be addressed before panel installation. Options include: skim coat plaster to flatten high spots, batten out the wall to create a flat fixing surface, or use a flexible adhesive with gap-filling capacity for minor variations.

    Moisture

    Panels should not be fixed to damp substrates. Check moisture content with a moisture meter — the substrate should read below 75% relative humidity before panel installation proceeds. New plaster requires a minimum of 28 days to cure before it’s dry enough for panel installation; check moisture levels rather than relying on the date.

    Structural Integrity

    The substrate must be structurally sound and bonded to the wall behind it. Loose plaster, delaminating plasterboard, and poorly bonded screeds are not suitable substrates for adhesive panel installation. Identify and remedy any structural issues before installing panels.

    Adhesive Selection

    The correct adhesive depends on the panel material and the substrate type. Key considerations:

    • Panel weight — heavier panels require stronger adhesive systems
    • Substrate type — plasterboard, concrete, masonry, and existing tiles all require specific adhesive formulations
    • Environmental conditions — temperature and humidity during installation affect adhesive cure time and initial grab
    • Open time — the working time available after applying adhesive before the panel must be positioned

    Always follow the panel manufacturer’s adhesive recommendations. Using the wrong adhesive type is one of the most common causes of panel bond failure.

    Planning Cuts and Edge Conditions

    Before fixing any panels, complete a full dry-run layout on the floor to plan the placement of every panel and every cut. Identify:

    • Where cut panels fall — avoid very thin cuts at visible edges
    • How corners are handled — internal and external corners need specific details
    • How panels terminate at skirting, architrave, door frames, and ceiling line
    • Where service penetrations (sockets, switches, data points) fall within the panel layout

    Site Conditions During Installation

    Temperature and humidity during installation affect adhesive performance. Most panel adhesives require installation temperatures above 5°C and below 35°C. In cold or damp conditions, allow longer curing times before applying any load to the panels. Keep the space ventilated during and after installation to support adhesive cure.

    Handover and Snagging

    Before handing over a panel installation, inspect the completed work for:

    • Panel alignment — check slats and joints are parallel and consistent across the wall
    • Edge condition quality — sealant beads should be smooth and colour-matched
    • Panel security — check that all panels are fully bonded with no hollow-sounding areas
    • Surface cleanliness — remove adhesive residue from panel faces before it cures

    Contact The Panel Hub for bulk order wood wall panels, or request technical installation data sheets for any product in the range before beginning installation on a new project.