Anyone ever use plywood for interior?
BruceInPaauilo
| Posted in General Discussion on
I got a deal on three bunks of 5/8″ B/C plywood, and am thinking of putting it as the inside surface with battens every 16″.
We’re in Hawaii, where most roofs are corrugated metal. I brought 5000 sq ft of it in our container and because our house is surrounded by trees, I plan on using it for the walls as well as the roof. With metal on the outside (which does not count as structure), I have to have plywood. Normal folks put it on the outside, but if I out it on the inside I’ll save dollars, be able to hang pictures anywhere, etc etc.
A friend suggested it will echo too much. Then I got to wondering about fire danger. Anyone have any thoughts?
Mahalo in advance!
Replies
My WW2 era ex military house was built with plywood interior walls. It was more common some years ago. The good thing is it would make a good base for drywall should you ever decide to go that route.
They are a little noiser because they transmit sound well, but don't echo any more than drywall.
Thanks Dan! Just what I was hoping to hear.
Bruce,
My dad paneled the mudroom (an unconditioned space) in my parents' house 40+ years ago with plywood, but didn't use battens. I had already left home when he did the work, but I believe he rabbeted the edges of the plywood and used a wood filler in the joints. I have painted the mudroom and can neither see nor feel the joints.
Good termite food.
In my mudroom I ran t1-11 horizontally . I routed v grooves in the center of the factory grooves and then beltsanded with 100 and 180 grit, then sealed it. The t1-11 was leftover from a job so it was free.
Dunno for sure, but I seem to remember that the termites in Hawaii are so bad that just about any kind of wood -- other than pressure treated-- is prohibited by local codes.
And I'd also be sure to check the local codes for fireproofing. In most areas, interior living spaces must have some fire-resistant material -- hence the widespread use of drywall.
In most areas, interior living spaces must have some fire-resistant material -- hence the widespread use of drywall.
Every house but one that I've owned has/had some wood paneling in it somewhere.http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
Don't know about your code but ours mandates a certain fire spread rating for interior surfaces. Both wood and plywood pass. I think it was mainly to stop hippies using egg crates on their ceilings.
Plywood's pretty rough and the little imperfections hold onto dust like you wouldn't believe. It's also quite dark once you enclose an entire room with it. Paint will help with the darkness, somewhat less with the dust.
Scott.
My laundry room floor is plywood - well birch plywood which is pretty smooth - but it is a great finished surface. I cut it into squares and stained some of them, put four coats of poly and despite the rigors of having a washer and dryer bounce around on it, it looks fine.
>>>well birch plywood which is pretty smoothYeah... I assumed the OP was using basic construction ply...he said he had a couple of lifts of it.I agree... some ply (like birch or other hardwood ply) is fine for interior finish. However, your's is on the floor, and he's asking about walls. Different applications.Scott.
Edited 7/15/2009 12:46 am by Scott
Construction grade ply is fairly rough, although with enough coats of poly I guess you could get it quite smooth - nothing like birch of course. I did the walls and ceiling of a kitchen in a cabin out of 1/2" birch last winter. Large 4 ft squares which went with the cedar Panabode style while making it feel a bit more contemporary.
Butting the sheets was easy, but unlike my floor where the perimeter had baseboards, the corners between walls, and the walls and ceiling are very sensitive to the framing being out of square. They ended up being a pest to get tight.
I have 5/8" birch ply (painted) for shop walls, with a slight bevel on all sides for a minimal 'reveal' or 'crack' rather than battens.
Jeff