Wall surfaces must be square and plumb. If panels are installed on out of plumb wall, misalignment will become very apparent. Care should be taken to prepare the wall prior too installation of any fastener. A few minutes of prep time will result in greatly reduced installation time. A majority of installation problems occur due to lack of preparation prior to installation of hardware and panels.

Ambient lighting conditions must be taken into account. Various types of wash, spot and even natural lighting can create shadows that can magnify even the smallest panel misalignment.

Consider combining various types of mounting within a job. Use of adhesive where removal is not necessary. Use hook and loop where the 1" clearance gap is not desired or not possible. Use Z-clips for long expanses of same size panels to keep wall clip locations to a minimum, be creative. Although it takes less time to order with all one type of fastener, considerable installation time may be saved by utilizing variations within an order. Keep in mind the variations in thickness of the fastener types when combining. It is better to make one wall a particular type rather than mixing types on the wall.

Utilize a level line as a basis for fastener / panel location. Once the level line is established, all leveling angles can be installed assuring that panels will be level once installed.

Incorporate a supplemental holding method when installing panels with an adhesive. All adhesives have an open time, that is the time required to harden or set. During the open time, the panel must be supported so it does not slip or fall from the mounting surface. Finishing nails acting as impaling pins or hook and loop fasteners are both excellent supplemental fasteners.

To expedite installation, arrangements can be made to pre-ship the field-installed portion of the fastening system. This will be done only when drawings showing the exact location of the fasteners on the panels are approved by the customer and the manufacturer in writing. The installer can substantially reduce his installation time using this method.

Leveling angles or some other form of bottom load bearing device must be used for wall panels. These are intended to be the main load bearing support for the fastening system. 

Allowances for the thickness of the various types of fasteners must be accounted for when field dimensioning, also, when allowing for overlaps at inside and outside corners. (Drawing 5)