Cheap(er) Wall Cladding???

Biffer2

I have an outside facing wall in my sitting room which never really warms up in winter and has encouraged black mold. I have now stripped back all the old wallpaper to bare plaster and intend to paint it with anti-mold and/or anti-damp paint. Now I need to decide how to re-decorate it. I'm worried about the mold coming back and am thinking that better insulation than just wallpaper and/or paint would be helpful.

The wall would look great in proper stone or brick panels, but these are mega expensive from what I can see. Wood-paneling, or at least wainscoting, would also look good, but decent paneling kits aren't cheap either. Can anyone recommend a cheaper method of either stone/brick-facing or wood-paneling walls, which would look good but also provide some insulation?

As an example ... is it possible to use (suitably wood-stained) plywood or even hardboard sheets as poor-man's paneling, used with proper wooden skirting boards and dado-rails, etc? Is there any disadvantage to this regards mold and damp? I've also seen bead&butt match board panels at B&Q which look quite decorative (though not as dirt-cheap as hardboard, obviously). So far I haven't found anything that could cheaply simulate proper brick and stone. Any ideas???

Many thanks!
Biffer2

goodmorningsunshine

I know someone who had similar but in a cupboard which was in a corner which meant 2 outside walls.

Their solution was to do as you have done, and remove all wallpaper back to the wall and paint with anti fungai treatment.

They then purchased insulation paper which was like a polystyrene
bought from B & Q, although I do believe they only stock a much more expensive version of it now. So we have tracked a stockist down to the DIY store "focus".

You can then paper/clad/brick over it as you wish.

The only problem I can see is if you wanted to strip the wallpaper, then that would need to come off as well, unless you buy paper called
renovator paper, which is available in 3 different widths and 1 roll or 2 roll lengths. It is as strong as anything, will not rip, try as you might, and they say if you paper over this the paper can be stripped and this paper will stay on the wall.

nobulljusttruth

If you want a stone finish, it may not offer much insulation unless the wall is clad in polystyrene first. The option for insulation and a paintable finish is to buy 6x4 sheets of foam backed plasterboard which can be glued direct to the wall or fixed to a 2x1 wood frame. There is no cheap method as all , it needs doing properly.
How big is the wall, and what would be the ideal finish that your would really like?
Stonecoat (decopierre) is a good alternative
Don't use hardboard, it will warp.
Even foil backed plasterboard will be better than nothing, and probably the cheapest option.

Good luck

Biffer2

goodmorningsunshine wrote: »

They then purchased insulation paper which was like a polystyrene
bought from B & Q, although I do believe they only stock a much more expensive version of it now.

Thanks for that. Yes, I remember using a flimsy, membrane-like polystyrene in another property. It was delicate stuff to work with, but did the job at a reasonable price. The 'equivalent' product now at B&Q is called Wallrock - at £51 a roll! :eek: In an ideal world this would be the thing to buy, but since I live in a council flat on a very tight budget, I'll have to wait for that Lottery win.

goodmorningsunshine

Biffer2 wrote: »

Thanks for that. Yes, I remember using a flimsy, membrane-like polystyrene in another property. It was delicate stuff to work with, but did the job at a reasonable price. The 'equivalent' product now at B&Q is called Wallrock - at £51 a roll! :eek: In an ideal world this would be the thing to buy, but since I live in a council flat on a very tight budget, I'll have to wait for that Lottery win.

If you have a diy store called FOCUS, then you can still purchase the polystyrene for around 5.00- 6.00 a roll. Oh, and yes it is flimsy but paste the wall with extra thick paste, then just slide the polystyrene onto it, will slide into position.

If you put the paste on the polystyrene, it tends to rip from the weight of the paste, believe it or not.

Yes, wallrock, but they didn't pay that much, maybe the price you quote is for the extra wide, 2 roll length. Must investigate just how much they paid and what size.

Doozergirl

Insulating plasterboard and then re-skim with plaster and decorate it any way younwant to. I wouldn't go with weird and wonderful wall claddings unless that's specifically what you want.

Biffer2

nobulljusttruth wrote: »

How big is the wall, and what would be the ideal finish that your would really like?

The wall in question is approximately 5.5 x 3.5m. I live in a flat in part of a Council property, converted from a 19th century warehouse, in a conservation area. Ideally, I'd like to keep a period look to the interior, but it all comes down to money in the end (like most things in life).

I did a quick internet search for Stonecoat, but amazing as it would look, it's way out of my price range. A more realistic approach, financially, would be some tongue-and-groove wainscoting. The downside with that idea is that the most economical examples from, say, B&Q, get poor customer feedback because of warping and knots, etc. It may well turn out to be false economy. If all else fails I'll just paint the wall and have done with it, but replace the hideous plastic skirting with proper wooden ones, and maybe a dado rail. Thanks for your input.

Biffer2

goodmorningsunshine wrote: »

If you have a diy store called FOCUS, then you can still purchase the polystyrene for around 5.00- 6.00 a roll.

Yes, wallrock, but they didn't pay that much, maybe the price you quote is for the extra wide, 2 roll length. Must investigate just how much they paid and what size.

Didn't FOCUS go out of business years ago???

B&Q are quoting £51.08 for Wallrock Natural Thermal Liner by Erfurt; 75cm x 10m x 3mm

Ruski

Delivered free too!

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Painting+Decorating/Wallpapering/Noma+Therm+Insulation+500mm+x+10m/d150/sd3252/p90379

HTH

Russ

Biffer2

Ruski wrote: »

Delivered free too!

Russ

Waoh! :money:

Great site, Russ. Thanks! They even have a variation on that Wallrock brand at a fraction of the price of B&Q.

goodmorningsunshine

Biffer2 wrote: »

Didn't FOCUS go out of business years ago???

Oopps:o

Sorry, I meant Homebase:D

Warmaline Wall Veneer 914 x 600 mm 4.99/roll
with great reviews on Homebase website.