Questions on covering the walls with plywood

[belfert]

What type of screws should I use to attach 3/8" plywood to the interior of my bus?  Craig used some screws with real fat heads in his bus, but I'm not sure if those are best or not.  I'm also considering "plybead" plywood so I don't have to put any additional covering over the plywood.  How could I attach this "plybead" plywood without the screws being obvious?

What are good choices for interior wall coverings on a budget besides carpet?  I would do oak of some sort, but that is probably too expensive.  I'm considering a white paneling with a design on it, but I don't want the interior to look like a cheap travel trailer.

My bus will be used for traveling to high power rocket launches around the nation.  It is generally dirty and dusty at these locations, especially in the desert.  I will have lots of guys in and out of the bus all day and evening long so the interior needs to be simple and hold up well.  Carpet on the walls and/or ceilings will just get full of dust.  My travel trailer took 4 to 8 hours to get all the dust out of interior after three days in the desert.

Brian elfert

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Brian,

I used a large head drill tip screw to secure the plywood, about #8 machine. Most of my walls are covered with laminate but, I used a very inexpencive vynal  wall paper

that has pearlesent patterns in it  for the bathroom. Fuond at Lowes. I used body filler on all the screw heads, than sanded smooth. Looks Great!

Here's another pic.

Nick

[Ross]

What are good choices for interior wall coverings on a budget besides carpet?  I would do oak of some sort, but that is probably too expensive.  I'm considering a white paneling with a design on it, but I don't want the interior to look like a cheap travel trailer.

I was going to use oak wainscoating with wallpaper, but when I got to HD to buy the wainscoating I cheaped out and went with Cape Cod wainscoat instead.  As it turns out, it looks better than oak.  I think oak on the walls would have been too much oak seeing as how everything else is oak.

[FloridaCliff]

Nick,

When you say "body filler", you mean like bondo type?




Yes Clif, like Bondo! It works great and  stick to wood very well.
Nick-

[El-Sonador]

I used a commercial grade spray adhesive to glue fabric over the plywood as wall coverings. I did this over four years ago and even in the hot climates where I travel most, I have had no problems with it, including the desert sand.

Fabric comes in all types and colors and hides screw heads, seams and other imperfections very well in addition to some repelling dust and dirt.

Steve

[FloridaCliff]

I also used #8 screws that were self tapping.

I didn't screw the plywood with this but 1x4's.

My purpose was to add 3/4" of insulation before the plywood.

The plywood was attached using drywall screws to the 1X4's.

[belfert]

Brian,

I used a large head drill tip screw to secure the plywood, about #8 machine. Most of my walls are covered with laminate but, I used a very inexpencive vynal  wall paper

For the laminate, how did you deal with the joints?  Lamiinate might be a good option if I can afford it.  It is easy to keep clean.

Brian Elfert

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Brian,

Laminates with factory edges can be joined together with a seemless joint if the installer knows how to apply it.

The trick is to figure out how to apply the laninate correct the first time.[contact cement is unforgiving!]

Using dows is the easiest way, also a commercial grade adhesive that cabnit makers use!

Nick-

[FloridaCliff]

Nick,

Very interesting idea on the filler.

I had not thought of the body filler and was concerned how I could seal the screws and joints enough to use wallpaper or coverings and have them look right.

Let the mixing and filling begin!

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Floridacracker,

Just don't go crazy with the stuff, [allthough it's fun] remember you have to sand it a little when dry!

Nick-

[FloridaCliff]

Nick,

Your not kidding!

On of the things I learned about filler application is that it should be 90% to finished when applied.

Ahhh!  Reminds me of my teens and the big mound of filler we would apply over a dent , and then the two hours with the D/A sander to get it level...

[Danny]

Good comments!  I am going to go with laminent as well.  The thin stuff can be gotten at Lowe's to go around any curves.  The big guys use heat for the corners to help in the process.  As far a plywood an adhesive should work with a few screws to hold it in place until it sets up.  I will probably but both - I like over-kill!

Danny

[Skykingrob]

Hi All
Look at this site for those that haven't put wall covering in yet, http://www.homasote.com/product.html. Homasote is an insulating, sound absorbing fabric covered hardboard that can be placed in the living room, dining room and bedroom areas and is able to attach with glue or screws. It comes in 5 colors of fabric, can be cut with standard shop tools, can be covered with another fabric if you deem their colors aren't right for you, available at many lumber yards around the US and realitively inexpensive for what it does. It would not do well in the kitchen and bathroom areas. Hope this helps

Rob
91 LeMirage XL
Missouri

[belfert]

Hi All
Look at this site for those that haven't put wall covering in yet, http://www.homasote.com/product.html. Homasote is an insulating, sound absorbing fabric covered hardboard that can be placed in the living room, dining room and bedroom areas and is able to attach with glue or screws. It comes in 5 colors of fabric, can be cut with standard shop tools, can be covered with another fabric if you deem their colors aren't right for you, available at many lumber yards around the US and realitively inexpensive for what it does. It would not do well in the kitchen and bathroom areas. Hope this helps

I'm familiar with Homasote, but didn't realize it came fabric wrapped.  Could this stuff be applied directly to the bus walls, or would plywood be needed first?  Any ideas on cost?

Edit: I realized after I wrote this that fabric and dust in the desert wouldn't be real compatible.

Brian Elfert