Drywall Alternatives

**Tom Featherstone** · 07-27-2016, 09:12 AM

As a former drywall contractor I believe my other "friends" in LHBA have been trying to purposely draw me into this conversation...

Drywall is a great building product. You have to get the right stuff, for the job you want. There are way more options to drywall today than what was available even a few years ago. It's Not all just paper & dirt (gypsum) anymore. You can also texture it or coat it with certain muds to make it Very Hard!

There's High Strength, Fiberglass, Sound Deadening, Blah, blah, blah... Go to a contractors supply store that specializes in Drywall and you won't believe what they make today.. One of the Best things I think the industry did was come up with the fiberglass tile backer board instead of the "Green" water resistant board that some people still use today in their baths, showers etc. There is no gypsum or paper in the product, not a chance of mold ever growing in it, or soaking up water. But, on the other hand... I made a lot of money repairing those baths with the green board over the years..

Installation is not rocket science, but finishing it, is a trade, all it's own.

It's a option. It does contrast the wood & can add the possibilities of reflecting light, adding color, accents.

Don't like it.... Cover it later

**loghousenut** · 07-27-2016, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by Tom Featherstone

As a former drywall contractor I believe my other "friends" in LHBA have been trying to purposely draw me into this conversation...

Drywall is a great building product. You have to get the right stuff, for the job you want. There are way more options to drywall today than what was available even a few years ago. It's Not all just paper & dirt (gypsum) anymore. You can also texture it or coat it with certain muds to make it Very Hard!

There's High Strength, Fiberglass, Sound Deadening, Blah, blah, blah... Go to a contractors supply store that specializes in Drywall and you won't believe what they make today.. One of the Best things I think the industry did was come up with the fiberglass tile backer board instead of the "Green" water resistant board that some people still use today in their baths, showers etc. There is no gypsum or paper in the product, not a chance of mold ever growing in it, or soaking up water. But, on the other hand... I made a lot of money repairing those baths with the green board over the years..

Installation is not rocket science, but finishing it, is a trade, all it's own.

It's a option. It does contrast the wood & can add the possibilities of reflecting light, adding color, accents.

Don't like it.... Cover it later

Took you long enough to chime in, Tom.

**BoFuller** · 07-27-2016, 06:24 PM

Really. It took plenty long enough.
You want a written invite next time?

How's the project coming along, Cuz?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

**Tom Featherstone** · 07-28-2016, 04:55 AM

Originally Posted by BoFuller

Really. It took plenty long enough.
You want a written invite next time?

How's the project coming along, Cuz?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Give your bro a call... he has most of the details. I see you need to clean up your pm box. I tried to send you one cuz!

**CrossingtheRubicon** · 08-19-2016, 12:11 PM

https://goo.gl/photos/krjuJiTCbcz8pW7FA

Here are some photos from a natural plaster class I took recently. I think I've convinced myself that it can be done without too much effort. Need to get or build a mortar mixer and I'm working on an idea for a paristaltic pump to be able to spray the natural plaster and possibly even do the chinking with.

**slamasha** · 08-19-2016, 01:17 PM

Looks very cool. Do you have to use straw inside wall frames for the plaster to stick or can it be some other material?

**CrossingtheRubicon** · 08-19-2016, 01:37 PM

No you can use the old style wood lath or metal lath if it is stiff enough. The straw is actually coated with clay and once dry becomes like a solid. I'm going to use the straw myself because it will help with sound deadening and it is much cheaper than buying the lath. If I had an easy cheap way to get the lath I would probably go that way.

**Chief700** · 08-19-2016, 02:14 PM

Since you can answer questions and save me from doing any real research... Does the straw decompose, breakdown, or rot over time? There are 200+ year old log homes. Are there any straw bale structures that have been here for awhile?

Be Safe,

**CrossingtheRubicon** · 08-19-2016, 02:27 PM

As long as no moisture gets to it, it should last a long time, at least as long as I plan on living. I plan on isolating all of my plumbing from the straw with framing and drywall over the top of the plumbing bits, then natural plaster over it all. Cob is a similar building technique and there are 100 to 1000 year old buildings all over the world. You just have to keep up with the lime exterior plaster on those buildings. I'm no expert on any of this and although I did take a cob building class, I ultimately decided to build the log home for aesthetics and potential resale if I ever decide to sell in the future.