Service Entrance Equipment Mounting Board Covering?

[paullmullen]

I am mounting the meter cabinet and disconnects for a new service to a piece of plywood to permit insulation between the entrance equipment and the wall sheathing. The picture tells the story. My question is "What are people using to treat the plywood or cover it so that it becomes maintenance free" (no painting needed in the future).

Options considered but problematic in some form:
- marine painted board. (Still needs painting in the future.)
- Stainless steel covering. (Pretty, but $$$, and and extra EGC for just the cover.)
- PVC over plywood (Nice solution, but PVC is usually not long-term UV stable)
- Aluminum (Galvanic corrosion with steel components mounted to it)
- Powder Coated something or other ($$$)

What have others done?

 

[paullmullen]

My wife suggested brick, but that doesn't match the customer's aesthetic.

Still brainstorming options.

 

[suemarkp]

What type of siding will be on the house?

 

[paullmullen]

What type of siding will be on the house?

aluminum.

 

[retirede]

aluminum.

Cover the board in aluminum to match.

 

[paullmullen]

Cover the board in aluminum to match.

I'm concerned about galvanic corrosion (deterioration when dissimilar metals are in contact) when the steel enclosures and fasteners are in contact with an aluminum substrate. Maybe I'm over thinking it, but cursory research finds others worried about this too.

 

[retirede]

I'm concerned about galvanic corrosion (deterioration when dissimilar metals are in contact) when the steel enclosures and fasteners are in contact with an aluminum substrate. Maybe I'm over thinking it, but cursory research finds others worried about this too.

Commonly done all the time around here. Even with vinyl siding replacing aluminum almost exclusively, the boards still get wrapped with aluminum, usually done by the sheet metal sub hired to do the soffits and fascias. I’ve not noticed signs of corrosion, but I can’t say I’ve really looked for it.

 

[mauk]

1/2" sheet of azek?

 

[hbiss]

Maybe I'm over thinking it

Yeah, I think you are. Besides, I've not seen aluminum siding used in years. As @mauk just said, A sheet of Azek is the usual solution. That will last as long as the siding.

-Hal