From flat-packed to finished wall.

Unbox the panels and lay them flat — stacked if needed — in the room where they will be installed. Leave them for a minimum of 48 hours. Timber expands and contracts with temperature and humidity, and skipping this step can cause bowing or gap changes after the panels are fixed to the wall.

Do not lean panels against a wall during acclimatisation — lay them flat to prevent warping.

The wall must be clean, dry, and reasonably flat. Remove loose paint, dust, or grease. Locate and mark stud positions with a pencil — you'll need these if you choose screw fixing. Check the wall is plumb with a spirit level; fill any significant low points before you start.

Do not install over freshly plastered or damp walls — allow a minimum of four weeks full drying time.

Measure the wall and plan the full panel layout before cutting anything. Dry-fit panels against the wall and number them in sequence. Account for sockets, switches, or architectural features. Decide how you'll handle edges — raw, trimmed with reveal strip, or finished with colour-matched filler.

Start from the most visible corner and work outwards — any cut panel will land at the less prominent end of the wall.

Use a fine-tooth handsaw or circular saw with a fine-tooth blade. Always cut with the face (veneer side) up to prevent tear-out. For small notches around sockets, score with a sharp utility knife and snap cleanly. Lightly sand any cut edges with fine-grit paper before fixing.

Inspect every panel before you cut — once a panel is cut, it cannot be returned for a change of mind.

Load a caulking gun with construction adhesive — Sika Fix+, CT1, or a similar hybrid polymer adhesive. Apply in a continuous zigzag pattern across the back of the felt, keeping clear of the very edges. Do not use PVA, latex, or water-based adhesives.

Apply adhesive and wait 60 seconds before pressing to the wall — allowing it to become tacky gives a stronger initial bond.

Press the panel firmly against the wall, checking alignment with a spirit level as you go. Use 2 mm spacers or cardboard strips between panels to maintain a consistent expansion gap — never butt panels tightly together. Apply firm, even pressure for 30–60 seconds per panel. Work in sequence.

Screw a temporary support batten to the wall below the first row to hold panels level while the adhesive sets.

For a more permanent fix — especially on ceilings or in high-humidity areas — supplement adhesive with 45 mm wood screws driven through the PET felt backing into wall studs. Pre-drill to avoid splitting. Use a countersink bit so the screw head sits flush with the felt surface.

Screw fixing is recommended for ceiling installation and for panels longer than 1200 mm.

Remove spacers once the adhesive has set — typically 2–4 hours for initial set, 24 hours for full cure. Apply timber reveal strips or colour-matched filler to exposed edges if desired. Wipe down panel faces with a dry cloth. Allow 24 hours before hanging anything from or near the panels.

Sit in the room once complete — notice the difference. The acoustic change is most obvious the first time the space fills with sound again.