Question 1

What is a timber ceiling?

Accepted Answer

A timber ceiling is a suspended or surface-fixed ceiling system using real or engineered wood as the visible finish, typically in linear plank, slatted, open-cell grid or bespoke shaped formats, installed below the structural soffit on a concealed steel or aluminium carrier. Products range from open-cell slatted timber (parallel timber battens with open joints, often with an acoustic backing in the void) through solid linear timber panels (close-jointed or tongue-and-groove planks presenting a continuous wood face) to bespoke made-to-order feature timber in custom geometry. Timber ceilings are specified in higher-specification spaces where the warmth and material language of real or engineered wood is part of the architectural brief: higher education teaching and social areas, museums, galleries, corporate reception, hospitality and transport interchanges.

Question 2

What is the difference between slatted and solid linear timber?

Accepted Answer

Slatted timber ceilings (also called open-cell or open-batten) use parallel timber battens suspended with defined open joints between them, typically 15 to 30 mm batten width at 50 to 100 mm centres with an open gap that allows air circulation and exposes the acoustic backing or services in the void above. They give a linear, airy visual language with lower material density and a lighter feel than a fully closed face. Solid linear timber (such as Hunter Douglas solid linear) uses close-jointed or tongue-and-groove panels to present a continuous solid wood face with no visible joints between planks, a warmer, more architectural finish used in higher-specification lobbies, student union social space and cultural interiors. We have installed Hunter Douglas solid linear timber at Aston Student Union in Birmingham and at the British Geological James Hutton Building.

Question 3

Are timber ceilings acoustic?

Accepted Answer

Timber ceilings can be specified with acoustic performance but they are not inherently absorptive. A solid, unperforated timber panel reflects sound and contributes reverberation in the same way as plasterboard or metal. To deliver acoustic absorption, timber ceiling systems are specified with perforation or slotting (holes or slots through the timber face to a mineral wool or PET acoustic backing in the void) and the absorption is a function of the perforation pattern and the backing product. Published αw values vary by system; well-specified acoustic timber systems achieve Class B or Class A absorption. For rooms where reverberation control is the primary brief, supplementary Ecophon Solo rafts or baffles are often specified alongside the timber ceiling to provide Class A absorption where the timber alone cannot reach the target. We have installed combined timber and Ecophon schemes at Aston Student Union and Northampton Museum and Art Gallery.

Question 4

What is Hunter Douglas solid linear timber?

Accepted Answer

Hunter Douglas solid linear is a suspended timber ceiling system using solid timber planks (typically 100 mm or 150 mm wide) on a concealed aluminium carrier, presented as a close-jointed linear face with consistent joint lines and a continuous wood-grain visual. The system is available in a wide range of timber species and stained finishes, demountable for service access, and used in higher-specification institutional and cultural interiors where the material quality of real timber matters. The carrier system is engineered for long uninterrupted linear runs and curved geometry. We installed Hunter Douglas solid linear timber at Aston Student Union in Birmingham (ground floor feature ceiling alongside Ecophon Solo rafts in the social space above) and at the British Geological James Hutton Building in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire.

Question 5

What is Décor timber and where have you installed it?

Accepted Answer

Décor Ceilings is a UK manufacturer of suspended timber ceiling systems including open-cell slatted, acoustic perforated and feature timber ranges. We installed Décor feature timber ceiling systems at the University of Nottingham as part of a higher-education interior specification, delivered alongside our ceiling and dry lining packages on a main contractor programme. Décor's product range sits alongside Hunter Douglas in our timber ceiling specification base; the choice of manufacturer follows the architect's specification and the project's acoustic, fire, demountability and visual requirements.

Question 6

What does a timber ceiling cost per square metre?

Accepted Answer

Industry pricing guides and our own project costs place timber ceiling supply-and-install broadly in the range of £120 to £350+ per m² depending on system, timber species, perforation (acoustic timber costs more than solid), carrier complexity and detailing. Open-cell slatted timber from standard product ranges sits at the lower end of the specialist range. Hunter Douglas solid linear and similar close-jointed systems sit in the mid to upper range. Fully bespoke shaped feature timber is at the upper end. Timber ceilings carry significantly longer lead times than mineral fibre or standard metal; most systems are made to order against project drawings and typical lead times are eight to twelve weeks. We recommend confirming the system and committing to procurement well ahead of the ceiling sequence.

Question 7

How long does a timber ceiling installation take?

Accepted Answer

Programme depends on system, area and detailing complexity. Open-cell slatted timber installs faster than solid linear because the individual batten format is lighter and more forgiving. Solid linear and close-jointed systems require careful setting-out (end conditions, perimeter trims, service penetrations and junction with adjacent ceiling types are visually prominent) and a typically measured install pace. A feature timber ceiling in a 200 to 400 m² public volume (ground floor lobby, student union social space) typically runs three to six weeks of fix time. Manufacture and shipping lead time is the dominant programme constraint on most timber projects; early procurement is the primary programme control.

Question 8

Are timber ceilings fire-rated?

Accepted Answer

Reaction-to-fire of solid timber is typically Euroclass D-s2,d0 under EN 13501-1, substantially below the Class A1 or A2 of metal and mineral fibre. Where the fire specification requires a higher Euroclass from the ceiling (escape routes, high-occupancy public space), solid timber is typically ruled out unless treated with a fire-retardant coating that achieves Class B or better, or the ceiling is specified with a fire-rated plasterboard membrane above. Many higher-specification public interiors accommodate this by using timber as a feature ceiling in specific zones (social space, reception, dining) and standard mineral fibre or plasterboard elsewhere. We confirm fire strategy compliance at pre-specification stage, before the product is committed.

Question 9

Can timber ceilings be installed in occupied buildings?

Accepted Answer

Yes, timber ceiling refurbishment and feature installation in occupied buildings is part of our scope. Constraints are safe working at height (typically mobile platforms or scissor lifts), coordination with existing services, dust control during any cutting, and protection of finished floors, walls and furniture. We sequence out-of-hours or in phased zones for occupied education, cultural and corporate buildings, with an access plan agreed at pre-start.

Question 10

What manufacturers does Eastledge install for timber ceilings?

Accepted Answer

Décor Acoustics is our principal partner for new timber ceiling work, and our first recommendation for projects where the architect's specification is open to a manufacturer recommendation. We also install Hunter Douglas solid linear timber and Heartfelt felt-and-timber, and we remain system-led rather than tied to a single supplier. Where a particular manufacturer has been nominated by the specifier, we install to that manufacturer's current technical guidance and approved system documentation.

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