Thread: External screen

Jason,

Use a fiber cement board. This will stand the elements much better. It was done at a day care centre where my daughter went and 8 years on it's still there (I recoat the blackboard every six months). Takes all the punishment that 1 to 5 yr olds can dish out.

Steve,

That sounds like a good idea, I hadn't thought of using cement board as I haven't really used it much before. I intend to cut some shapes out of the top part, do you know if you can cut cement sheet with a jigsaw?

What thickness did you use, or do you recommend?

Originally Posted by jason.worme

do you know if you can cut cement sheet with a jigsaw?

A diamond blade would be best, but maybe a bit exy

these two references should help, the first lists a couple of blades that look suitable
Jigsaw & Reciprocating Blades | Sutton Tools
http://www.virginia.edu/art/studio/s...wbladechrt.pdf

You would need a fairly thick, compressed board. Depending on the size, you would need 10mm -12mm thick. That is going to be pretty heavy, expensive, and hard to cut; you need to cut with a wet blade diamond saw. Standard fibre cement sheeting would need support battens or studs, spaced about 500mm apart, which may pose a problem for cut-outs. I would personally stick with external grade ply. As long as you keep the sealing finishes well maintained, it will last a long time.

How ugly is the fence?

From something I posted in 2008

We live small inner city block and one side of our house the dining room windows are 750 mm from a 2 m high super6 asbestos fence. Although it is painted green it still looks like a super6 asbestos fence.

SWMBO said I want something artistic to cover the super6 - so she buys a cheap wrought iron frame mirror which I hang on the fence, so then we have a green super6 asbestos fence with a mirror on it. SWMBO said - it looks wrong - fix it.

24 hours later I'm driving in a neighborhood where it is council pick up day and laying right there on the verge are 3 dozen 2 m long pickets, half peeling, rusty nails hanging out of them etc

While SWMBO was out I knocked up a treated crapiata frame and nailed the old pickets to them, distressing them a little further with a belt sander with a 40 grit belt and mount the whole shebang in front of the window and remount the mirror . The 3 dozen pickets are just enough to cover the window view when looking from the inside. SWMBO thinks this is great and all is goot!

Cutting a couple of fibre cement sheets with your jigsaw will just about wear it out, so add the cost of a new jigsaw. Those diamond jigsaw blades are better for cutting out power points or so.
Like ken says, a good grade plywood (formply, don't know about painting on it) will do as long as the edges are well sealed.

Jason,

User the cement board for the blackboard area and use some ply for the shapes. That way you can change the shapes when required.

If you frame and support the cement board you can use 5mm board and that isn't to expensive and it will last forever.