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Discussion Forum

waterproof wallcovering

TomW | Posted in General Discussion on August 31, 2007 06:37am

I have an odd situation . My home in NH is built in a flood plain. It was designed to have as much as 3 feet of water in the lower elevation. The house has a stairwell that is conventionally framed that extends down to the flood prone area and I am looking for a wall covering that will not be damaged if it sits in water for a week or two at a time. 

A material that comes in 4 x 8 sheets would be preferred because I could easily make this into removeable panels that would allow the framing to dry out after such an event. Stair walls will be insulated with closed cell foamboard. Of course i’d like something that looks halfway decent and is relatively inexpensive.

Any ideas. 

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Replies

  1. GregGibson | Aug 31, 2007 09:27pm | #1

    Our local box stores stock sheet fiberglass panels, lightly "pebbled", that might meet your need.  It's a bit pricey, about $ 30 for a 4 x 8 sheet.  Thin, light, and I'm pretty sure it would be waterproof.

    Greg

    1. TomW | Sep 01, 2007 11:48am | #13

      Any idea what the brand name might be on those fiberglass panels. Any extra product info you can come up with would be great.

      Thanks.

      1. User avater
        IMERC | Sep 01, 2007 12:09pm | #14

        they're called FRP panels...

        they don't do well without backing...

        all big boxes carry them...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

        WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

      2. ZEEYA | Sep 02, 2007 03:49pm | #19

        Tom

        I installed these panels in a walk in freezer I downloaded this info as it was the first time I used the product it is in a pdf format you'll need adobe acrobat reader to open it if you don't have that program it's a free download just google it

        if you can't open it let me know I'll try to find the site I got it from

        Zeeya

  2. Hudson Valley Carpenter | Aug 31, 2007 09:38pm | #2

    I'd consider marine plywood covered with waterproof paint or varnish.  That's pretty pricey stuff so you might want to check prices on pressure treated plywood too.  I'm just not sure whether PT plywood can be primed and painted for underwater conditions. 

    BTW there are different grades of PT ply.  I believe that the better grade has twice the chemical content. 

    Try google for all these items.

  3. Hiker | Aug 31, 2007 10:37pm | #3

    What about hardi siding?

  4. Piffin | Aug 31, 2007 11:04pm | #4

    I am real cu5rious about this.
    Your needs imply that you are finishing this space off, but to my knowledge, any livable space is not legal below flood plain. All livable spaces must have the finished floor one foot above the denoted elevation. Any enclosed space below that must be built of breakaway panels.

     

     

    Welcome to the
    Taunton University of
    Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
     where ...
    Excellence is its own reward!

    1. GregGibson | Aug 31, 2007 11:09pm | #5

      Paul,  What you describe are, I believe, the requirements if the homeowner desires flood insurance.  But if the home is paid for, or even with a loan that pre-dates 1993, the rules don't apply.

      Greg

      1. Piffin | Sep 01, 2007 12:19am | #8

        That flood insurance thing doesn't work just on an individual basis like that. Here is more how it goes - If ANY individual person in town here wants to buy the fed flood insurance, the govt has to have it on file that our municipality has a food ordinance that reflects or imitates all the provisions of th e model they issue. if our town had refused to enact a flood ordinace, then the govt would not sell anyone here a flood insurance policy.They do allow for grandfathering, but it goes back further than '93. I am thinking '86 or so.So even if a person has property paid for and no loan, they are still not allowed to build in the flood plain here, and any renovations must meet the current code. 

         

        Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

        1. GregGibson | Sep 01, 2007 12:38am | #9

          I'm sure you're right.  We got nailed in 1994, and hardly anyone here in Albany, GA had flood insurance.  Today, most of the impoverished homeowners have allowed their flood insurance to lapse, and we probably have 5,000 single family residences that are below the Base Flood Elevation - in other words, they are in the flood plain.  People have short memories.

          FEMA came in, handed out money, but insisted that they buy a three year flood policy.  This was July, 1994.  So most of the three year policies terminated for non-payment in July, August, September, 1997.

          In March, 1998, we got flooded again.  Some had flood insurance, many did not.

          Greg

        2. User avater
          McDesign | Sep 01, 2007 12:42am | #10

          <a food ordinance >

          How's that?  Can't eat tofu, or summat?

          Forrest

          1. Piffin | Sep 01, 2007 01:28am | #11

            Cheez - I start using a spell checker and even it lets me down.but you are on the ball!;) 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

    2. TomW | Aug 31, 2007 11:15pm | #6

      I'm not finishing the space of for living space, just need to close in the stairwell. The area being discussed is essentially a drive under garage that has the potentisl to be 3 ft deep in water. It has all the necessary flood vent provisions in place.

      You have to get to the main floor somehow. Insulating the stairwell from the drive under garage. Not sure why you think I am finishing the space off. I only mentioned the stairwell walls.  

      1. Piffin | Sep 01, 2007 12:13am | #7

        I knew there had to be more to this.Those FG panels are probably the ticket for you then 

         

        Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

  5. mcadioli | Sep 01, 2007 11:40am | #12

    Hardie Panel  http://www.jameshardie.com/homeowner/products_siding_hardiepanelSiding.py

     

    regards

     

    Mark

    http://www.quittintime.com
    1. Piffin | Sep 01, 2007 08:01pm | #15

      Mark.Howdy. Are you here or there?Would you really use this for potentially extended submersion in water?The Hardie folks call for it NOT to be installed in ground contact and specify that it be kept well up off a roof surface where it might wick up water. I inquired about this and the answer I got was that when it wicks up water, if there is any freezing before it dries thoroughly, it will cause delamination.
      Maybe it would depend on what his climate is 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

      1. mcadioli | Sep 02, 2007 04:26am | #16

        Hi Piffin

         

        no I'm there ( but I'll be here later in the month) re Hardies..Hardies was started in Australia a long long time ago, however recent litigation over asbestosis claims caused them to move offshore. We have available a far larger range of products available for use than what is avaliable in the states and my experience is that it can be submerged for long periods ( although typical flooding situation is not long term submersion) however having said all that it should be noted that 1. hardies products in the States may not be the same as here and 2. freezing is not something we have to take into account therefore delamination could be an issue.

         

        regards

         

        Markhttp://www.quittintime.com

      2. User avater
        BillHartmann | Sep 02, 2007 04:29am | #17

        I have never used Hardiboard, but it is significantly different from hardibacker which can be used in wet areas?.
        .
        A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

        1. Piffin | Sep 02, 2007 04:41am | #18

          Hardi panel is what was in my thinking.But like Mark said, they have a range of different products from that company. 

           

          Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

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