How to install VJ Panels on patio wall?

harney21

  

Hi there,

I am looking for ideas to jazz up this wall on our undercover patio, the other side of the wall is external and exposed to the elements.

I’m thinking VJ paneling and a floating timber shelf. 

1. Is VJ panels for internal wet areas suitable for here? There is a bit of mould from an old table we had up against the wall. 

2. Can I glue / nail it straight onto the existing timber beams? I will section it where the shelf is

2. What material do you recommend for the skirting board? 

3. What material do you recommend for a timber/ timber-look floating shelf? The width is 2900mm. I’m thinking of putting it on top of the existing shelf to keep things easy. And will install some shelf brackets. 

4. what tools and materials should I use to cut and install the panels

any ideas are greatly appreciated! Thanks 

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @harney21. It's splendid to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about installing VJ panelling.

No, the wet area products, oddly enough, are not suitable. They are made of MDF and are only suitable for high-humidity environments, such as bathrooms. For enclosed exterior purposes, you need to switch to the easycraft 2745 x 1200 x 9.5mm easyvj100 Primed Semi Exterior Compressed Hardwood Wall Lining, which is made from hardwood. You might also like to consider a cement-based external cladding such as Innova 2450 x 1200 x 9mm Duragroove Smooth Wide Fibre Cement.

Here's the Easycraft installation guide, which shows you how the panels should be fixed. The current timber should be fine for fixing off to. For the skirting, particularly if the area see water ingress, they should be have a suitable treatment to prevent decay. You could use DAR LOSP timber, but I'd still raise it up off the ground slightly so it does not contact the concrete.

Tools you'll need are a pencil, tape measure, planer, spirit Level, hammer/nail Gun, hand saw/power saw, string line, spacers, P1 or P2 dust mask & safety glasses and a caulking gun.

For the shelf, there's not much in a timber-look at that length. I suspect you'd need to actually use timber for that span. Even, then there's not much in a shelf width at 3000mm long. You might need to use two lengths of 185 x 19mm Tasmanian Oak glued together.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell