ARTICLES

3D Wall Panels DIY Installation

3D wall panels installation doesn’t always have to be a daunting process. If you purchase precut panels all you need to do is make sure the substrate wall is flat and clean enough for the adhesive and follow a few simple steps.

Here’s a video where Vikki from Carperpenter’s Daughter Youtube Channel shows how she installed bamboo pulp 3D wall panels from ManoMano.

3D Wall Panels DIY

Here’s a transcript of the video where the wall panels installation starts :


So the first thing that I did was get the wall ready to glue the panels, and it really depends on the surface you’ve got, so I’ve got two totally different examples here. I’ve got painted breeze blocks, which wasn’t a completely level surface because it used to be a doorway, and some exposed bricks, that definitely were level, but I didn’t need to worry about when bricks joined, so I removed everything from the walls, and any loose surfaces I need to just chip away and fill them later. But I actually patch plastered the big chunks that were missing, but that’s a whole separate job so I leave a link to a video if you’ve got an uneven wall, but it just needs to be roughly level for this to work…

Plastering brick wall
Preparing the wall for 3d wall panels installation


And I gave everything a wash with sugar soap. So once everything’s washed and dried, I don’t recommend skipping planning, where your panels are going to be. Now this space you see here, the panels didn’t quite fill the whole area, so originally I used some string to find the centerline to cut the panels in half, but eventually, I thought, you know what, I don’t need to do this I’m just going to use some trim, either end. And my spaces didn’t have skirting boards, so I use that to my benefit and I made sure when I installed them, they were completely level with a spirit level, so use that as a basis to make sure my tiles were completely straight from the bottom to the top, plus I knew I’d be left with a funny cut at the top, which would be less visible to the eye, and I could fill that with caulk later.

Leveling the skirting board
Leveling the skirting board


In the doorway, we had a bit of gap in either side and needed to make sure the tiles were absolutely dead center, and a big shout out to a company called Manomano who sent me these panels to review, they’re an online company that sells so many different products, not just these, but the 3d panels coming loads of different types and I went to the wavy version because I thought it would be easier to match up in an awkward space. Now for the fun part. You will need a lot of glue for this. I must have used about 12 tubes, for three strips of wall. But it also is going to depend on your wall surface. And by that I mean, you may have to glue the wall, and the panel separately for it to stick better. I actually found this brick more easy to glue compared to the freshly plastered wall, even though I had a PVA solution as well.

Applying glue at the back of 3d panels
Applying glue at the back of the panel

I just added a glue on the back of the panels on every bit that was pushed the wall, and just applied it in a zigzag fashion. Don’t worry I’ll leave all the links to the things I’m using below. And I did wear gloves with this just in case it stuck to me. And then just line to open and just press down with my hands going over every indent will make sure you’re rubbing off any excess glue as you go because unfortunately, it will show when you paint it later.

Pressing 3d panels to the wall
Pressing panels to the wall

It is very easy to get glue on the gloves and accidentally get it on the panels, so make sure you’ve got plenty of cleaning wipes at hand as well. And I just repeated that until I got to the top where I got two tricky areas. Now, cutting them is really easy. It is actually made out of bamboo and it’s like a thin compressed card but is stronger than cardboard. So using a ruler I just measured where I roughly cut them through, drew a line using a spirit level, and I’m using spirit level because it was the longest thing I had. I used a sharp Stanley knife to slowly and carefully cut the pieces that I needed, and then like the rest just glued that into place. Then it was time for the trim, and have two different areas I needed before. So luckily there are so many different types of trims that you can buy. For the doorway, I use one that was roughly an inch wide, for the end of the wall I use one that was about six millimeters wide and using some more adhesive, I just glued these into place. But I have to say my favorite glue this project, was NoNails. By the time you get through so many bottles your hand is going to really hurt. And this one was so easy to apply. Now, I left a day for these whole panels to dry. And I’m going to start caulking these seams here.
I’ve got some decorators wipe, I’m just using white caulk, but I’m not going to caulk these trims here, because I think it would be better after I’ve painted these.

Caulking 3d panels
Caulking 3d wall panels

To get rid of any seams I use some white caulk in between the gaps, then white any excess off with a damp cloth. It did start to rub, like cardboard so I just took my time and went easy on them, just kept watching my finger to get over it, just so it could blend in and wasn’t visible. But because my bungalow is very small I really needed to paint with a bright color, and I went for Dulux’s easy care washable brilliant white, because we go for walks every morning and we’re very good at splashing mud everywhere. So this I couldn’t escape, but you can paint it with whatever color you want.

Hand painting 3d wall panels
Hand painting 3d wall panels

And actually painted the wooden trim with this as well. I know that’s not really the right thing to do, you’re best off using primer, but I wasn’t planning on touching the surfaces or couldn’t see the problem and then because this is actually the first time I used a color other than Magnolia on my walls, I did try and caulk right before I had a trim. For that I just don’t have the patience or skill. So once I’ve painted everything I painted the trim separately, glued it to the wall, wiped any excess glue, as I went and then caught the inside of the trim, not the outside which was touching the painted wall. So a huge thanks to my man after sending me these panels. Like I said before, this is absolutely not a sponsored video. It took a long time just to get all the finishing details around me because lots of got into place, couldn’t stop myself, I thought it looked great with a painter stealing kittens and I just went to town. So this is the happiest I’ve ever been in my hallway. And we’ve now got like a mini living room, going on just behind the camera as well…

Click here for custom fabrication experts

How Decorative Wall Panels Are Made

Modern buildings and homes use various types of decorative wall panels to cover hallways, serve as feature walls, section rooms and double as wall art. There are hundreds of products to choose from, covering a wide range of colours, finishes, textures, and patterns. A current favourite among interior designers and homeowners are 3-dimensional decorative wall panels which instantly add elegance and dramatic looks to any area. Not all wall panels, however, are made alike and the finer details surrounding the manufacturing process can result in more or less resistant properties, flexibility and durability.

Wall panels are often made of cellulose material or other resin such as PVC. Cellulose material is obtained by shredding or grinding wood fibres to a fine pulp. Additives and fillers are mixed with the wood fibres and then dewatered so that they can be shaped into plane sheets. The sheets are compressed further and left to harden through air-curing or under specific pressure, temperature and humidity conditions. Applying heat and pressure simultaneously allows the dried fibres to take on a desired form.

Variations in thickness and strength can be achieved through additional processes such as infusing sheets with resins so that they harden and combine with other MDF panels or other raw core material without the need for additional adhesives. Multiple layers of the same material may be sandwiched between sheets of some protective material.

The compression process uses pressure plates which compress the resin and simultaneously give the mixture its structure. The resulting product is one that is scratch resistant, impact resistant, and abrasion resistant. Unlike timber materials, the boards which comprise decorative wall panels have flame retardant properties.

Environmentally conscious consumers may also find green products among the choices of wall panels. The green products rely on the natural adhesive properties of the cellulose fibres obtained from wood raw materials, instead of adding bonding agents. Heat and pressure activates the bonding action of the natural lignin in the wood fibres.

Depending on the intended use of the panel, special coatings such as UV resins, anti-bacterial agents and other solutions may be added to create a surface which is receptive to printing and images. Laminating films may be applied for added protection.

Heat and compression are important steps in the manufacturing process and the right equipment can provide the right pressure and temperature needed for decorative wall panels to gain their desired texture and strength. How wall panels are manufactured impact design, durability and other properties. Prospective buyers are advised to inquire about the manufacturing process along with other important factors such as design choices, colours, and costs.

Easy renovation using decorative wall panels

Renovating the home, office or commercial space is often necessary to improve its appearance, maximise space, or dramatically change the look of interior settings. Often, renovations include repainting walls, removing and replacing wallpaper, and building new structures over existing ones. Interior designers also use decorative wall panels to capture the desired look envisioned by clients. Wall panels have numerous benefits such as easy installation and removal.

Using wall panels for renovation

Decorative wall panels are available in various designs, textures and materials and are made of lightweight materials which make them easy to install over existing walls. Wall panels that mimic the appearance of wood and stone are suitable alternatives for homes and offices which require the soothing ambience of natural settings. Real wood and stone are quite heavy and often entail high costs for transporting and installing, usually by a professional with experience in timber construction and masonry.

Decorative faux stone or wood panels can be made of MDF boards, polyurethane or PVC materials which are much lighter than their original counterparts. They are engineered to connect with other wall panels using a tongue and groove or other snap easy mechanism and can be reinforced with adhesive or some screws.

Other decorative wall panels bear 3-dimensional designs such as waves, circles, and other patterns that the mind can think of! They also come in a wide range of colours which are designed to breathe life to any room, add interest, or serve as focal points or feature walls. When 3D wall panels are combined with suitable custom lighting, the results are often dramatic.

cutting 3d wall panels

interior renovation and wall panels installation

completed commercial renovation using wall panels

Removing decorative wall panels need not be a concern during renovation. Quickly change the look of interior settings by replacing old panels with more modern ones. Depending on the installation system behind the wall panel, removal may simply require a screwdriver, flat screwdriver or small flat pry bar. Here’s how:

1. Before removing any wall panel, check for light switches or electrical outlets near or around it. Remove any light switch or electrical cover plates by unfastening screws using a screwdriver.
2. Remove any decorative trim boards around the wall panel using a small flat pry bar.
3. Locate the seam in between two panels and insert a flat screwdriver in between the seams to pry out the side of the panel.
4. Gently unfasten the rest of the panel by sliding the pry bar around the panel to remove it.
5. Repeat the procedure on the other wall panels.

Renovation projects for the home and office can be expensive but with the right design, materials and decorative wall panels, achieving a new look can be fast and cost effective.

What Customisations Are Available For Handmade Decorative Wall Panels?

Many manufacturers of decorative wall panels allow their customers to choose the design of the panel, the shape, and sometimes even the material. Apart from that, customers can further cut and reshape the panels once they receive them, according to their needs and the requirements of their project.

Size and Shape
Some standard decorative wall panel sizes are 2400×1200mm , 2700mmx1200mm and 1800mmx600mm. Companies selling them can cut them for you in the required size and shape. A rectangular panel can be made into a square one, or a round one, or even in a triangular one. Whatever the shape you want your panel to be, either the manufacturer or you will be usually able to cut it as needed.

Material
Bagasse, a 100% recyclable material made from sugarcane stalks, is increasingly used for wall panels. Many companies also use medium density fibreboard, and some even use recycled glass. For the fibreboard, the original material is usually around 18mm thick, but after machining, it can become only 6mm thick. All the materials used tend to be light, safe to transport even over long distances, and easy to install.

Design
Decorative wall panels are available in thousands of designs, depending on the company selling them. Most of these designs can be arranged in an either vertical or horizontal pattern. 3D designs are achieved through machining, and can replicate geometrical shapes such as spheres, cubes, waves, splashes, sand, and many more. The colours vary with the material used and with whether or not paint is applied. Customers can often paint wall panels that are not originally painted themselves to change or improve their look over the years.

Finishes
Many decorative finishes are available for wall panels. Depending on the base material the appropriate paint should be used. Special finishes may include gilding, wax, glass beads, mica and glitter. Other finishes available are vinyl finish for a great visual appeal, polyurethane paint for a lustrous finish, metal finishes, wood finishes, and stone finishes. The last three finishes come in thousands of colours and varieties, and they can mimic the metal, wood, or stone perfectly, making them ideal not only for internal, but also external use.

custom metallic finish wall panels

In conclusion, handmade decorative wall panels come in many sizes, shapes, materials, and designs, and they can have a finish that perfectly matches the setting where you want to place them.

The Environmental Benefits of Decorative Wall Panels

Many wall panels are green products manufactured entirely from 100% recyclable raw materials. When it comes to handmade wall panels, many are made from recycled materials such as glass, cloth, plastic, which would have been otherwise thrown away.

3D Wall Panels and Bagasse
The latest 3D wall panels are manufactured from bagasse, a green material made out of crushed sugarcane stalks that remain after the sugar is extracted. Sugarcane is a top renewable resource which can be harvested several times a year, and which has an excellent yield. Its waste, crushed stalks, can be made into bagasse instead of being burned, thus helping conserve energy and create green products. Bagasse is 100% recycled and 100% biodegradable, making it an ideal material for wall panels.

Handmade Wall Panels
Handmade wall panels are usually the creation of creative artists who have set up their own studio, and who employ teams of workers. While the panels they make are not necessarily recyclable, they are often made from recycled materials that would have otherwise gone to waste. Some materials that handmade wall panel makers frequently use are bamboo, glass, plastic, wood, felt, and ceramic.

9 Environmental Benefits of Decorative Wall Panels:

• Often made from 100% recyclable materials coming from renewable sources like sugarcane stalks.
• In case of handmade products, sometimes made from recycled materials that would have otherwise been thrown away.
• Easy fixing on any surface reduces the need for building work, which in its turn eliminates use of non-green products.

Easy fixing also eliminates the need for drilling, cutting electricity costs.

Eliminate the need for engineering reports which often require much paperwork, thus reducing paper usage.

• In the case of outdoor decorative wall panels, high resistance to weather ensures extensive product lifetime, thus reducing the need for building work, which is not only costly, but can also have a negative impact on the local environment.
• The strength and durability of high-quality decorative wall panels reduces the need for frequent internal decoration, which normally requires materials that are not green.
• The fire-resistance and damp- and weather-proofness of many decorative wall panels makes them extremely hard wearing, thus reducing the need for constant replacement and conserving resources.
• Many products are reusable, and can be removed, painted, and reinstalled in other settings, again minimising resource usage.

In conclusion, decorative wall panels have many environmental benefits, for residential as well as corporate use. To get the maximum benefit when buying decorative wall panels, choose high-quality products and look for the green product emblem on the manufacturer’s website.

The Difficulties of Installing Interior Decorative Wall Panels

Whether it’s done indoors or outdoors, for a home or for a corporation, a decorative wall panels installation is best left to professionals. It’s also important to ensure that the professionals installing your panels have actually installed the exact product you have purchased previously because wall panel manufacturers can use different installation methods for their newer products.

Basic installation

The installation of many 3D Texture panels available in Australia requires no special equipment. They can be installed indoors using adhesive and screws. However, their installation needs to be tight because in time these panels may expand and contract when the room temperature changes (depending on the material used).

Temperature is one of the key factors that needs to be considered when installing decorative wall panels. Both heat and cold could make the adhesive used less effective. It’s critical that when installing panels on a large scale, that is in a corporate environment, the adhesive used is of the best quality possible.

A premium adhesive is often recommended by panel manufacturers. Additional fixing using interior or exterior screws is recommended to ensure the panels stick to the walls.

Tools necessary to install a decorative wall panel include high-quality construction adhesive or glue, screws and drill, and sandpaper. If the panels will need minor cutting, a circular saw may be necessary.

Essential things you need to know when installing decorative wall panels

Panels must be installed on a level, solid backing. Walls that are not level should be levelled before any panels are installed, to avoid any future problems.

  •  Wall panels require beads of adhesive at each end.
  •  Joints usually need adhesive as well as screws.
  • Some trimming is sometimes necessary to ensure that the panels used fit perfectly.
  • Plaster wall screws are best used for screwing an interior panel. Galvanised screws are best used for exterior panels.

• Longer screws should be used for wall panel molded corners, to ensure the corner is attached to the corner fake panels and the wall.

• Once the installation of the wall panel is complete, colour-matching caulk can be used to fill the spaces between the joints and the screw holes.

• Cut edges of the panels can be concealed using aluminium/timber borders or any other materials that can additionally enhance the look of the wall.

Conclusion
Although decorative wall panels can be installed by customers themselves, if they have the necessary tools and follow the instructions in the product manual, the installation will be smoother and better if a professional service is used, especially in the corporate environment.

What You Need to Know About Decorative Wall Panels for Commercial Applications

Decorative wall panels are an accessible way of making commercial buildings more beautiful and enhancing their value. A well-chosen wall panel can make a commercial structure stand out, and with only a minimal expense.

Benefits of wall panels for commercial applications
Decorative wall panels such as those that mimic stone can be used for accent, but also for the entire structure, to change its look dramatically. What’s more, wall panels can be used to give a modern structure the appearance of an old building, thus increasing the chances of local authorities allowing constructions in town centres or other areas where they wish to preserve a heritage look.

Wall panels are lightweight. Their installation is easy when professionals handle it. Although they can look like stone, they weigh much less, and therefore don’t require any structural reinforcement. Sometimes they can even be installed by your own team.

Types of wall panels for commercial applications
Wall panels come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they can also be customised by the purchaser. Here are some popular products sold by Australian manufacturers:

  • 3D wall panel textures including brown and black leather, grey leather tiles, wave, cubes, circles, triangles, squares, arabesque, driftwood, elephant, erosion, rhythm, sand. 3D textures come in hundreds of striking colours, from milky white to pitch black.
  • 3D wall panels that mimic brick are extremely varied. They can faithfully reproduce historic brick, contemporary brick, rustic brick, ledge brick, riverstone, stonewall, coral wall, granite, fieldstone, castle stone, and garden stone. All are available in several colours, so you can always find what you need.
  • 3D wall panels with creative textures can come as ellipses, vaults, gaps, sweeps, pitches, splashes, kites, craters, tetris, flows, pebbles, sands, and many others.

In addition to these, some decorative wall panel makers allow customers to place custom orders, choosing their own desired texture, based on a photo for example. Using latest generation processes, companies can replicate many patters and effects into 100% recyclable wall panels made from bagasse.

Conclusion
In the end, decorative wall panels, whether used indoors or outdoors, can prove to be an excellent investment for companies that want to make their structures stand out or blend in without doing major renovation, and without spending too much. Their lightness, quick installation, durability and resistance, easy removal, affordability compared to traditional construction materials, all make decorative wall panels a worthwhile investment.

Why Use Composite Panels Instead of Timber

Wood panels enhance the look of interior spaces, adding elegance, warmth and natural beauty to homes and offices. The demand for construction timber, however, has led to indiscriminate logging activities that contribute to global warming, cause the extinction of wood species and wreak irreparable damage to the environment. Innovative solutions such as composite panels are ideal ways of incorporating the aesthetics of timber without the harmful consequences on the environment.

Eco Wood panel made from composite material

About composite wood panels

Composite panels containing wood, also known as engineered wood composites, are typically made of wood fibres or sawdust obtained from real hardwood which may be shredded or ground to a fine pulp. The extracted fibres are then dried and mixed with epoxy or other binding agent and formed into sheets under high levels of heat and pressure. The resulting products may be known in the market as particle board or hardboard.

Advantages over timber

Less timber used: The engineering process behind composite wood panels uses smaller dimensions of timber as raw material, yet it can be manufactured to create larger dimension composite decorative wall panels.

Lighter than timber: The dried wood fibres that are found in the composite material carry less moisture and weigh less than ordinary wood materials. With their lighter weight, shipping and installation costs are lower, and many homeowners are able to work with composites using ordinary tools at home.

Stronger than timber: Its lighter weight, however, does not make it a weak material. Without the breaks in the natural fibre of ordinary timber, composite wood panels tend to be stronger and are suitable for standing walls, furniture frames and other heavy duty interior purposes.

Eco friendly: Composites use only smaller dimensions of ordinary wood, allowing manufacturers to obtain raw materials from smaller trees which are easily replanted for sustainability.

Resistant to warping: The manufacturing process involves heat and pressure which leave the composite products with low moisture content, making them resistant to warping, twisting and distortion. The finished product ordinarily retains its shape and size.

Depending on the manufacturing process used, composite wood panels may possess high density core resin material with proprietary acrylic coverings for a wide range of durability, strength and design options. High quality composite wood panel systems are ideal for indoor use although more high quality panel systems may be engineered for exterior use as well. Composite wall panels are readily available in the market and may be sourced online.

From What Materials Are Decorative Wall Panels Made?

Decorative wall panels can be made from many different materials, including wood, stone, fibreboard, polymers, and last but not least, bagasse, which is made from crushed sugarcane stalks.

Fibreboard wall panels
Usually moisture resistant, fibreboard has a raw face and white melamine back. The raw face can be finished in many different patterns, depending on the 3D finishing technology the provider offers, and on the needs of the customer. This material is durable and resistant. The fibre sources come from Australian forests, mostly softwood. Fibreboard is one of the greenest materials used for decorative wall panels, meeting GECA standards.

Polymer wall panels
18mm polymer board is often used for outdoor decorative wall panels because of its durability and remarkable properties. Besides being light, strong, and flexible, it is also self- extinguishing, pest-resistant, non-corrosive, and waterproof. Moreover, it can be installed in multiple ways, including through drilling and screwing.

Stone wall panels
Granite, slate, onyx, and sometimes even marble are all used for decorative wall panels. These are usually mounted on a support base, to make them easier to handle and install. The base is always concealed though, so in terms of appearance, these panels look just like the authentic stone. Decorative wall panels can have a face that mimics castle stone, field stone, garden stone, cut granite, stone wall, and even coral block.

Wood wall panels
There are many varieties of decorative wall panels made of wood. Both softwoods and hardwoods are used. Many companies have developed their own technologies for copying realistically the appearance of wood, without actually using wood but recyclable materials, thus minimising the negative impact of their products on the environment.

Bamboo wall panels
Some Australian manufacturers offer bamboo decorative panels, often 100% handmade. Bamboo wall panels can be used both inside and outside, as bamboo is durable and long lasting, and if subjected to the right treatment, weather resistant even in bad weather. Bamboo wall panels typically maintain the original appearance of bamboo.

Bagasse wall panels
3D decorative wall panels made from bagasse are increasingly popular in Australia. They are green products, made from a 100% biodegradable material obtained from sugarcane stalks. Bagasse panels are also pleasing visually, being typically milky white, decorated with 3D patterns.

These are the basic materials used by Australian manufacturers for decorative wall panels. But you have to keep in mind that many companies constantly develop new wall panel manufacturing technologies and improving existing processes, often by using new raw materials. Things are constantly changing in this field.

Continue reading From What Materials Are Decorative Wall Panels Made?