DIY Acoustic Panels

[ConorC39]

I'm looking at building some broadband absorbers and was wondering what material to use to cover the panels. I'm planning on using the usual rockwool panels inside a wooden frame but have no idea what to cover it with.
Any help would be great,
thanks,
Conor

[Hugh Robjohns]

If you want to be posh, the professionals use a fabric called cara -- you'll find suppliers if you google it. However, any breathable fabric will do. We've used cheap anti weed cloth from a garden centre to great effect!
H

[AndyN]

My panels are covered in B and Q dust sheets (Material, not polythene). Just remember to iron them first as they look rubbish with creases down the middle! I think they cost about £12.00 but they are huge. Any off cuts can be used as dust sheets - how novel!
Andy

[Gary_W]

My 'studio' is actually a study shared by my wife and I. My end has oodles of treatment and it works very well.

As it was a shared room, I did the decent thing and went to Dunelm with her. I cared if the fabric was breathable, she cared what it looked like. Both very happy with the results! As they also sell the meaty staple gun and the meaty staples required, it's a good place to visit

[ConorC39]

Thanks a lot I'll be getting on with them as soon as my rockwool arrives this week.

[James Perrett]

If you want the proper Cara fabric do a search for Sound proofing expert on Ebay - they're by far the cheapest source that I've found.

For dust sheets I would highly recommend Screwfix - especially if you get the guy that I did who doesn't know the difference between one sheet and a bale of sheets!

I would add that it is much easier to get a good looking result with Cara fabric than it is with dust sheets. Cara is slightly stretchy which makes it easy to remove creases and end up with a smooth finish.

James.

[shufflebeat]

especially if you get the guy that I did who doesn't know the difference between one sheet and a bale of sheets!
James.

I had a similar experience in a French supermarket while buying some cases of very nice wine. Unfortunately I didn't realise until I was half way to Calais, shame.

Apologies for going off topic, just sharing the love.

[sheggs]

You should be able to get it for about £7.50 per linear metre. (The rolls are 1.7 metres long)
For a standardish size panel this would be about 1 linear metre per panel

[Richie Royale]

I got some cheap poly cotton from Fabric World. Check out their website just for the lols/eye damage.

Obviously poly cotton isn't fire retardent, whereas Cara fabric is.

[shufflebeat]

Don't forget to check out your local indoor market if there is one. I see they get in ends of roll of hession type fabrics which are open weave and quite spouse friendly.

[GIK Acoustics]

I'm looking at building some broadband absorbers and was wondering what material to use to cover the panels. I'm planning on using the usual rockwool panels inside a wooden frame but have no idea what to cover it with.
Any help would be great,
thanks,
Conor

A lot of people have recommended the Cara fabric, which is fantastic, however the Cara fabric isn't available in the US. What is your location? If you are in the US, the comparable fabric is Guilford of Maine FR701. There are 48 colors available and they look great. They are fire-retardant and acoustically transparent.