Acoustic wood panelling on the ceiling panel (Not Pop Top). Anyone done it?

[ChestnutBrown]

That could be interesting @CooseVW. My gut feeling is that you won’t feel the same about having the fake version of what you really wanted. I do understand your thoughts about a reasonably heavy pile of wood coming loose if the worst happened though. I hadn’t considered that myself, until I was watching a video of a guy fitting it to his van, using screws through the felt backing. I hadn’t considered similar thoughts to you tbh.

My feeling is to go a different route rather than trying to fake it, as I know what I am like. Happy for you to show me how wrong I am though.

My second option is the etched plywood panel route, similar to what The Ply Guys do, albeit sourced elsewhere as it’s too far to drive. lol

Or potentially ditching the idea to go for something which ties into the front cab area instead. Alcantara over new ply, plus over the front headliner and pillar covers perhaps.

Wood is my preference though, I must admit.

 

[CooseVW]

That could be interesting @CooseVW. My gut feeling is that you won’t feel the same about having the fake version of what you really wanted. I do understand your thoughts about a reasonably heavy pile of wood coming loose if the worst happened though. I hadn’t considered that myself, until I was watching a video of a guy fitting it to his van, using screws through the felt backing. I hadn’t considered similar thoughts to you tbh.

My feeling is to go a different route rather than trying to fake it, as I know what I am like. Happy for you to show me how wrong I am though.

My second option is the etched plywood panel route, similar to what The Ply Guys do, albeit sourced elsewhere as it’s too far to drive. lol

Or potentially ditching the idea to go for something which ties into the front cab area instead. Alcantara over new ply, plus over the front headliner and pillar covers perhaps.

Wood is my preference though, I must admit.

For £30odd, I think I'm going to give it a go, even if it's only a temporary measure. I think for the first attempt, I'll just stick it to the factory hardboard to see how it looks. My only concern with this is the connecting strip in the middle... That's certainly going to give the game away!

I've also considered attempting the foam backed headlining material. I think I'd go for a black as a contrast to the cab area. My last car was a Passat R Line EDITION (what a motor, just sadly not a van) and that had a fully back interior and it felt like a very nice high end space to be seated.

With the 'cream' of the cab and the 'all black' in the rear it may feel very much "business at the front, party at the back" . Mullet van.

 

[ChestnutBrown]

Don't get me wrong @CooseVW, I will be more than happy m if you try it and it works for you. Testing it on your current roof panels is a very good idea. Very tricky to line up each panel with the connecting strip, I agree. Start in the centre I guess and fit outwards from there.

Black would look cool for sure. My hex panels in the rear give that effect over the standard grey, despite being very much a functional material.

 

[RogueOne]

That's fine if it suits your needs they weren't what I wanted to use. The lights are wired to courtesy circuit & a switch from my vehicle power hub so I can switch them on & off without using the starter battery

How did you wire into the courtesy circuit? Did you but a compatible plug in?

 

[Kind of Blue]

The product looks interesting and attractive but it is not going to reduce by very much sound or heat loss or gain. That sort of product is an adjunct in the Hi-fi industry to help reduce reflected sound for a particular effect but the main materials used in areas of most sonic boom or base amplification in room corners require loads of Rock Wool. I have large bats of unopened Rock Wool Wool in some of our room corners 2 in each corner and it is very affective at that job but takes up considerable space. These things being looked at here might go into panels along walls and hang like paintings to assist in reducing the reflected sound but in reality would need and additional layer underneath to be affective. As said they look interesting and attractive but on their own the roof would still require insulation next to the steel roof or sides because a felt layer would not achieve very much.

 

[Klune-B]

How did you wire into the courtesy circuit? Did you but a compatible plug in?

Hi sorry i can,t remember exactly but i cut the plug off the new light led adapter & wired it to the cargo light plug.Then ran 3 wires to an on/off/on switch there are a few threads on here about changing the cargo area lights to led just follow.

 

[RogueOne]

The product looks interesting and attractive but it is not going to reduce by very much sound or heat loss or gain. That sort of product is an adjunct in the Hi-fi industry to help reduce reflected sound for a particular effect but the main materials used in areas of most sonic boom or base amplification in room corners require loads of Rock Wool. I have large bats of unopened Rock Wool Wool in some of our room corners 2 in each corner and it is very affective at that job but takes up considerable space. These things being looked at here might go into panels along walls and hang like paintings to assist in reducing the reflected sound but in reality would need and additional layer underneath to be affective. As said they look interesting and attractive but on their own the roof would still require insulation next to the steel roof or sides because a felt layer would not achieve very much.

Yep, it’s purely going to be for aesthetics, ceiling will be 3 stage, sound deadening, closed cell foam then recycled plastic insulation.

 

[Kind of Blue]

Yep, it’s purely going to be for aesthetics, ceiling will be 3 stage, sound deadening, closed cell foam then recycled plastic insulation.

Well it will look very refreshing I am sure very different perhaps an aesthetic trend setter!

 

[RogueOne]

Hi I redone the ceiling in 6mm ply then fixed the 21mm thick panels with black Truss head wood screws the lights are from Amazon

Hi, was the 6mm ply in two pieces?

 

[Klune-B]

Hi, was the 6mm ply in two pieces?

yes

 

[RogueOne]

yes

Thanks, Just trying to work out how I do it.

Talk me through how you fixed the Acoustic boads to the ply then how you fixed the ply to the roof please Klune-B (sorry, don't know your name!)

 

[Klune-B]

Thanks, Just trying to work out how I do it.

Talk me through how you fixed the Acoustic boads to the ply then how you fixed the ply to the roof please Klune-B (sorry, don't know your name!)

Hi i bought a 6mm ply roof from customshopdesigns in hindsight 3.6mm might be better for the curve of the roof..It fixes using the standard vw fixing clips then i just used
M4.2 x32mm Black wafer head self tapping screws from amazon to screw it up

 

[RogueOne]

So the original roof fixing clips were flush enough to lay the panels over then. you don’t need the hidden clips like what’s used behind carpet lined panels?

 

[Klune-B]

So the original roof fixing clips were flush enough to lay the panels over then. you don’t need the hidden clips like what’s used behind carpet lined panels?

You get the option in the drop down panel of 5 different fixings you could use the hidden ones to make sure. They are countersunk i used them depending on what panels you use & how thick they are its not a problem on the 19mm thick panels i used

 

[CooseVW]

Just to keep you all in the loop with what I'm doing... I ordered some of the same samples which @RogueOne got. I received them today and upon looking at them, out of the three i ordered, I'd probaly go for the 'lite' one. Which got me thinking about the self adhesive roll again as I cant see it being too dissimilar from the 'light' and be much easier to mount up. I've ordered a roll to see what its like in comparison.

My plan is as follows...
Make a 3.6mm one piece ply roof to eliminate the joining strip in the middle.
Fix the adhesive roll to this
Mount spotlights in the roof (maybe just 4, two in the load area and two for the rear passengers
POSSIBLY add a 'halo' around the perimeter with some LED strip lights to clean up the edges

I'll let you know how I get on and I'll also post some photos of what the self adhesive roll stuff looks like when it arrives on the slow boat.

 

[ChestnutBrown]

Cool. Interested to see that.

I am still thinking about maybe doing this. I like the idea of a warm tone to the panels, but I must say that a grey or a black could be subtly cool too. Will blend nicely with the front headliner then.

 

[CooseVW]

Cool. Interested to see that.

I am still thinking about maybe doing this. I like the idea of a warm tone to the panels, but I must say that a grey or a black could be subtly cool too. Will blend nicely with the front headliner then.

Dark grey is an option with the self adhesive rolls.....

 

[ChestnutBrown]

Dark grey is an option with the self adhesive rolls.....

Thanks but, for me, the tactile three dimensional nature of the slats is what draws me so I don’t think the flat stick on option is for me.

I am still interested to see how it looks and how you feel about it once done nonetheless.

 

[RogueOne]

You get the option in the drop down panel of 5 different fixings you could use the hidden ones to make sure. They are countersunk i used them depending on what panels you use & how thick they are its not a problem on the 19mm thick panels i used

Sorry, another question:

So, where there is a gap between the two ply roof panels, where you would normally have the cap strip half way, did you just leave a gap and put the acoustic panels over the top?

 

[Klune-B]

Sorry, another question:

So, where there is a gap between the two ply roof panels, where you would normally have the cap strip half way, did you just leave a gap and put the acoustic panels over the top?
View attachment 294408

yes thats exactly what i did