Wall Panel Selection, Quantity and Installation Guide

Choosing the family, calculating area and waste, and installing in seven steps — joint detail and patina included.

Two things decide the result of a wall panel installation: correct quantities and invisible joints. Quantity follows the coverage per piece, with 10% waste on plain panels and 15% on patterned or fretwork panels. If joints are not filled and sanded, every one of them reads as a line after painting. This guide covers seven steps from measuring to patina.

Required Materials and Tools

• Fine-tooth hand saw or mitre saw • PU-based mounting adhesive (NOT silicone) • Laser level or spirit level • Acrylic filler • 180-220 grit abrasive • System primer and topcoat • Brush or sponge for patina (3D/textured panels) • Damp cloth • Battens to support panels

Step-by-Step Application

Choose the panel family — Decide the area to cover and how far the wall should step forward: plain panels close large surfaces quickly, wainscot suits half-height panelling, 3D panels create a feature wall with 80-150 mm depth, fretwork panels let light through and textured panels give brick or stone effect.
Calculate quantity and waste — Multiply wall width by height, deduct openings, divide by the coverage per piece and add waste: 10% for plain, 15% for patterned or fretwork. Allow one adhesive cartridge per 2-3 m² of panel.
Prepare the surface — Clean the wall of dust, grease and moisture; scrape off blistered paint and loose plaster. The surface must be dry and sound — adhesive grips sound plaster, not a weak substrate.
Plan the layout and cut — Starting the layout from the centre of the wall gives symmetrical cuts at the edges. On patterned panels check motif alignment by dry-laying. Cut with a fine-tooth hand saw or mitre saw; a utility knife will not cut the material.
Bond and support — Apply the PU-based adhesive to the back in an uninterrupted bead, starting 2-3 cm in from the edges, and press the panel home. Support large or deep panels with battens until cured. Silicone-based adhesive is not used; wipe squeeze-out with a damp cloth before it cures.
Close the joints — Fill panel joints and corner connections flush with acrylic filler and sand with 180-220 grit once dry. Skip this and every joint stays visible after painting.
Prime, paint and patina — Mat and clean the whole surface with 180-220 grit, apply the system primer homogeneously and then the topcoat. On 3D and textured panels apply a dark patina over the topcoat and wipe back the excess to emphasise relief depth. The primer must be the system primer of the topcoat brand.

Area and waste calculation step by step

The table walks through a worked example. The sequence is the same for every family; only the coverage per piece and the waste percentage change.

Step	Operation	Example (4.20 × 2.70 m wall)
1	Gross area = width × height	4.20 × 2.70 = 11.34 m²
2	Deduct openings (doors, windows, socket runs)	– 0.00 m² (none)
3	Divide by panel coverage	11.34 ÷ 2.79 (P3000A) ≈ 4.1 pieces
4	Add waste: 10% plain, 15% patterned/fretwork	4.1 × 1.10 ≈ 4.5 → 5 pieces
5	Adhesive: about 1 cartridge per 2-3 m²	11.34 m² → 4-5 cartridges
6	Filler and abrasive by metres of joint	joints ≈ 8 m → 1 tub of filler

Which family for which room?

In living rooms and bedrooms, plain panels with wainscot are the most used pair, while a 3D panel behind a sofa or bed head creates the focus. In corridors and stairwells a slim geometric panel (12 mm) is preferred because it does not narrow the passage. In cafés, restaurants and shops brick or stone textured panels give instant character. In bathrooms and kitchens the below-1% water absorption is the advantage, where MDF would swell. Fretwork panels pass light, so they serve as screens or behind niches.

Common mistakes

Skipping the waste allowance is the most common: without it the last row runs short. Not dry-checking motif alignment shifts the pattern at joints. Running adhesive right to the edge squeezes it out of the joint; start 2-3 cm in. Leaving large panels unsupported lets them slide while curing. Not filling joints and not sanding the whole surface leaves marks under paint.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is wall panel quantity calculated?

Multiply wall width by height, deduct openings, divide by the coverage per piece and add 10% waste on plain panels or 15% on patterned and fretwork panels.