Wall Panel and Stone Veneer FAQs

Linnovate Walls is an Auckland based supplier of decorative wall panels and wall veneers for residential and commercial projects. We stock ranges you will not find elsewhere in New Zealand, including flexible stone veneers, natural thin stone, realistic brick and rock panels, slat panels and glass blocks. We supply homeowners, builders, interior designers and architects.

Our showroom is at 57 Carr Road, Three Kings, Auckland 1042. Visits are by appointment only so we can make sure the ranges you want to see are on display and someone is available to help. Book by phone on 0210 825 6580 or through our contact form.

Both. We sell to homeowners renovating a single feature wall and to trade customers fitting out entire commercial projects. There is no minimum order for stocked ranges.

Yes. We deliver to most cities and towns in New Zealand. Freight is calculated based on your address and the size of the order. Contact us before ordering so we can quote the safest freight method.

Yes. Samples are $4.99 each and available for our main ranges, including flexible wall veneers, realistic wall panels, slat panels, natural thin stone, marble, slate and translucent stone. Order them from the Samples collection. We strongly recommend sampling before committing to a full order.

For manufactured panels, yes, within normal production tolerance. For natural stone and marble veneers, expect slight variation in colour and patterning between the sample and your order, and between sheets in the same order. Treat the sample as an indication of colour range and texture rather than an exact match.

Samples are dispatched within 1 to 2 business days and typically arrive within 2 to 4 business days depending on your location.

Yes. We offer trade pricing to builders, interior designers, architects and shopfitters, and volume pricing on large orders. Contact us with your project details and we will set up an account or quote the job.

Yes. We work on retail fit outs, hospitality venues, offices, hotels and apartment developments. Send through drawings or a schedule of areas and we will price supply, or supply and install.

Stocked ranges ship from Auckland. Made to order ranges such as Deluxe Tiles, Decorative 3D Tiles, ResinForm Panels, Patina Stainless Steel, Coloured Stainless Steel, Artistic Tiles, Translucent Stone and Textured Solid Wood Panels are produced to order. Allow 6 to 10 weeks from order confirmation. Confirm the current lead time with us before locking in a construction programme.

Most of our ranges are DIY friendly. Realistic Wall Panels, Slat Panels and Natural Thin Stone Veneers can all be installed by a competent DIYer with basic tools. Flexible Wall Veneers can be installed DIY but the large sheet size and flexibility make handling difficult, so we recommend a professional installer for those.

Yes. We install throughout Auckland and can arrange installation elsewhere in New Zealand. Contact us with your wall dimensions, the product you are considering and photographs of the substrate for a quote.

Plasterboard, plywood, MDF, fibre cement, concrete, block and existing tile, provided the surface is sound, clean, dry and reasonably flat. Loose paint, wallpaper and any surface with a release agent or contamination must be removed or sealed first.

Yes. Adhesion failures are almost always a preparation problem. The wall must be dry, dust free, degreased and flat. Fill and sand any hollows, prime bare or porous substrates, and check the wall for square before you start setting out. Full detail is in our installation guides.

We recommend Soudal FixAll High Tack or Sika Extreme Grab for its high initial grab.

Some ranges suit splash zones and humid rooms, others do not. Glass blocks and several stone and panel ranges are used in bathrooms regularly, but direct shower and wet area use requires the right product and correct sealing. Tell us the exact application and we will confirm what is suitable rather than guess.

Our ranges are designed for interior use. Some products can be used in sheltered exterior applications such as covered entries, but confirm with us for your specific product and exposure.

Several of our ranges have been fire tested for New Zealand conditions. Flexible Wall Veneers achieve a BRANZ Group 1-S rating, the highest classification and suitable for the widest range of interior applications. Realistic Wall Panels have been BRANZ tested to Group 3. Group numbers are determined under AS/NZS 3837 or ISO 9705 and referenced by the New Zealand Building Code.

It depends on the building use and the location of the wall. Under NZBC C/AS2, exitways and some sleeping and crowd occupancies require Group 1-S or 2-S surface finishes, while Group 3 is accepted in a number of other occupied spaces. This is a matter for your designer or fire engineer to confirm against your specific building. We can supply test documentation to support the specification.

Yes. We hold technical data sheets, fire test documentation, installation guides and warranty documents for our ranges. They are available on the relevant collection pages, and we can email a full specification pack for a project on request.

Yes. Our products carry a warranty covering manufacturing defects, duration depends on the range. Check product documentation to see specific warranty periods.

Yes, restocking fees apply. See our refund policy for full terms.

Contact us within 14 days of delivery with photographs of the damage and the packaging. We will replace the damaged item or refund it. Inspect your delivery on arrival, particularly for glass blocks and natural stone, and note any damage before the courier leaves where possible.

Dust regularly with a soft dry cloth or vacuum brush attachment. For marks, use a damp cloth with a mild pH neutral detergent and dry immediately. Avoid abrasive pads, solvents and bleach based cleaners, which can dull finishes and damage sealers. Natural stone and marble may need periodic resealing depending on the environment.

Yes. That is their main advantage. They are regularly used on curved feature walls, columns, reception counters and fireplace surrounds. Very tight radii need care and sometimes gentle warming, so tell us the radius you are working with and we will confirm the product suits.

BRANZ Group 1-S, which is the highest surface finish classification under the New Zealand Building Code. This makes them suitable for the widest range of interior applications, including many commercial spaces where Group 2-S or 3 products are not permitted.

They can be installed DIY, but we recommend a professional. The sheets are large and flexible, which makes them awkward for one person to handle and easy to crease or mark during positioning. If you are doing it yourself, work with a second person and follow the installation guide closely.

Varies, check specific panels to see its size.

Joints can be butted, shadow lined or filled then painted over depending on the finish you want and the pattern of the veneer. Patterned stone and rammed earth finishes usually look best with a considered joint layout, so set out the wall before you cut anything. We can advise on the best layout for your wall dimensions.

Polyester resin and fibreglass. This gives them genuine three dimensional depth and texture while staying lightweight, so you get the appearance of brick, stacked stone, rock or timber without the weight, cost, mess and structural requirements of the real material.

They are moulded from real stone and brick surfaces, so the texture and depth are convincing at normal viewing distance. Order a sample if you want to judge for yourself. The most common feedback is surprise at the depth compared to printed or flat panel alternatives.

Substantially. Real stone cladding usually needs structural support and often a licensed installer. Resin and fibreglass panels can be fixed to a properly prepared wall by a competent DIYer, which removes both the structural cost and the installation cost from the project.

They have been BRANZ fire tested to Group 3. Group 3 is accepted in a number of interior applications under the New Zealand Building Code but not in exitways or some sleeping and crowd occupancies. Check the requirement for your specific building with your designer before specifying.

Yes. They can be cut with standard power tools. Use a fine tooth blade, cut from the face side where possible, and wear eye protection and a P2 respirator because resin and fibreglass produce fine dust. Cut edges at internal corners and where panels meet trim can be concealed with the overlapping panel edge.

We provide resin filler and paint, sculpt the filler to make it seamless.

Varies, check specific panels to see its size.

It is real stone and marble ground into powder, then bound and formed into thin flexible sheets around 2 to 5 mm thick. The surface is real stone material rather than a printed imitation, so you get genuine stone colour and texture at a fraction of the weight and thickness of stone tile or slab.

Approximately 2 to 5 mm thick and light enough to handle as a single sheet by hand. That is what makes it practical for DIY and for walls that could never carry the weight of solid stone.

Yes. It is one of our most DIY friendly products because of the low weight and thin profile. It cuts with a sharp blade and bonds to a properly prepared flat substrate. The main skill is in setting out and pattern matching, not in handling.

Close, but not identical. The sheets are formed from real stone, so colour and patterning vary slightly from sheet to sheet. The variation is far smaller than with cut stone slab, but if you want a long run to read as one continuous surface, order it all at once.

Classic covers the slate and stone finishes with strong natural texture. Marble covers the veined marble finishes for a more refined look. Translucent stone allows light to pass through the sheet, so it can be backlit to create an illuminated feature wall or panel.

Translucent stone is designed to be put onto a piece of acrylic then lit from behind, usually with an even LED panel or a diffused LED strip array set at a consistent distance from the back face. The distance and diffusion matter more than the brightness. Uneven or point source lighting will show hot spots through the stone. Talk to us before building the box so the cavity depth is right.

We recommend sealing with a suitable natural stone sealer, particularly in kitchens, bathrooms and any area exposed to moisture or handling. Reapply as required.

WPC wood plastic composite with a PVC film on top.

No, these are not the same as acoustic slat panels, they do not provide any acoustic properties.

Yes. Slat panels are among the most DIY friendly products we stock. They are fixed to the wall or to battens, cut to length with standard tools, and finished with matching edging trim or sealant. Most people can complete a single feature wall in a weekend.

Use a fine tooth blade in a mitre saw or circular saw with a guide. Cut slowly and support the panel along its length so the slats do not chip or flex. Cut ends that will be visible should be finished with the matching edging profile.

Yes. We supply SlatLine 24V accent LED and SlatLight Stick specifically for this. Plan the wiring route and driver location before you fix any panels, and leave yourself a way to access the driver afterwards. Use neutral cure adhesive rather than acetoxy silicone anywhere near the LED components.

It can be curved over a large radius. For external corners on flat panels, the matching edging trim gives a clean finish. Send us the detail you are trying to achieve and we will confirm which profile suits.

They bring daylight through a wall while keeping privacy. Common uses are bathroom walls, internal partitions, stair walls, shopfronts and bar fronts. Patterns such as Ice, Ripple and Crystal Grid diffuse light differently, so the pattern controls how much you see through.

Mortar and spacer system, or using adhesive. Glass block walls are non structural and need the correct perimeter support and movement allowance. We recommend a professional for anything beyond a small panel.

Yes, glass blocks are widely used in bathrooms because they are unaffected by moisture and provide privacy while letting light through. The installation detail around the base and perimeter must be correct so water cannot track behind the panel.

Yes. Coloured options are available in some patterns, including the Waves range. Coloured blocks are pre ordered rather than stocked, so allow additional lead time.

These ranges are produced after you order rather than held in stock in Auckland. That allows a much wider selection of finishes, sizes and colours, but it means a longer lead time and, in most cases, no returns. Allow for 6 to 10 weeks lead time depending on the range.

Stainless steel with a chemically developed surface finish in tones such as Aged Bronze, Silver Patina, Moss Brass and Blackened Steel. It gives the depth and character of aged metal with the corrosion resistance and stability of stainless steel. Used for feature walls, joinery faces, lift lobbies and reception fronts.

Decorative resin panels with materials, textures or patterns suspended within a translucent body. They can be backlit or used as light transmitting partitions, screens and joinery inserts. Options include botanical inclusions, linear textures, ripples and metallic meshes.

Yes. Decorative 3D tiles are commonly used in retail, hospitality and reception spaces where a sculptural wall is part of the design. Confirm the fire requirement for the specific space before specifying, as requirements differ between an office wall and an exitway.

In many cases yes, including size, colour and finish. Tell us what the project needs and we will confirm what is achievable and what it does to the lead time and price.