Panel and method for mounting the same

A method for mounting a panel of the type comprising a plurality of panel members applied to a backing, with spacers between individual panel members in order to position the panel members with a gap in relation to each other, and cover members applied over the gap between adjacent panel members, with each of the cover members having a width which is greater than the width of a respective one of the spacers, the method comprising the steps of:

• applying a first panel member to the backing,
• providing at least one spacer with a thickness which is different from a thickness of the first panel member and applying the at least one spacer immediately adjacent to the first panel member,
• applying a second panel member immediately adjacent to the at least one spacer,
• providing a cover member including at least one of a longitudinal groove and a ridge on a rear face thereof, wherein when the spacer is thicker than the first and second panel members, the cover member includes the longitudinal groove, and when the spacer is thinner than the first and second panel members, the cover member includes the ridge, wherein at least one of the groove and the ridge is essentially as wide as the spacer and has opposite limiting edges, and
• applying the cover member over the gap in such a way that the limiting edges of at least one of the groove and the ridge of the cover member coact with edge portions of at least one of the spacers and the adjacent panel members in centering the cover member over the gap.

A panel comprising:

• a plurality of panel members applied to a backing,
• spacers applied to the backing between adjacent panel members in order to position the panel members spaced from each other by a gap, and
• cover members applied over the gap between two adjacent panel members, each of the cover members having a width which is greater than a width of a respective one of the spacers,
• wherein the spacers have a thickness different from that of the panel members, the spacers including spacers that are thinner than the panel members, wherein when the spacers are thinner than the panel members, the cover members include a ridge on a rear face of the cover members, and
• wherein the ridge is essentially as wide as the spacer and has opposite limiting edges, which in coaction with edge portions of the spacer and of the adjacent panel members, respectively, achieves centering of the cover member over the spacer and the gap.