Building Haunt Wall Panels

**Terra** · 07-24-2010,10:44 AM

Here's the second video (of three) of the Haunt Wall Panel series. The first video was about how to paint ChromaDepth 3D images on them but if you just want a quick way to put up a maze in your haunt this still applies.

Click to watch video tutorial:

I use pro landscape fabric (DeWitt Weed Barrier Pro).

These pictures compliment the video above:

Frame out the wall panel using cheap furring strips (two 8' pieces and three 61" pieces). Use a 1/8 drill bit to pre-drill and then drill in 2 1/2" wood screws to hold the frame together.

Place hook-side of Velcro pieces in the corners and three centers. Staple with a staple gun to secure in place. Tie two rope hooks on each side at the top. Attach landscape fabric using the loop side of the Velcro. Using a regular stapler, staple to secure the loop side of the Velcro to the fabric. The glue won't be enough to keep in place. Use the staple gun again to super secure the fabric to the wood frame. You can easily remove the fabric any time by just prying off the staple left from the staple gun.

Cut the fabric to the frame at the top and bottom so you won't step on it as you move it...not that I ever did that.....

Diagram of the wall panel layout in the three-car garage I have. Before hanging, place duct tape on the floor where the wall panels are supposed to go to help you line up the panels when you are hanging them. It also helps you test out your floor plan to see if you like it.

Each square on this diagram represents 1 foot.

In the highlighted area you should be able to see white strings hanging down. Find the studs in the ceiling and put in screw hooks. The strings hang down from that. Now you have something to attach those rope hooks you placed on the wall panels when you built them.

By the way, after Halloween, I leave the strings hanging all year so I don't have to mess with it again. Bonus: it irritates the hubby...

If the studs in the ceiling don't match up where the wall needs to be, simply span a string between the two studs and drop the hanging string where you want it to be.

Not only can you hang the wall panels from the ceiling, you can also hang them on the wall or your open garage door. Also, if you have one panel already hanging from the ceiling, just hook the adjacent panel to the wall panel. You will see that as you assemble the maze, the panels start to reinforce each other and it will get stronger and stronger.

In my haunt, half of it is in black light and the other is not. So, for the walls that separate the two I make an additional fabric panel to span the whole height of the ceiling so it blocks out the light. In the picture you see one side already attached.

Use safety pins to attach the hanging fabric side of the wall panels together. This also helps reinforce the walls and block views to the other side.

Note: You will have to make some custom-sized wall panels. In one part of the maze I could only fit a 4' wide panel. In another, I had to make a gateway door frame so I could get back into my house. heheh. It takes a bit more figuring out and measuring but it's still pretty easy.

If you made sure that the hooks in the ceiling are in studs you can hang a surprising amount of weight off of the walls. I hang camo nets across it, jute netting, chains...you name it.

These pictures hopefully give you a sense of the maze you can create using fabric wall panels. (This is in the ChromaDepth 3D section).

Thanks for checking out the tutorial. Don't forget to watch the video for even more insight.

**4ToUov** · 07-24-2010,11:48 AM

A....MAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very impressive,did you did this vid. just for the tutorial... or do you keep 'm there until Halloween.

must be a thrill for the hubby heheh...

**Beatlejuice** · 07-24-2010,12:27 PM

Terra, that just looks fabulous! You know the TOTs are going to love it. While I may not do the same, it gives me some ideas for some of my other projects. Thanks for your great tutorials.

**Terra** · 07-25-2010,03:55 AM

I appreciate you all checking out the video. Yeah, I decided to bring up the wall panels up from the basement early for the video. Now they are leaning on the wall next to my car waiting for the big day. Plus, looking at them makes me happy (hubby...not so much). heheh

**thud** · 07-25-2010,05:12 AM

Impressive! I'm still a few years off from making a garage haunt; both in materials and convincing my lovely wife to let me do it. *heh* But, I'll keep these tips in mind. Now I need to track down the other vids for this tutorial.

**deoblo** · 07-26-2010,10:17 AM

Totally awsome!!!!!!!!!!

**spicybad** · 07-26-2010,12:41 PM

Thank you Terra, that was very helpful. We are doing a garage haunt for the first time this year, but only have a two car carport (open, with no walls) so will have to build all the walls. Also because of security, we'll have to put everything up, including props, in the morning and pack them away that night!
Your panels look like a very quick way of doing it.

Rick.