General wall areas
Start by considering PVC sheet length, thickness and the condition of the wall beneath it.
Review PVC sheet sizes
FIELD GUIDE / 03 — MATERIAL CHOICE
PVC or stainless steel? Start with the wall.
A room does not always need one material throughout. Think about what happens in each area, the finish you want and the sheet size you plan to use.
Compare the options
01 / FIRST QUESTION
What will this part of the wall need to handle?
For general wall coverage, PVC cladding sheets offer a range of thicknesses and finishes. Stainless steel is another option to assess for splashbacks and harder-working sections of a commercial space.
Make the choice area by area. Check the specific product’s suitability for the location, especially where heat, moisture, frequent cleaning or impact affects the brief.
02 / AT A GLANCE
Two materials. Different planning questions.
Use this as a starting point for the discussion, then check the specifications of the products you shortlist.
WHAT TO CHECK
PVC WALL SHEETS
STAINLESS STEEL SHEETS
Where to consider it
General wall coverage, with white, coloured and specialist PVC ranges available.
Splashbacks, cooker-area surrounds and other sections calling for a metal finish.
Sheet width
Standard wall sheets are commonly 1.22m wide; use approximately 1.2m practical coverage for an initial estimate.
Check whether the chosen sheet is 1.0m or 1.2m wide before estimating quantities.
Sheet height
Available lengths vary by PVC range and thickness; compare them with the wall height.
Check the chosen steel sheet height against the area being covered.
Finishing details
Plan compatible PVC profiles, corners and exposed edges.
Plan steel-compatible trims, edges and fitting components.
03 / PLAN BY ZONE
A room can have more than one answer.
These examples show how to break a project into areas before making a material decision.
Splashback areas
Consider whether a stainless steel sheet better suits the location and the finish required.
Explore stainless steel sheetsMixed-material projects
Mark where one finish stops and another begins. Plan the junction, measurements and compatible details for each system.
Open the project checklist
04 / SHEET WIDTH CHANGES THE COUNT
The same perimeter can need a different number of sheets.
For a starting estimate, divide the length of wall being covered by the practical sheet coverage width and round up. A narrower steel sheet will cover less wall width per sheet.
These examples use a 14m wall perimeter. They assume one sheet covers the wall height and exclude cuts, waste, openings and layout changes.
EXAMPLE / 14M PERIMETER
PVC wall sheets
14 ÷ 1.2m
12 sheets
1.2m-wide steel
14 ÷ 1.2m
12 sheets
1.0m-wide steel
14 ÷ 1.0m
14 sheets
Measure each material’s wall area separately if you plan to combine PVC and steel.
05 / IF YOU CHOOSE STEEL
Check the grade as well as the size.
“Stainless steel” is not a single product specification. The grade should suit the conditions in the area being clad.
304 grade
Consider for more demanding areas, particularly where moisture and frequent cleaning are part of the brief.
View 304 grade sheets430 grade
A different option for drier areas where the corrosion resistance of 304 grade is not required.
View 430 grade sheets
EXPLORE PRODUCT RANGES