JAMES AND MORRIS CAREY \ On the House Slat board offers new way to hang tools on a wall

Our father's workshop was a site to behold; he had fine, well-organized tools. To ensure that he never lost anything, Dad painted a silhouette of each of his tools on the wall where it hung.
Dad went to great lengths to protect his tools. As we grew up and created our own workshops, we did what we could to make sure everything was easy to get to and was as well organized as Dad's shop. However, we decided to use Pegboard instead of the plywood and bolts that our father chose.
We have written articles on the advantages of using Pegboard. It's reasonably inexpensive, rather easy to install, and it works well for most lightweight items. However, whereas Pegboard used to be the end-all, do-all, it is now one of two good alternatives. And the new contender is slat board. To see slat board in use, go into just about any store that displays anything; there, you'll see horizontal grooves in the wall that accept metal and plastic brackets.
We are not suggesting you stop using Pegboard. It is readily available, inexpensive and comes with myriad hanging accessories including every imaginable kind of hook and shelf bracket. But, slat board is an alternative that often makes sense.
Considerations
A few things to consider when choosing which of them to use:
UPegboard is available in eighth-inch-thick and quarter-inch-thick material, whereas slat board is available in three-quarter-inch thickness only. We strongly recommend against the use of thin Pegboard. It doesn't hold up to heavy use and easily buckles and warps. If your choice is Pegboard, use the quarter-inch thick variety.
UPegboard is readily available in most hardware stores and home centers. And it is inexpensive -- $20 for a 4x8 sheet. A 4x8 sheet of slat board sells for almost double at $38. Slat board offers super stability -- that's probably why most stores now use it instead of Pegboard.
UPegboard must be mounted on furring strips so that the back of the board rests away from the wall. This gives the pegs space to hook into and behind the Pegboard. With slat board, furring is not required. The material is nailed directly to the wall where it will be used, with no spacers. And, with its greater thickness, slat board does not buckle or bubble. It is sturdy.
UPegboard can easily be painted, as can be slat board. But for a few bucks more per sheet, you can purchase slat board that is veneered with white melamine, oak or other exotic and beautiful wood and laminate surfaces. Talk about a fancy workshop!
UWith Pegboard, both horizontal and vertical connections show. There is no tongue and groove or pattern match to hide things. With slat board, the horizontal seams are hidden within the groove of the slat. Also, because the material is thick, the joints can be puttied and sanded, and hidden by paint. Although Pegboard can be puttied and painted as well, its thickness reduces the chance of a permanent putty joint.
Making repairs
With both options, overloading the hooks and shelves can result in damage to the board itself. But both types of material are easy to patch. Just remove a few screws or nails, cut, patch and replace.
If you plan to build a display in your home, slat board is the way to go. Slat board can be purchased with foil-lined grooves that can add richness and beauty to your display. If you have dolls, model cars or trophies and want them to look their best while you have versatility to change the display at a moments notice, slat board is the better option. Accessories such as pegs, brackets, picture hooks, baskets and shelving of every size, shape and form are available in white and chrome.
XFor more home improvement tips and information, visit www.onthehouse.com on the Web.