I need to figure out how to install horizontal hardwood veneer plywood paneling. I’m not even sure what to call this application, except to say that it is most commonly seen in upscale commercial office buildings, and looks like sheets of plywood applied horizontally with a narrow reveal between the sheets. Does anyone know how this is applied? Is it covered in any of the Taunton books or elsewhere? Any help is greatly appreciated–thanks.
Diane
Replies
Check over at Breaktime. They's got all the answers....
I've done it by using extruded aluminum "Z clips," similar to these:
http://www.monarchmetal.com/pages/panelclip.html
The Z-clips look like a good solution. Were you using them in the same application as I have in mind? Did you have any trouble getting a perfectly uniform gap between the panels? And I guess I would have to use some type of spacer between the wall and panel so that the panel won't be hanging at a slight angle.
Yes, I used them to apply veneered quartersawn white oak panels, floor to ceiling, throughout a living room. The panels were designed as a grid with 1/2-in. reveals horizontally and vertically, and the installation was extremely time-consuming. I used the Z clips on the top and bottom of each panel, so they sat flat to the wall. The advantage to the clips over the French cleats Jamie mentions is that they take up a lot less space--the ones I used held the panels less than 1/8 in. off the surface of the walls.
Diane --
Why can't you just nail the sheets in place? Hold each sheet where you want it, run finish nails through it into the studs behind, fill the nail holes with color-matched filler, and you're done.
Okay, before you nail the sheets in place, you paint the sheetrock with whatever color you want for the reveal.
Well, I could, but every time I've seen this application there was absolutely no evidence that it had been nailed or screwed. The beauty of it was in the flawless surface. If worse comes to worst, I could do that, but I'm sure there is some kind of clever system holding those panels in place.
Diane --
Have you considered French cleats? They'd hold the panels invisibly. Cabinetmakers have built wooden French cleats for centuries, and nowadays you can buy metal ones. The metal ones hold the panel closer to the wall than the wood ones. In your application, the larger gap from wooden ones might be nice.
Jamie
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