A little preparation before we arrive to fit your panelling can save a surprising amount of time and hassle on the day itself. Most of it is common sense once it is pointed out, but it is easy to overlook if you have not been through the process before. Here is what actually helps.
None of this needs to be done to a professional standard, we just need the room to be reasonably clear and any other trades to have finished their part before panelling begins.
Clearing furniture out of the way
Panelling usually goes onto one or more full walls, so anything sitting against those walls needs to be moved, ideally out of the room entirely rather than just pulled a foot or two forward. Bookcases, chests of drawers and bed frames are the most common things people forget, and moving them on the morning of fitting eats into working time that could otherwise be spent on the actual job.
For smaller items, a spare bedroom, garage or landing is usually enough. For heavier furniture that is difficult to move alone, it is worth arranging help in advance rather than trying to shift it once our team has arrived, since we are not always able to help move large items due to insurance restrictions on furniture handling.
What to do with wall hangings and fixtures
Pictures, mirrors, curtain poles and anything else fixed to the wall being panelled needs to come down before we arrive. If curtain poles need to be refitted afterwards at a slightly different height to clear the new panelling, it is worth discussing this with us in advance so we can plan for it.
Light switches and sockets on the wall in question stay where they are, we work around them, but anything that is not fixed permanently should be removed to give us a clean wall to start from.
- Pictures, mirrors and shelves taken down
- Curtain poles removed or noted for repositioning
- Furniture moved away from the wall being panelled
- Small breakable items removed from the room entirely
Flooring and what stage it should be at
If new flooring is planned for the same room, the general rule is that panelling should go on before the final flooring is laid, particularly for full height panelling that runs close to the floor. This avoids the panelling being scribed awkwardly around an existing floor covering, and reduces the risk of damage to a brand new carpet or floor from cutting and fitting work.
If flooring is already down and cannot reasonably be changed, that is not the end of the world, we simply plan the panelling to sit correctly against the existing floor line, but it is worth mentioning at the quote stage so we can plan for it properly.
The order of decorating work
Panelling is usually best fitted before the final coat of paint goes on the rest of the room, since fitting inevitably creates some dust and the occasional mark on adjacent walls or ceiling that would need touching in afterwards anyway. Many customers choose to have us paint the panelling itself as part of the job, in which case the rest of the room's decorating can happen either before or after.
If a decorator is doing the rest of the room separately, it is worth coordinating so that panelling is fitted, filled and undercoated first, with the final decorating pass happening once all the joinery dust has settled, quite literally.
Carpets, dust sheets and protecting what stays
If carpet is staying in the room during fitting, we protect it with dust sheets, but it is still worth considering whether an older or lighter coloured carpet might be better lifted temporarily if the budget and timing allow, particularly for larger panelling projects.
For anything left in the room that cannot be moved, large furniture, fitted units nearby, we cover it before starting and check it is left in the same condition at the end of the day.
Electrics done first
Any electrical work, moving a socket, adding new lighting behind panelling, or running cables for a media wall, needs to be completed by a qualified electrician before panelling begins. Trying to chase cables into a wall after panelling is fitted is far more difficult and usually means removing sections of the finished work.
If you are planning lighting within the panelling itself, let us know at the quote stage so the design can allow for cable routes and access points from the outset, rather than trying to retrofit them later.
- New socket or switch positions agreed and completed before fitting
- Any lighting cables run and tested by an electrician first
- Access points for cables agreed with us at design stage
- Consumer unit or fuse box checked if adding new circuits
A final word before booking your job in
If you are getting ready for a panelling project and want a clear checklist tailored to your own room, give us a call on 02380 201687 or 07833 227576, or email info@vipwalls.co.uk. We are happy to talk through exactly what needs doing before our team arrives.
Common questions
- Do I need to strip old wallpaper before panelling goes up?
- In most cases loose or peeling wallpaper should come off, but sound, well stuck paper can sometimes be left in place. We will advise on this during the survey once we have seen the wall.
- Should I paint the room before or after panelling is fitted?
- Generally after, since fitting creates dust and occasional marks nearby that would need touching up regardless. Painting the panelling itself is usually best done once it is up and any filling has been sanded.
- Can panelling go over an uneven or damaged wall?
- Minor unevenness can usually be worked around, but significant damage or damp should be addressed before panelling goes up, since covering a problem does not fix it.
- Do you move furniture for me?
- We can help with small items, but larger furniture is best moved by you or a helper before we arrive, as our insurance does not always cover moving heavy household items.
- What if my electrician has not finished before the panelling date?
- It is best to push the panelling date back rather than proceed, since access to the wall is needed for any final electrical work. Let us know as early as possible if this happens so we can adjust the schedule.
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