How many wall panels do I need? Counting panels and trims

How do I measure a room for wall panels?

Measure the width of every wall you are covering and the height you are covering to, in metres, and write each wall down separately. Panels run floor to ceiling, so the wall width decides how many you need and the wall height decides which panel length you need.

Measure the height at both ends of each wall, because floors and ceilings slope in older houses, and work to the bigger figure. Measure each door and window for width and height, and for a window, how far the bottom edge sits off the floor. A sketch of the room with each wall labelled helps at the counter.

Which panel sizes are sold here, and how much wall does each cover?

The flat PVC wall panels come in two sizes, and the fluted panels in three types. The figure that matters is how many panels make up a metre of wall.

Panels per metre of wall

Panel	Size	Thickness	Panels per metre	Working
Flat, narrow	250mm x 2.6m	8mm	4	1m divided by 0.25m
Flat, wide	1m x 2.4m	10mm	1	1m divided by 1m
Madrid fluted	175mm x 2.6m	20mm	6	Use this count
Elba and Siena fluted	97mm x 2.6m	37mm	13	Use this count

Each product page also has a calculator. Enter the total width of the wall and it gives the number of panels. Which sizes a design comes in is on its page: White High Gloss is sold in both flat sizes, and Picolo comes in the 250mm size.

The 1m x 2.4m panel suits a wall up to 2.4m high and the 250mm x 2.6m panel a wall up to 2.6m. A 2.6m panel on a 2.4m wall leaves a 200mm offcut. Above 2.6m, ring us before you order.

How do I work out the number of panels?

Divide the wall width by the panel width, round up to a whole panel, then add 10% for waste. A 2.1m wall needs 8.4 narrow panels, which is 9, or 2.1 wide panels, which is 3.

There are two ways to do the sum. The quick way is to add all the wall widths together, divide once, round up and add 10%. The careful way is to round each wall up on its own, then add. The careful way gives the higher number, because each wall needs its own whole panels. If the two answers differ, order the higher one.

What do I take off for doors and windows?

Take the width of a door off the wall run and leave windows in the count. A door goes the full height of the panels, so the wall beside it is shorter. A window sits in the middle of the panel height, so the panels above and below it are cut from full-length panels and the count stays the same.

The strip above a door still needs panel. It is cut from a full panel, and the 10% allowance is there for it. Several openings in one room means more cut pieces, so add a spare panel and tell us when you order.

Worked example: a bathroom with panels to the ceiling

The room is 2.1m by 1.7m with a 2.4m ceiling. All four walls are panelled. There is a 0.8m wide door in one 2.1m wall and a 0.9m wide window in one 1.7m wall.

• Wall run: 2.1 + 1.7 + 2.1 + 1.7 = 7.6m. Take off the 0.8m door: 6.8m. The window stays in the count.
• Wide panels (1m x 2.4m): 6.8 rounds up to 7, and 10% more makes 7.48, so 8. Counting wall by wall gives 2 beside the door, 2, 3 and 2, which is 9. Order 9.
• Narrow panels (250mm x 2.6m): 6.8 divided by 0.25 is 27.2, which is 28, and 10% more makes 30. Wall by wall gives 6 beside the door, 7, 9 and 7, which is 29. Order 30.

How do I count the trims?

Count corners by height and straight runs by length. A corner trim runs the full height of the corner, so one length per corner, and the length has to be at least the wall height. A run along a door frame or the top of a wall is the total length divided by the piece length, rounded up, plus one spare for mitres and cuts.

Trim lengths sold

Trim	Length of each piece	What you count
Internal Angle Chrome	2.6m	One per internal corner
External Angle Chrome	2.6m	One per external corner
Starting Section White	5m	Total run, divided by 5m
Starting Section Chrome	2.5m	Total run, divided by 2.5m
Coving White	2.6m	Room perimeter, divided by 2.6m

In the example, the room has 4 internal corners 2.4m high, so 4 lengths of internal angle. A door frame trimmed on both sides and across the top is 2.0 + 2.0 + 0.8 = 4.8m, which is close to one 5m starting section, so take two. If you finish the ceiling edge with coving, the 7.6m perimeter is 2.9 lengths, so 3, and 4 once you allow for the mitres. At the bath, quadrant finishes the edge of the panel, so measure that run. The internal angle suits 8 to 10mm panels and the coving and starting section suit 10mm, so tell us your panel size and we will match the trims.

How much adhesive and sealant do I need?

Allow about one 290ml tube of grab adhesive for every 2m2 of panel, as in our bathroom fitting guide. The example is 6.8m by 2.4m, which is about 16.3m2, so 9 tubes of Soudal Grip ALL. Allow a tube of Stay Fresh anti-mould sealant for the bath and shower tray joints, and one spare.

What should I bring to the counter?

Bring your sketch with the wall widths and heights, the doors and windows marked, and a note of which walls get panels and where a bath or shower tray meets the wall. Collect free from the Liverpool showroom, where the panels are on display, or ring 0151 525 4488 and we will go through the count with you. Delivery is priced by postcode and shown on each product page and at checkout. Read can you fit PVC wall panels over tiles before you order if the wall is tiled.