When Victory San Diego set out to renovate their El Cajon facility, they needed an exterior material that could deliver serious architectural presence — warm wood character against the building's dark charcoal block — while standing up to years of Southern California sun without maintenance. They chose our Teak A1 & Black Composite Slat Panels, and the results speak for themselves.
This project is a textbook example of how vertical composite slat cladding transforms a plain commercial exterior into something that looks intentional, modern, and built to last. The warm golden-brown teak panels paired against the painted charcoal block create exactly the kind of high-contrast composition that reads well from the street — and up close, the embossed grain texture holds up to scrutiny.
Product Used in This Project
Teak A1 & Black Composite Siding Slat Panels
Warm golden-brown teak base with bold black accent channels — the same two-tone contrast look used throughout this project. WPC composite construction: UV-stable, moisture-resistant, no maintenance required. Install vertically or horizontally. Ships from San Diego, CA.
Project Overview
Location
El Cajon, California
Client
Victory San Diego
Product
Teak A1 & Black Composite Slat Panels
Orientation
Vertical installation
Application
Commercial exterior accent cladding
Substrate
Wood furring strips over existing wall
The Finished Result
The completed exterior uses Teak A1 & Black panels as vertical accent zones flanking the building's dark charcoal block face. The contrast between the warm teak and dark block is striking from the street — exactly the kind of material layering that turns a basic commercial building into a landmark. The Victory logo and signage mount directly to the charcoal block face, while the teak panels frame the entry and wrap the building's key visual zones.
Behind the Build
How It Was Installed
The installation team mounted the composite slat panels vertically over wood furring strips secured to the existing exterior wall. Furring strips are the right approach when installing over a hard substrate — they create a flat, level nailing surface and allow the panels to ventilate from behind, which extends their service life and prevents any moisture accumulation between the panel back and the wall.
The WPC slat panels install with a screw-down hidden-channel system — fasteners drive into the channel groove between slats and are invisible from the front. Each panel's built-in lug system creates a natural air gap, so no additional spacers are needed.
Installation Note
Vertical installation — as used here — showcases the slat panel's continuous wood-grain line from floor to roofline, emphasizing building height and creating strong vertical shadow lines. For wide horizontal walls, vertical panels also visually break up the mass in a way horizontal panels cannot.
Design Breakdown
Why Teak A1 & Black Works So Well Here
The design decision to pair warm teak panels against dark charcoal block is one of the most effective exterior contrast moves in contemporary commercial architecture. Here is why it works:
Warm against cool. The golden-brown teak reads as warm, organic, and approachable — exactly what a community-focused building like a church should communicate. The charcoal block is cool and grounded. The two together create visual balance without either material overpowering the other.
Texture against texture. The embossed wood grain of the composite slats plays against the rough CMU block surface. Neither texture dominates — they create a rich, layered exterior that rewards a second look.
Black accent channels. The dark lines between slats in Teak A1 & Black echo the dark mortar joints and painted block — visually connecting the two materials and making the cladding feel like part of the same intentional design, not an afterthought addition.
The end result is an exterior that looks like it was designed this way from the beginning.
Product Specifications — Teak A1 & Black Slat Panels
| Color / Finish | Teak A1 & Black — warm golden-brown teak base with bold black accent channels |
| Material | WPC with polyethylene waterproof film — recycled wood fiber + polymer composite |
| Panel Width | 8.6 inches |
| Panel Thickness | 1.1 inches |
| Lengths Available | 94.5" (11.2 sq ft/box) or 106" (12.6 sq ft/box — 15-box minimum) |
| Box Contents | 2 panels per box |
| Installation | Screw-down hidden channel — no exposed fasteners on face |
| Orientation | Horizontal or vertical |
| Maintenance | None — no painting, sealing, or staining required |
| Weather resistance | UV, moisture, mold, rot, impact — tested -30°F to +130°F |
| Ships From | San Diego, CA |
Where These Panels Work Best
- Commercial building exteriors and storefronts
- Church and community building facades
- Residential home exterior accent walls
- Backyard and patio feature walls
- Outdoor kitchens, BBQ islands, and bar areas
- Privacy screens and property dividers
- Balcony cladding and upgrades
- Garden walls and landscape features
Find Victory San Diego
The completed project is visible in person at 846 S Johnson Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020 — a 5-star rated church community (victorysocal.org · (858) 800-4792). If you're in the San Diego area and want to see how the Teak A1 & Black panels look on a large commercial exterior, this is worth a drive-by.
Start Your Project
Order a $2.99 sample to confirm Teak A1 & Black works for your space — or get free shipping on a full order from our San Diego warehouse.
Visit Our Santee Showroom
See Teak A1 & Black and the full exterior slat panel lineup in person. Our showroom has full-size panel displays in natural light — the only way to properly evaluate grain texture and color before ordering.
10926 Woodside Ave Suite A, Santee, CA 92071
Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
(858) 261-4068 · media@youshouldhaveit.com