Howdy folks –
I’m working on a “green” reno of the folks place and am trying to see if there is any drywall alternative out there. While drywall / blueboard + plaster are the standard, I am trying to find products that are less energy intensive to produce, have a higher recycled product amount, or aren’t so nasty to sand.
I have considered fire-resistant homasote, but I don’t think it would stand up to the humidity of summer/winter shifts nor being in a cathedral ceiling. An otherwise ‘green’ product, though, I’d love to be wrong here.
Paneling is out, too, as T&G wood is not exactly fire resistant either. Heck, I’ve even considered putting in lath and plastering over the bare rafters.
Any thoughts or ideas would be welcome.
Replies
If you dont mind moving to the North Pole , it sounds like ice is what youre looking for ...... <G>
Tim
Mix mud and straw and make the walls 12 inches thick..very green with a high insulation factor.
Well, it appears we're headed in the gypsum direction, but are there ANY alternatives out there for walls or ceilings? Unfortunately we are not about to risk cattle infestation by using straw bales (I've seen livestock burrow into a strawbale house and eat the whole thing like termites - I swear).
Yes, the paper is recycled but the gypsum is as energy-intensive to produce as cement. But it is cheap and readily available. I've hung 12 footers before and boy is that a party. Not saying it's out of the question, I'm just looking for alternatives if they exist.
Isn't there some homasote-like product that is a little stiffer to deal with humidity better? There's gotta be something or I'm starting a company ;)
Mark
You can get drywall that also has recycled gypsum, made from job scraps. Check with a sheetrock supplier.
RWB