Products / Millwork and mouldings
Acoustic slat panels with veneered MDF slats on felt backing, solid wood slat panels and battens on a board, made to size for offices, hotels, shops and homes.
A slat wall panel is a row of narrow wood slats fixed to a backing at an even spacing. The slats give the wall its look, and the gaps and the backing decide how the panel handles sound. Panel factories cut and veneer the slats, glue or screw them to the backing, cut the panels to length and pack them flat for shipping.
Three choices drive the price more than the species: veneered MDF or solid wood slats, the backing (acoustic felt, an MDF board or loose battens) and whether the project needs a fire rated build-up. A veneered MDF acoustic panel and a solid white oak batten wall can look alike in a photo and still differ widely in cost, weight and lead time.
Most orders serve one project with a fixed install date. Color match across the whole wall, the right number of spare panels and fire documents that arrive with the goods matter as much as the unit price.
Name the type on the RFQ. Factories that make one type well do not always make the others.
| Type | What it is | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Acoustic slat panels | Veneered MDF slats glued to a recycled PET felt backing, with open gaps between the slats. Often fixed over mineral wool or an air gap to absorb more sound. | Offices, restaurants, hotels and home theaters where the wall must also cut echo. |
| Solid wood slat panels | Solid oak, ash or walnut slats fixed to a backing board or rails at the factory. Heavier and more costly, and the face can be sanded and refinished later. | High traffic areas and projects that ask for solid wood on the face. |
| Battens on a board | Solid or veneered battens glued or screwed to an MDF or plywood board, often with a black or veneered board showing in the gaps. | Feature walls, reception desks and ceilings where the board color is part of the design. |
| Loose battens | Profiled slats supplied by length, fixed on site over battens or a black backing sheet. | Large or curved walls where installers set the spacing on site. |
| Ceiling slat panels | Lighter slat panels or battens on a frame, made to hang from a ceiling grid or a rail system. | Lobbies, retail and transport spaces. Fixing and fire rules are stricter overhead. |
Starting points used across the trade. Your drawing sets the real values, and each factory confirms what it can hold on the quote.
| Spec | Typical value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Panel size | About 600 x 2400 mm or 600 x 2700 mm, typical | Lengths cut to the room height save joints and waste on site. |
| Slat section | About 27 mm wide and 12 to 22 mm deep on acoustic panels, typical | Give width, depth and edge profile on the slat drawing. |
| Slat spacing | About 10 to 15 mm gap, typical | Wider gaps show more backing and change the sound absorption. |
| Felt backing | About 9 to 12 mm recycled PET felt, typical | State the felt color: black, grey or a custom color. |
| Total thickness | About 21 to 25 mm on acoustic panels, typical | Matters for door frames, sockets and corner trims. |
| Moisture content | 8 to 10 percent for solid slats, typical | Match the climate of the building and let panels settle in the room before install. |
| Tolerance | About ±1 mm on panel length and ±0.5 mm on slat width, typical | Panels join end to end and side by side, so the spacing must repeat exactly. |
Typical values, not a guarantee. Confirm every value that matters to you on the quote and the approved sample.
The usual process chain, from dried lumber or panels to packed goods. Ask which steps happen in-house and which go out to another plant.
Projects usually start with veneer and color samples, then one full sample panel. Project orders range from a few hundred square meters to full containers. Brands that sell online order repeat runs of a few standard sizes and colors. Many plants set a minimum per color and per slat profile.
Order for one project with a fixed install date. Need the full quantity, spares and fire documents on time.
Sell slat panels under their own name online or through dealers. Need repeat color match and retail ready packaging.
Specify size, species and fire class. Need samples and data sheets before the contractor orders.
Roll out one wall design across many sites. Need the same color and spacing on every run.
With these points stated, every matched factory quotes the same product.
Approve one sample in writing and keep it as the reference for every shipment.
The problems that cost buyers of wood slat wall panels the most time and money, and how to head them off in the RFQ.
Related guides:
Reference: Wikipedia: Medium-density fibreboard
The felt and the gaps absorb part of the sound, and more when the panel sits over mineral wool or an air gap. Test labs measure it to ISO 354 or ASTM C423 and report a sound absorption class or an NRC value for a stated mounting. Ask for the report that matches how you will install the panels.
Yes, many plants offer fire retardant MDF slats and rated backings. The project sets the class, for example ASTM E84 Class A or B in the US or a Euroclass under EN 13501-1 in the EU. State the class in the RFQ and ask for a test report on the full panel, not only on the board.
Veneered MDF slats are straighter, lighter and lower cost, and they move little with humidity. Solid slats cost more and can be sanded and refinished, which suits areas people touch. Many projects use veneer on walls and solid wood at low level.
About 600 x 2400 mm and 600 x 2700 mm are typical stock sizes. For a project, order the length to match the room height so installers do not cut and join panels. The width is set by the number of slats.
Felt backed panels are screwed through the felt into studs or battens, often with adhesive as well. Board backed panels are screwed or hung on rails or a French cleat. Ask the factory for fixing guidance and add screws and end caps to the order if you want a complete kit.
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