Classification of wooden wall panels, characteristics and options for using the coating, do-it-yourself installation work. Wooden wall panels are rectangular or square slabs made of natural wood, intended for cladding partitions indoors. Thanks to the wide range of products on the market, each homeowner can choose the material for color, exterior design, form for decorating rooms for any purpose. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the characteristics of wooden panels for walls and the technology of installation work.
Advantages and disadvantages of wood-clad walls
Decorating walls with wood panels has remained popular for a long time, despite the high cost of the material and the work itself. Surfaces sheathed with this material have advantages over typical methods of covering partitions:
- Manufacturers offer a wide range of wood panels for walls, they differ in color, size, material. You can find panels painted in the colors of any wood species. If desired, the material can be painted or varnished to your liking.
- The wood-paneled wall looks noble. With the help of the material, you can turn any room into a solid office.
- Products made of natural wood "breathe", they do not form fungus and mold. They do not emit harmful substances and create a natural indoor atmosphere.
- It is not necessary to level the surface for installation.
- Cables and wires are hidden behind the panels.
- It is easy to take care of wooden slabs, it is enough to wipe problem areas with a damp cloth. If you treat the panels with polish, they will look like new for a long time.
- Over time, the tree visually grows old, but does not lose its attractive appearance. Time goes by in favor of wood.
- Damaged trim elements change quickly.
- Wooden panels increase the thermal insulation of the room and are good at absorbing noise.
- Wooden wall panels look great in any interior.
The disadvantages of this method of wall decoration are much less advantages:
- The classic cladding method involves the use of a frame for fastening, which slightly reduces the area of the room.
- Fixing products with glue is performed only after leveling the walls, which leads to additional costs.
- Wooden panels do not like moisture, so the scope of the material is limited.
The main varieties of wood panels for walls
There are several types of wood wall panels. They are all classified in several ways.
Classification of wood panels by shape
The various shapes of the panels allow you to expand the scope of the coating. Slatted type-setting panels are produced in lengths from 2, 4 to 3, 7 m and widths from 125 to 300 mm. They are made in the form of planks with a thickness of 8 to 12 mm.
To connect the elements to each other, grooves and spikes are made in the panels. On the wall, the slatted panels are placed at arbitrary angles. Often used to decorate high walls.
Square tiled panels are produced in sizes 30x30 cm and 98x98 cm. With the help of such panels on the wall, you can lay out an image of any color and content. Usually, small sections of the walls are trimmed with such panels.
Sheet panels are large. Popular among users are products with dimensions of 1, 22x2, 44 m and a thickness of 3-6 mm.
Classification of panels for walls by material
Panels made of natural wood belong to the prestigious finishing materials, are made of solid wood, and are very expensive. For example, oak products cost $ 200 per 1 m2… Elite building materials also include cedar, alder, maple panels.
Cheaper and therefore available samples from conifers - pine, spruce. Solid wood panels create an extraordinary appearance and are used for a long time.
Natural wood slabs have their drawbacks. They swell with water, so it is not recommended to use them in damp rooms.
Glued-type panels are made by gluing thin layers of wood, connected perpendicular to each other. They belong to the economy version of wood panels.
MDF panels are a dense material made from natural wood sawdust and binding elements. They have the characteristics of wood, but are cheaper than solid wood panels. MDF boards - smooth on both sides. They are used in residential and industrial premises.
Chipboard panels are an unassuming-looking material with a loose structure, the cheapest option for wall cladding. The material is used for wall decoration in offices and apartments. They have good sound and heat insulation. The panels are not afraid of temperature changes, but they absorb moisture well.
Classification of panels by decoration of the front side
The appearance of the panels is highly dependent on the way the outer layer is processed. The main methods of processing the front side can be distinguished:
- Veneering … The outer layer of the product is made of fine wood, which makes the panels look more attractive. Differs in a non-standard appearance. Veneered boards perfectly imitate the elite class panels, but are several times cheaper.
- Lamination … Coating the board with a film that forms a glossy surface on the sample. The coating after lamination gives the material some protective properties, for example, it protects it from fading or slight impacts. Also, the film protects against thermal and chemical influences.
- Varnishing and finishing the front side with wax … Protects the material in damp rooms and decorates the canvas. The varnish conveys the appearance of wood as realistically as possible. However, lacquered surfaces are quickly damaged, which is why many users buy panels with a matte finish. They do not shine, but their protective layer is more reliable.
- Embossing … Drawings are made on the surface of the panel using a press. Embossing increases the strength of the material.
Manufacturers, at the request of the customer, can produce panels in various styles - Russian, Renaissance, Art Nouveau, Classicism.
How to choose wood paneling for walls
Wooden panels can be used in rooms for any purpose, it all depends on the preferences and imagination of the customer. Plates decorate walls, partitions, built-in structures.
Let's take a closer look at how to choose this material:
- In living rooms, decorative wood panels for walls create coziness and are used in decorating living rooms, hallways, kitchens, and nurseries. The material releases phytoncides, which have medicinal properties - they destroy microbes and viruses. The wax coating of the panels repels dust and makes them easy to clean, a property that housewives especially welcome.
- The choice of panels is strongly influenced by the type of wood. Oak panels are often used in living rooms, but their natural color is gray. There must be good lighting in the room to neutralize the dark tint. Dark wood is also found in walnut and maccassar ebony.
- For the bedroom, light shades, such as those of pink oak panels, are suitable.
- Often the walls of libraries and offices are sheathed with wood panels, they give the room an aesthetic look.
- In public areas, wood-paneled walls create a business-like atmosphere and tune in to work. They look impressive in offices and libraries. Panels are often decorated with mirror inserts and gilding.
- The walls of recording studios and cinemas are clad in wood paneling to absorb noise.
- Coated panels are moisture resistant and brighten up bathrooms and kitchens.
- Chipboard, fiberboard and MDF panels, although they belong to wood, but the presence of chemical binders in their composition makes the material non-environmentally friendly. Such panels are not recommended for use in private rooms. They are used to decorate corridors, offices and other similar premises.
Price is one of the main factors influencing the choice of material. The following reasoning will help you choose a panel:
- Natural material is more expensive than composite material.
- Solid wood is more expensive than veneer.
- Imported panels are more expensive than domestic ones.
- A large number of decorative elements increases the price of the product.
- Complex panel compositions increase material cost.
The following parameters affect the price of the panel: the size of the sample, the method of processing the front side, the type of wood, the percentage of solid wood in the panel, the presence of paneled parts, the decorative elements of the panel - patina, gilding, the presence of carved areas.
The technology of mounting wooden panels on the wall
The panels are fixed in three ways: on the crate, on glue, on construction brackets. Check out the typical surface decorating instructions for how to fix wood paneling to the wall.
Preparatory work before wall cladding
The choice of the material fastening option depends on several factors - the condition of the wall surface, the material of the partition, the characteristics of the panels.
The use of the frame allows installation without preliminary leveling the surface of the walls, only the front sides of the rails are exposed in one plane.
It is possible to glue the panels only on flat surfaces, therefore, plastering and puttying works are carried out before work. To secure the panels with construction brackets, the wall must also be perfectly flat.
On a brick wall, panels are mounted on a crate. Panels thinner than 6, 4 mm are laid on a flat substrate.
The amount of material for wall decoration is calculated as follows:
- Measure the length of the surface to be paneled.
- Decide on the size of the panels for wall decoration.
- Divide the length of the surface by the width of the panel, find out the number of panels in one row for wall cladding.
- Multiply the number of panels by the number of rows of panels to get the total number of claddings for the entire wall.
- From the received number of panels, subtract the area of the wall that is not finished with slabs - openings of windows, doors, and others.
After purchasing the stove, bring it to the room where the work is being carried out, remove the packaging and leave it for 24 hours. The canvas in the room will slightly change its dimensions and will not deform on the wall.
Works are performed at room temperature; the room must be closed windows and doors; the walls are primed and dried.
Fastening wood panels to the lathing
Mounting wooden panels to the wall in this way requires the assembly of the frame from wooden battens or metal profiles. First, inspect the wall for cracks, plaster flaking, and other imperfections. The partition can not be completely leveled, but only to eliminate defects so that the wall behind the panels does not collapse. Plaster crevices and dents with cement mortar. After leveling, cover the wall with antiseptics and prime.
The installation of the lathing begins with the placement of vertical slats (beacons) at the corners of the walls. They are installed strictly vertically and are attached temporarily. The control of the position of the bars is carried out with a plumb line. A cord is pulled between the beacons and the curvature of the wall is checked. If the cord touches the surface, the beacons move away from the wall. To eliminate deflections between the slats and the wall, spacers are installed after 50-60 cm, which are made on site. The gaskets should protrude 3-5 cm to the sides of the rails, horizontal bars will be installed on them.
The fastening of the battens depends on the material of the wall. The rails are attached to the walls made of wood or a gas silicate block with self-tapping screws. The slats are attached to brick or concrete walls with tubular countersunk head anchors. After fastening, a deflection appears in the places where the fasteners are installed. To eliminate it, the fasteners are loosened, and the gap is filled with a gasket. After fastening the horizontal and vertical rails, the joints are processed with a plane.
To create a metal lathing you will need narrow “UD” profiles and wide “CD” profiles. Installation rules are the same as for fastening wooden battens. The parts are connected to each other and to the walls with self-tapping screws. Dowel nails are not used for fastening metal profiles, the slats can "lead".
After arranging the frame, you can attach the panels. Wood paneling starts from the corner of the room. The panel is applied to the slats and oriented so that the strip with a longitudinal groove faces the master. In this position, the panel is secured with nails.
There are several ways to hammer in nails. The panels may have special grooves into which hardware is driven. In this case, the nails must be the same color as the face of the panel. The heads can be cut off so that they are not conspicuous. In the absence of grooves, the nails are driven at an angle of 45 degrees into the lower part of the groove until the heads are completely sunk into the wood.
The second plate is installed with a thorn in the groove of the first one, hammered with a hammer until the gaps are eliminated and fixed in the same way. All strips are attached in this way. The gaps between the panels and perpendicular walls are masked with decorative strips.
Installation of wood panels on an adhesive base
You need to stock up on glue that is specifically designed to work with wood panels. The corresponding record is on the packaging of the goods. Finishing in this way is done quickly if the wall is flat. In a similar way, you can quickly decorate a wall with tiles, and without dismantling the old coating.
The presence of drops with a depth of more than 5 mm on the wall implies compulsory plastering and puttying work. In this case, it is not recommended to glue the products. If there are no defects on the wall, the panels are glued as follows:
- The surface is cleaned of dust with a vacuum cleaner and impregnated with a primer.
- Apply a layer of glue with a spatula and a brush to the wall in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer of the glue solution. The coverage area depends on the curing time of the adhesive, usually equal to the size of one sheet of material.
- The first sample is glued in the corner, the next are placed side by side and hammered until the spike of the plate enters the groove of the first sample.
Fixing wood panels to construction brackets
Wall cladding with wood panels using construction brackets begins with marking on the wall, along which the panels and construction brackets are fixed. Fasten the brackets with self-tapping screws so that, after installing the panels, the teeth enter the groove of the sample.
4 staples are enough for 1 sheet. Place the first slab in the corner of the wall with the teeth fully engaging the ridge. The adjacent panel is installed in the groove first and fixed with a bracket.
The last stage of working with wood panels is the impregnation and coating of the boards with various protective agents. To increase the service life, the material must be impregnated with antibacterial, antifungal, water-repellent liquids.
After the wood has dried, it is covered with varnish or stain, which does not hide the structure of the material. The panels are painted only for the embodiment of the design intent.
How to fix wood panels to the wall - watch the video:
Fixing wooden panels to the wall is within the power of one person with little experience in joinery. The prize for the work will be the beautiful finish and the savings.
