I have a flat with a galley kitchen. One side of the galley the units are against the wall the other side the back of the kitchen untis have had 3mm wood stuck to the back and then painted. This wood is now old, very chipped at the sides etc.. paint starting to peel off even though it has been sanded, repainted many times etc... so I am going to take it down and replace with ....?
(It needs to just look nice and clean as it is just the backing for the tv unit etc... nothing hanging off it.)

a) plasterboard
b) another type of wood
c) something else???

Does anyone know how much plasterboard is in CH? Where can I buy it from? (Jumbo?) I have no car so do they do delivery?

Is there another material that I can use that is more manageable that I can just pin in and paint ?

Thanks for any suggestions!

You need to measure the area carefully, buy the board at Jumbo or similar, transport it and screw it to the wall. Then paint it.

If you need to ask the questions, then maybe Papa Goose our handyman in Zurich will help you. He buys me a beer for every recommendation!

http://www.englishforum.ch/members/1...apa-goose.html

MDF sheeting.

Screw it to the units using screws designed for MDF (the kitchen units are probably made of the same stuff). Counter sink the screw holes

Prepare the surface (fill in the screw holes). Sand lightly. Prime. Paint with two top coats.

Use a small foam roller for painting (and not a brush) and you'll get a really smooth surface.

I ought to add - measure the size of sheeting you need first (measure twice at least) and get the shop to cut it to that size.

Just to throw a couple of thoughts into the mix.

Tom's suggestion of MDF is a good one, but it is heavy - you may still require someone with a car to help transport it, depending on how much you need.
Jumbo should have a few different thickness's and will cut to size, as mentioned.

Another consideration could be tongue-and-groove panelling. Normally this is tacked with hidden fixings to wooden slats, but could be glued to the edges of the cabinets. Alternatively you could back the cupboards with thin MDF or hardboard and glue the panels to that.
Jumbo (and possibly Coop Bau and Hobby) also have a "wood effect" tongue-and-groove designed for slightly damp conditions (feucht zimmer) which I installed in both my kitchen and bathroom. Effectively it is thin (11mm) mdf panels with a plastic wood effect finish stuck to the the front - the "wood" grain can be seen through a thin colour wash (I have white and light green). It looks realistically like painted wood.

Regarding plasterboard and for general reference, I have found Fermocell to be a superior equivalent, and have used it extensively on my walls. I don't think it is an option in your situation.
It is normally only available from a builders' merchants and is big and heavy (2500x1500x12or15mm), and you would need white van man to help with transportation.

If it's an indoor surface + backing onto other furniture (rather than an external or internal wall), then I'd go for MDF/wood too rather than plasterboard. The latter can be a little fidly, especially if using a framework to hold the board and joins that need to be taped or filled (or both, depending on the board) and can crack/break if not handled correctly.

Alternatively you could "clad" the back of the units with wood, e.g.



(first photo found on internet)

In terms of where: Jumbo, Obi, COOP Bau & Hobby.

If you are buying a lot of material, a trip to the border and somewhere like Bauhaus or Hornbacher (sp?) would be worth it, as the materials are cheaper and in effect you also get a 20% discount (VAT reduction) if you buy less than €260 of material per person in the car (i.e. you can buy €520 if two of you are in the car).

__________________
Never let right or wrong get in the way of a good opinion

Thanks for all the information - perfect as always on EF! I think I will go for the MDF and I will take Toms tipp and measure it exactly and then get the shop to cut it which will save alot of hassle. (Then borrow a friend with a large car ) Sounds like a good solution. I am not needing that much - to cover 2.5 x 3 m sq. so probably not worth driving over the border but good tip.
Thanks again.

Just a word of caution, if using MDF and doing any drilling or sawing of it, use a face mask to prevent breathing in the dust, breathing in the dust can be harmfull or so the good old UK elf and safety says.