How to look after bamboo wall panelling

Maintenance of Wall panelling – INSIDE

Our bamboo wallpaper or wall panelling, is very easy to maintain if installed correctly. For most situations there will be minimal build up of dust or dirt. In this case the slats of the panels can be wiped down gently with a damp cloth or a little mild detergent. Where there is long-term wear-and-tear, particularly when used around vanity sink units and bath surrounds, a little more maintenance may be required.

Follow these tips for bringing your wall panelling back to tip-top condition:

Assess the overall condition of the panelling – is there sign of water ingress from behind the panelling? Black mould, etc? Do any slats look loose? Re-attach with the same type of adhesive you used when first installing. If there is mould, then this will need killing with mould cleaner and the whole area allowed to dry out thoroughly first.
Next, assess the condition of the front of the panelling by taking a little blob of cream cleaner on a damp cloth and gently rubbing across a small section. Wipe off with a fresh damp cloth. If water stains and other marks have disappeared, then the use of a small amount of this cream cleaner over the entire surface should suffice.
If water marks, dirt, smudges or scratches do not disappear after using cream cleaner, then test a small patch with some extra fine wet and dry sandpaper [Use extra-fine grit 400+]. You may begin to remove the existing varnish – only remove enough to get rid of the surface marks.
Reapply your chosen varnish or wood oil. For high traffic areas or those where water splashes may frequently occur, it is recommended that you apply several coats of varnish or wood oil.

Maintenance of Wall panelling – OUTSIDE

Strictly speaking we don’t recommend our bamboo wall panelling be used in an outdoor setting. However, we know a few customers have installed some panelling within outdoor bar areas and in secluded patios. If you have installed these correctly then once a year, usually in spring, you’ll need to check on mould build up behind the panels and possibly re-attach to a fresh base-board.

The top surface should be given 2-4 coats of yacht varnish after a clean to remove surface dirt. You could also lightly sand prior to varnishing and in between coats to give a better finish [Use extra-fine grit 400+]. Lightly wipe down during the summer months and then securely cover with a waterproof tarpaulin or remove and bring inside in late autumn, if the structure permits.