Homes from many decades
Arnold has grown in stages. Grove House was demolished in the 1920s to make way for housing, the grounds of Daybrook House were sold from 1958 and are now private homes, and in 2019 outline permission was granted for 148 new homes east of Mansfield Road and north of Georgia Drive. Add Woodthorpe, Redhill, Killisick and Dorket Head, and you have a town where neighbouring houses can be decades apart in age.
For panelling, that matters more than you might think. An older wall is more likely to be solid masonry with plaster that has cracked or loosened over the years. A newer wall is more likely to be plasterboard. Each needs checking in its own way before a single strip of MDF goes up, and each calls for a slightly different approach to fixing.
Start with what the room is for
Rather than choosing a style first, it helps to think about how the room is used.
- Hallways and landings: half-height panelling with a top rail takes the knocks from coats, bags and bikes, and a painted panel wipes clean more easily than bare emulsion.
- Bedrooms: a full-height wall of shaker frames behind the bed gives the room a focal point without adding furniture.
- Dining rooms: picture-frame moulding at about chair-back height adds detail without feeling heavy.
- Newer, simpler spaces: board and batten, with slim vertical battens, keeps the look clean and modern.
Not sure? A photo of the room and a picture of a style you like is plenty to start with.
How it goes on
Everything begins with a straight edge laid against the wall. Bumps, dips and cracked or loose plaster are put right first, with a patch or a full skim where needed, because a long panel strip will expose any unevenness as a gap or a shadow. Then the layout is marked so the frames are evenly spaced and land tidily around switches, sockets and the radiator. The MDF is cut on site, bonded with adhesive and pinned, and checked for level as it goes up. Finally every seam is filled and sanded and the edges are caulked, leaving panelling that is ready to prime and paint.
If you want a socket or switch moved so it sits in the middle of a panel, have a qualified electrician do that before the panelling starts.
Get in touch
Arnold is close to home for us. Call Patch Me If You Can on 07877 353120 or send your details through the enquiry form. We are working seven days a week between 7am and 5pm.
