Wall Panel Installation in Residential Spaces

About wall panels — briefly

Wall panel installation on the kitchen is most common if we talk about residential spaces. First of all, it's fast and, secondly, less expensive if you need to fit within a budget and organize a fresh backsplash in the desired locations. In other rooms, for example, in the bathroom, such an option is also possible, but the bathroom walls bear a greater load and are more exposed to water and chemical substances. This must be taken into account when choosing panels and their installation method.

Photo 1 – Wall Panel Installation

Installing wall panels yourself is quite possible

This simple process can be done anytime if you have an instruction and the necessary tools. However, it should be noted that any wall panel installation technology must strictly follow the technical specification. This is a standard that regulates production, installation, and operating conditions of any household decorative wall panels.

All manufacturers and suppliers of sheet wall panels are familiar with this document and must have a conformity certificate. The validity of this standard applies to the installation of MDF wall panels (wood finish), external and internal types of wall coverings, regardless of the wall type — reinforced concrete, wooden or brick. Based on the above, it is sufficient to purchase certified material and begin work.

Installation of PVC Wall Panels

Photo 2 – Preparation for Direct PVC Panel Installation

Installation of PVC wall panels usually involves the following stages (it is assumed that the panels are installed on the kitchen)

You need to prepare the required number of sheets based on coverage area — the door or window opening area must be subtracted.

The general requirement for any room is smooth, dry and clean walls, which should be taken care of before installing the panels.

The panels must be allowed to acclimatize for at least 12 hours before installation, only then can they be unpacked.

The frame structure should be installed according to the pre-agreed plan — for this, lines parallel to the floor must be marked on the wall where the frame will be mounted.

Panels should always be installed perpendicular to the direction of the frame structure.

All metal mounting elements must be treated with protective coating and only then can plastic wall panels be installed.

Panels must always be installed with a 2-3 mm gap, as even artificial materials change physical dimensions depending on temperature.

Panel installation should always begin from the internal corner of the room — adjustments and cuts are easier near doors and windows.

The last panel should be inserted into the groove of the finishing corner piece to hide joints. After completing the installation, baseboards can be placed to hide gaps between panels and the floor.

Carrying out such straightforward operations is quite feasible using common tools and personal effort, unlike labor-intensive tasks like installing sandwich panels.

Photo 3 – Sheet Wall Panels for Bedrooms

Installing Wall Panels Yourself: Video Tutorials and Key Points

Installation of wall panels (video and other visual aids can be found independently), from a professional perspective, should be a well-prepared event. This means that you need to study the market of materials not only from the price point of view but also understand the quality of offered materials in terms of practical usability.

Although this may not make self-installation easier, it will prevent many unpleasant surprises in the future. It is worth spending time reviewing such materials.

$ Wall Panel Installation: Price and Markets

Cost of wall panel installation (sq. m):

Price variations on the listed markets are a generalized view of average pricing without considering specific installation requirements and volume of preparatory work, which can also be done independently or with professional help. Additionally, some companies offer 'turnkey' installation, which may be the most optimal solution.