Whitewater Woman's Equipment Maintenance and Repair

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I'd go with the metal sheeting or with more fly screen as you suggested. I wouldn't waste my time with plywood, even what they call "marine ply" is rubbish and it will just rot.

Those metal sheets are roofing sheets with a brand named coating called Zincalume. You can buy it in two trays wide as can be seen in your picture, and also 3 trays and 4 trays, it sort of took over from the old corrugated iron. This roofing is especially popular in commercial buildings, if you talk to some builders they'd probably be able to give you enough offcuts to do the job you want.

Side note: It always spins me out seeing houses made of timber, most of Australia has termites so everything's made of concrete and steel.

 

[Forest Cat]

Yeah that's not a good spot for plywood. You'll have to replace it again and again. I would not use plywood there. There is something called exterior vinyl siding panel. Very durable and looks nice. Lots of different options and colors, these are just some examples:

The Best Vinyl Siding Brands

We rounded up the best vinyl siding brands to shop for your home's exterior, including CertainTeed, Alside, Royal, Gentek, and more.

www.bobvila.com

 

[Shevek]

The outdoors also has dogs, and raccoons, and other critters that might get through a low screen, if that is a concern. There are old plywood boats - longevity is a function of coating and care. In many cases the "best material" is the one you have on hand that fits easily, or the one you are familiar with working. Metal is also used for siding, generally with fewer and shallower stiffening bends. If you are only finding short offcuts, you can use them like shingles.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

The ply wood is rotting due to mold. the metai is siding, most likely aluminum, could be galvanized and painted steel. Aluminum is light in weight.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

I'd go with the metal sheeting or with more fly screen as you suggested. I wouldn't waste my time with plywood, even what they call "marine ply" is rubbish and it will just rot.

Those metal sheets are roofing sheets with a brand named coating called Zincalume. You can buy it in two trays wide as can be seen in your picture, and also 3 trays and 4 trays, it sort of took over from the old corrugated iron. This roofing is especially popular in commercial buildings, if you talk to some builders they'd probably be able to give you enough offcuts to do the job you want.

Side note: It always spins me out seeing houses made of timber, most of Australia has termites so everything's made of concrete and steel.

Excellent. I agree about the plywood, but don’t trust my judgments being new at this game.
Most everything in Florida is concrete. I don’t know why they made my house with wood. There have been some termite infestations, but the only reason it got bad was….well, let’s not go there. I will need to keep a sharp eye out for termites.

Yeah that's not a good spot for plywood. You'll have to replace it again and again. I would not use plywood there. There is something called exterior vinyl siding panel. Very durable and looks nice. Lots of different options and colors, these are just some examples:


View attachment 129676

The Best Vinyl Siding Brands

We rounded up the best vinyl siding brands to shop for your home's exterior, including CertainTeed, Alside, Royal, Gentek, and more.

www.bobvila.com

I like the shake pattern. I’ll look into it. Thank you.

The outdoors also has dogs, and raccoons, and other critters that might get through a low screen, if that is a concern. There are old plywood boats - longevity is a function of coating and care. In many cases the "best material" is the one you have on hand that fits easily, or the one you are familiar with working. Metal is also used for siding, generally with fewer and shallower stiffening bends. If you are only finding short offcuts, you can use them like shingles.

Good point about wild animals outside wanting to come in. In the past there has been dog food stored on the porch, which attracted possums. I could put the roofing or vinyl siding where the external porches are and screen the rest. Usually, they just go through the cat door if I forget to close it or they pry open the screen doors if I don’t lock them. Haven’t had any try to go through the screens and I will not store pet food on the porch.

However, I did have fire ant poison on the porch and a possum got in and ate half a big bag. I never saw that possum again.

THANK YOU ALL.

 

[Shevek]

I'd go with the metal sheeting or with more fly screen as you suggested. I wouldn't waste my time with plywood, even what they call "marine ply" is rubbish and it will just rot.


Marine plywood is no more waterproof or rot-resistant. The money goes into making sure there are no internal voids to help a leak do more damage. Aircraft plywood is the same, except that it is guaranteed that no grain is more than 10 degrees from flat.