What's the best option for paneling the inside of my wheelhouse.

[broman]

I'm looking to spend under $15 per 4' x 8' sheet. I don't want it to rot of course. And I would like to use sheets and not tounge and groove as I want to put this up fast without having to cut a billion boards.

Any suggestions?

[eyehunter]

Don't use plywood.....it will warp from the extreme temperature changes.

[polarsusd81]

Throw up some 5/8 M.R. gyp board. It wont rot and will keep the noise out when guys pull up next to your house and start drilling holes.

No, in reality there are some pretty good options for the interior of the wheel house. I would look at some of the vinyl wall panels they sell at the big box home improvement stores. They have some that are designed for bathrooms that should be pretty resilliant to rotting.

[broman]

I was actually thinking of using luan plywood since it's cheaper than paneling. Anyone else second not going for plywood.

[broman]

This is a wheelhouse and I'm looking to keep it light. The gypsum would probably add too much weight.

[eyefever]

Luan will fall apart if it gets wet. We used the old interior paneling when we remodeled our house from the 70's and it works decent. Two years on the outside and not falling apart yet. I would not expect that to last too long though either.

[hanson]

I've got Luaun in my shack. Looks good. Cheap. If you want to give the Luaun a little protection, coat it with Spar Varnish (Exterior Polyurethane). This will be my 4th winter with it and the Luaun still looks brand new.

I'm seriously more worried that my floor is going to fall apart before the paneling gives me any problems. In my shack, it'll be a simple repair to put new paneling in as well.

[guppie]

I've got some 1/4" stuff in my house and it works fine. Just make sure that it is wood and not a plywood of sort. sorry,I don't know my woods very well. if it is a plywood or corregated(?) kind of board it will warp with the moisture and heat.

[Rainman]

Use luan like Hanson said, then coat it with a goo exterior polyurethane. It works great and lasts a looong time. My brother built a house about 6 years a go and it still looks like the day we put it in.

[mnhunter2]

You can use luan, to make it last longer paint the back side with a good exterior paint seal the edges and the side to the inside of your fishouse with a good polyurathane varnish and it will last a long time.

[nytelyter]

milk house board. ... paul

[polarsusd81]

Yeah, the gyp board comment was a joke. Having handled plenty luan in my days working in the lumberyard, yes, it is light, but I personally wouldn't use it. If you do though make sure to seal it up with some good paint, and one idea for keeping the edges in good shape would be to use the edging you can buy for paneling. The edges of luan ply is the most problematic part of the sheet and what you need to give the most care for protection.

[JustinG]

Quote:

---

milk house board. ... paul

---

I agree with Paul. Milkhouse board or it is sometimes also called "Dairy Board"- it is white and plastic. You can just wipe it off to clean it. Luaun would work just fine, too. I have Luaun on the exterior of my house and it has last 10 years! I wouldn't fool with varnish unlesss you like the look of wood on the inside. I would go with 2-3 coats of white paint so that you get maximum light in there. Leaving it wood color will make it alot darker inside.

Justin

[cold one sd]

I used milkhouse board or FRP paneling in my wheel house, but I think it was close to $40 for a sheet of the stuff.

[Random guy]

Another trick is to run treated plywood up a foot or two around the base to help with water and warping when using a paneling or board that may take on water.

[fishinalot]

I have luan plywood in my house with 2 coats of spar varnish. Its still like new after 10 years. Its cheap and it does not warp!