How much do timber acoustic panels cost?

Finish and Material Type:

This is the single biggest factor impacting the supply cost of acoustic panels.

Most economical are laminate or concept veneer finishes like our Supafinish. These are typically between the low $100’s to about $250/m2 supply. Fire retardant materials add between $30 and $50 per m2.

Natural timber veneers with a high quality 2-pack PU finish will be about $100 to 300/m2 more than this. There is a big range of costs in veneers, and being a more expensive material, wastage (more on this later) has a bigger impact. Fire retardant materials add between $50 and $70 per m2.

There are various ranges of textured laminates that in fall between SUPAFINISH and SUPAVENEER in cost.

Solid colour painted panels in Satin will vary from $250 to 350/m2. Solid colours in a high gloss finish are $300 to $380/m2, whereas metallics or pearlescent finishes will be $400 to $480/m2. Fire retardant materials add $60 to $100/m2.

Panel sizes and Wastage:

One of the reasons the above costs are ranges is that panel sizes and material wastage also impact cost. Generally larger panels require less labour to produce and install than many small panels per m2.

Most materials come in sheets 2400x1200 or 3000x1200 size, so panel sizes close to these but within them will minimise resource utilisation and cost.

Layout Complexity (number of different types and sizes of panels):

In addition to wastage, a layout with many different sizes or types of panels will increase the cost of both production and installation.

Where there are many different sizes, this slows every stage of production, with installers having to sort through an entire delivery batch to find a single panel.

Fixing Systems (including concealed fixings):

Direct fixings, such as stainless-steel screws, colour -matched screws or decal fixings are the most economical, with a supply cost of well under $10/m2.

There are a range of concealed fixing options for walls and ceilings, which typically cost about $20/m2 more than visible fixings.

Drop in ceiling tiles require no fixings at all and being very easy to install reduce installation by as much as $60/m2 for a 1200x600 module standard grid.

The framing required behind the panels is usually supplied by the installing ceilings and partition contractor and is included in the installation rates later in this blog.

Acoustic panels require an airgap behind them to achieve their acoustic performance. Where the panels cover the whole ceiling, this is created by the cavity above the ceiling.

To achieve the required sound blocking/transmission control/building acoustics between rooms, acoustic panels cannot be fitted directly to wall framing, as the sound will leak between rooms, framing the acoustic panels off a plasterboard or concrete block wall is recommended.

Acoustic panels can be utilised as floating feature panels, which maximises acoustic impact while minimising expenditure on panels. Where this is done, each panel will need its own framing and a return to cover the sides of those frames. Supawood supply can supply these as a kit (branded as Noise Control Kit, or NCK) in a variety of configurations. These vary between $30-60/m2 for low, medium, and high kits, or up to around $100/m2 for angled “Sawtooth” configurations design to scatter sound as well as absorbing it.

Acoustic backings:

Supawood supply a high performance black integrated acoustic textile (IAT) as standard on all their acoustic panels. Unlike what some suppliers may provide, this backing is not just a scrim, but achieves significant acoustic performance even in the absence of any additional absorptive insulation. This is highly recommended as it hides services and framing behind the panels and prevents fibre or dust leakage. In addition, being factory applied there is assurance on quality.

Removing the IAT saves about $20/m2, and may be required in situations requiring airflow, such as when panels are used to hide smoke exhausts or chill beams. However, this saving needs to be off set against the cost of painting the framing and cavity black.

NOTE: Do not spray data or electrical cabling, this may invalidate their warrantee!

Additional acoustic performance can be achieved through the inclusion of bulk insulation in the air gap behind the panel. This typically costs between $15 and 35/m2 depending on the insulation utilised.

Curves:

Panels can be used to create curved surfaces such as ceilings curved in section or walls curved in plan, or a wall curving to meet a ceiling. The method used depends primarily on the radius and impacts cost.

Curves with a radius over 20metres can typically be achieved using standard panels with no meaningful cost premium.

Radii down to around 1500mm radius will usually be supplied as curvable panels, supplied flat but treated to enable them to bend to the required radius. The extra supply cost required is usually in the region of $40 to $50/m2.

Curves with a radius under 1000mm will usually be supplied as a pre-curved panel with a framework attached. As well as being much bulkier to transport the cost premium is significant, in the region of $1,000 to $1,800 per panel where each panel is unique.

Projects with large quantities of identical curves can be significantly cheaper, as low as $300 to $500 for small curves like those pictured on the ADFA project.

Curves also impact the installation costs (adding about $30 to $60) through extra challenges in setting out and the cost of curved framing where required. Where a curved ceiling follows the curve of a roof and the framing can be fixed to and follow the structural steel these simplifies set-out and framing.