Replies

1. 
   Catskinner | Jan 22, 2004 09:28pm | #1

   I've done 3-coat plaster, veneer plaster, and drywall over ICF.

   I'd say the drywall is the fastest and cheapest way to go.

   DRC

1. 
   origamiboy | Jan 23, 2004 09:57pm | #2

        Thanks for your input Dave.

        One Q. If I decide to do a plaster finish, what do I gotta do to get the plaster to bond to the polystyrene?

   Thanks, Matt.

1. 
   Catskinner | Jan 24, 2004 12:53am | #3

   The two easiest ways I know are 1) staple wire lath to your nailing strips and go with a wood-fiber plaster like USG RedTop or 2) screw blueboard to the nailing strips and go with a veneer plaster.

   ElRey has come up with a proprietory nylon mesh and primer that goes right onto the foam and you plaster over that. I'd like to see it in use for a while and hear some success stories before I tried it.

   The veneer over blueboard is about halfway between painted drywall and 3-coat over lathe in terms of cost.

   DRC

2. 
   Catskinner | Jan 24, 2004 06:03am | #4

   I just realized I didn't answer your question completely.

   I don't think I'd try to get plaster to stick to the foam. With the exception of that new system I mentioned, typically you stick the lathe to the nailing strips and then the plaster sticks to the lathe.

   That's what the blueboard or wire lathe is about.

   It just depends upon what you want -- drywall is as easy as it gets. You can even use the same foam adhesive used to glue up the ICF -- typically it will say "foam panel adhesive" on the can. It works great for sticking drywall to ICF, just use a few screws to hold it in place until the adhesive sets.

   At the other end of the spectrum is the 3-coat plaster. It looks great, but it does take a whole lot more time, tools, money, and it's really messy.

   DRC

1. 
   origamiboy | Jan 24, 2004 11:18pm | #5

    I think that the product you mentioned by (ElRay)? Is the kind of thing I have in mind, a basecoat of some kind, not unlike that that is used in EIFS but with a 2 coat plaster topping instead of colored polymer topping.

      I think I will pursue that method and I will post my findings here when I do it , some time in july or so... thanks again,   Matt.

2. 
   shoemaker | Jan 25, 2004 02:21am | #6

   i know you posted this question earlier today but if you're still around ....   I'm in New York and the building code for a fire resistant wall is 5/8 sheetrock not 1/2 so take that into cinsideration.