Cladding with slats: what the material changes

Decorative slats have gone from an occasional touch to defining whole walls. What decides the result is not so much the design as the material and finish, because tone, feel and later maintenance all follow from them.

Planed pine, iroko and flexible slat panels

Knot-free planed pine is the cheapest base and the easiest to paint or stain: if you want a coloured finish, it is the logical choice. Tropical iroko has a golden tone that darkens over time and a density that stands up to traffic areas. Flexible slat panels come mounted on a backing that follows curves, letting you clad columns, counters or rounded fronts without cutting piece by piece. The fluted panel plays with relief and its own shadow, very effective on headboards and feature walls.

How to fit them

On a smooth, dry wall, MS polymer adhesive applied in vertical beads is usually enough. On uneven surfaces it is better to fit battens every 40 to 50 cm first and screw the slats to them.

Always leave 5 to 10 mm of clearance against ceiling and floor: timber moves with changes in humidity, and the skirting or moulding covers that gap without difficulty.

Tell us the wall area and we will tell you how many boxes you need.