Replies

1. 
   IronHelix | May 13, 2008 02:03pm | #1

    

   FWIW----IMHO

   If it is a vacation cottage on an island then it will remain unoccupied/heated/conditioned for most of the year.  Drywall may not be the best choice anyway under those circumstances that I am assuming.  More details would be nice.

   Even paneling will be effected by the environment of the island....so select wisely. Wood composition panels swell and degrade.  Cheap panels delaminate...even those touted as "hardwood" as the amount and type of glue becomes the "devil in the details".

   Have you considered using underlayment grade plywood? Or plywood siding?  There is a 3/8" rough sawn exterior plywood that might fit the bill. 

   Whatever you select I would consider back=priming to keep the moisture content down.

    

   .....Iron Helix 

    

2. 
   Danno | May 13, 2008 02:37pm | #2

   FWIW--I think Helix has good ideas in what he posted.

   Some plywood can look very nice when finished properly. Trim it well, stain, etc. Could apply moding if you want (make it look like let-in panels). There are different face veneers you can get; oak, maple and others.

   If you just want to paint it, you can even get "medium density overlay" (MDO) that has a phenolic impregnated paper surface that takes paint well.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 5/13/2008 7:38 am ET by Danno

1. 
   ees | May 13, 2008 07:08pm | #4

   Thanks for the good info guys. I have actually thought about the ext. siding. Will also consider the other suggestions and run them by the BOSS, aka wife! Hadn't thought about back priming. We will be keeping the place heated in the winter but no A/C unless we are there.

3. 
   frammer52 | May 13, 2008 07:06pm | #3

   perfect application!

4. 
   Shep | May 13, 2008 08:44pm | #5

   Find out what the fire codes are. You may not be allowed to have exposed paneling as a finished surface; sheetrock of some kind may be forced on you.

   Its better to check now, than to go thru a lot of aggravation later.

5. 
   xxPaulCPxx | May 13, 2008 10:31pm | #6

   Instead of 1/4", think about regular OSB sheets with a layer of shellac to keep out moisture.  OSB with a finish coat can look surprisingly good.

   Plus you can hang any darn thing on it without worries.

   Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA

   Also a CRX fanatic!

   If your hair looks funny, it's because God likes to scratch his nuts.  You nut, you.

1. 
   VaTom | May 14, 2008 01:14am | #8

   with a layer of shellac to keep out moisture. 

   Interesting.  My understanding was exactly the opposite, minimal moisture resistance. 

   A brief search revealed no consensus, polar opposite opinions.    However, testing by the US Forest Products Laboratory found a very impressive 87% effectiveness (@80º, 97% rh) with three coats.  If they tested 1 coat, it didn't make it into their book.PAHS works. Bury it.

6. 
   maverick | May 13, 2008 10:47pm | #7

   if you go that route consider installing extra horizontal blocking. it'll serve two purposes, one as a fire break and the other will keep the paneling from buckling.

7. 
   renosteinke | May 14, 2008 03:48am | #9

   I don't much like the idea. The 1/4" stuff flexes too much, there are the moisture issues, and there's not enough there to hold a nail or screw.

   T-111 could give you that 'rustic' look, and be moisture resistant. It comes pre-finished, with a rather smooth surface, if you want that. You might even consider placing vents - top and bottom - in each wall cavity for moisture / mold control.

   A local restaurant made their pony walls of luan plywood, bad side out, laid horizontally, and then sealed it with an outdoor deck product. Much to my surprise, it came out looking pretty good. The area has a number of steam tables, and the stuff seems to be holding up.

   If all you desire are privacy partitions, you might consider simply stretching light cloth over the studs, stapling it, then coating with varnish - sort of like what the did on the first airplanes.

8. 
   MSA1 | May 14, 2008 04:58am | #10

   I've seen more than a few houses built the way you describe. You should be fine.