Proslat PVC Slatwall Panels

Proslat PVC slatwall is a solid PVC panel with horizontal grooves that screws across a garage wall, so hooks, baskets and shelves slide anywhere along the wall instead of being fixed to one spot. It suits a working garage or workshop where what hangs on the wall changes with the season and the project.

Choosing a colour and size

White reflects the most light and makes a garage with one small window noticeably brighter, which matters if you work at a bench. It also shows less dust settling in the grooves than a dark panel does, though a scuffed handprint turns up sooner. Light Gray sits between the two and is the easiest match for an existing gray floor coating. Charcoal hides tyre marks, oil spots and the scuffs you get from carrying things past the wall, and it makes chrome tools and painted toolboxes stand out, but the wall reads darker so plan on more light over the bench. Sandstone is a warm neutral for a garage attached to a house with beige or cream siding, and it is only made in the 8 ft x 4 ft panel.

Panel size is a handling decision as much as a coverage one. The 8 ft x 4 ft panel covers a wall with fewer seams and fewer levelling checks, but it is awkward to carry and hold in place on your own. The 4 ft x 4 ft panel is easy to handle single-handed and fits a short wall, an alcove or the space between a door and a corner without cutting.

How much do I need?

Each 8 ft x 4 ft panel covers 32 sq ft. Each 4 ft x 4 ft panel covers 16 sq ft. Measure the wall width and multiply it by the height you actually want covered. The useful band is roughly waist height to just above your reach, so about 4 to 6 ft of height, not floor to ceiling. Subtract windows, the man door, and the strip the garage door track runs through. Add about 10 percent for cuts and offcuts you cannot reuse, then pick the pack that covers the total: a 2 pack is 64 sq ft, a 3 pack is 96 sq ft, a 4 pack is 128 sq ft.

Installation

The screws must reach the studs behind the wall, not just the drywall. Find and mark the studs before you start, because drywall anchors on their own will pull out once the panel is loaded. Get the first row level and check it with a long level or a laser line before you drive the second screw — every panel above follows that first line, and a small error at the bottom becomes a visible slope by the time you reach the top. Panels go over existing drywall, straight onto bare studs, or onto block and concrete using masonry fasteners with furring strips so the screws have something to bite into.

Common questions

How much weight will it hold?

The limit is almost always the fixings and the framing behind the panel, not the PVC. Screwed into sound studs, a panel section carries more than most people ever hang on it. Miss the studs and even a light load will pull the panel off the wall.

Is it waterproof?

Yes. PVC does not absorb water, rot or feed mould, so it is fine on an unheated garage wall, a damp basement wall, or a garage you hose out. You can wash it down.

Can I mix this with other Proslat lines?

Yes. The groove profile is shared across the Proslat panel lines, so hooks, baskets and shelves move between PVC, PROCORE and PROCORE+ panels.

Do I need trim?

Trim is optional, but it is what makes the wall look finished: it caps the cut edges at the top, bottom, corners and around openings. See trim and finishing.

Can I paint it?

No. The colour is moulded in at the factory and paint does not bond well to PVC, so pick the colour you want to keep.

Not sure how much you need? Send your wall width and height to info@garagetoolsstorage.com or text (888) 949-4945 — a photo of the wall helps — and we will work out the panel count and trim list. Prefer to call? Leave a message on (888) 949-4945 and we will reply by email or text.

Related: all slatwall panels · trim & finishing · bundles & kits · bins, baskets & shelves