Start with the wall, not the finish
Compare the installation systems first. This is an editorial reading of public installation manuals, not a test of competing finishes. Check the wall before shortlisting; see the interior wall finishes guide.
Swipe sideways to see the other columns. The first column stays visible.
| Check | Mechanical panels | Bonded panels | Plaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Verified anchors and levelled supports | Sound, dry, prepared bonding surface | Compatible background; suction and key checked |
| Installation | Frame or clips, where specified | Approved adhesive and preparation | Specified wet coats or board skim |
| Joints | Movement allowance to system detail | Sheet joints and perimeter allowance to detail | Board reinforcement and movement details as required |
| Programme | Dry fixing; other materials may need curing | Adhesive curing before service | Setting and drying before finishes |
| Repair / cavity | Access only if fixings and layout permit | Removal may damage sheet or substrate; no assumed cavity | Patch and refinish; services access needs a designed opening |
Takeaway: Identify the fixing method before claiming speed or reversibility.
Three construction sections
The joint pattern is not optional
Panel joints need both setting-out and technical detailing. If you do not decide where, the installer will — usually by starting in one corner and working across, which puts the cut piece wherever it lands.
Decide before installation:
- Where the setting-out starts, and therefore where cut pieces fall
- Whether joints align with anything — a door head, a window reveal, a ceiling line
- Whether the module centres on the wall or on a feature within it
- What happens at internal and external corners
Fundermax’s public interior manual describes suspension fixings and provision for rear ventilation. Altro’s Whiterock Vantage guide specifies substrate preparation and expansion allowance at abutments. These examples do not make every panel seam a movement joint: use the chosen system’s details. The same discipline applies to any modular finish — see feature wall materials compared.
Where plaster is the better answer
A compatible plaster system is worth considering where a continuous surface or matching existing plaster matters. British Gypsum’s public plaster-system guidance distinguishes background suction, keying and board-joint reinforcement. Studwork is not an automatic exclusion: check the lining and plaster specification together. Preparation and drying remain part of the programme.
For curved surfaces, check the proposed finish and radius rather than assuming every plaster or panel can follow them; see materials for curved interior walls.
Where panels are the better answer
Mechanical panels can suit a renovation needing a new support plane or future access, if the anchors, frame and removal sequence are verified. Bonded panels can suit a prepared wall where assembly depth matters, but retain adhesive curing and removal damage in the comparison. Neither option makes a deteriorated background sound. Investigate damp, loose layers and instability before covering them.
Deciding: substrate inspection record
Copy and fill this record before comparing systems; unchecked items stay unresolved.
| Check | Project record |
|---|---|
| ☐ Wall construction / survey | ______ |
| ☐ Moisture, loose layers, defects / repair | ______ |
| ☐ Flatness / required levelling | ______ |
| ☐ Anchor capacity or bond test / evidence | ______ |
| ☐ Fixing system / joint detail / manual revision | ______ |
| ☐ Curing, access and replacement sequence | ______ |
| ☐ Local fire requirement / matching product report | ______ |
Use the record with your setting-out drawing before choosing the finish.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper?
Compare quotations for the same wall area, preparation, support frame, adhesive or plaster system, finishing and access. Neither family has a universal supply or installed-cost advantage.
Can I panel over an existing plastered wall?
Only after checking soundness, moisture, flatness and fixing or bond capacity against the chosen system. Mechanical supports need verified anchorage; bonded sheets need an approved bonding surface. Covering loose or damp plaster does not repair it.
Which is better acoustically?
Ask for evidence for the complete construction, including cavity, insulation and junctions. The finish name alone cannot establish sound absorption or sound isolation.
Does plaster always crack?
No. Background condition, board-joint reinforcement and movement detailing matter. A panel joint also accommodates movement only where its specified detail provides that function.
Sources
- Max Compact Interior Technical Manual, February 2026 — Fundermax Accessed October 8, 2026.
- Whiterock Vantage installation guide — Altro Accessed October 8, 2026.
- White Book: Plaster systems — British Gypsum Accessed October 8, 2026.