Strammit board / straw walls and plaster cracks

jacko220

Stramit has made a comeback, just fill in the cracks in the plaster with polyfilla and sand the surface, cracks like yours at the door head is quite common.

GDB2222

We had a bungalow with a Stramit roof, with a thin copper covering. I walked on it, and it was quite sturdy. We had a major fire, but the roof didn’t burn. The main problem was that it was noisy when it rained. 

For internal partition walls, I don’t think there’s much wrong with Stramit, and I personally wouldn’t rip it out. Possibly the sound insulation could be a problem?

You might just try decorator’s caulk in the cracks?

ashe

GDB2222 said:

We had a bungalow with a Stramit roof, with a thin copper covering. I walked on it, and it was quite sturdy. We had a major fire, but the roof didn’t burn. The main problem was that it was noisy when it rained. 

For internal partition walls, I don’t think there’s much wrong with Stramit, and I personally wouldn’t rip it out. Possibly the sound insulation could be a problem?

You might just try decorator’s caulk in the cracks?

I'm not in a rush to rip it out unless it ever minute really fails e.g a bathroom leak, like I say the entire upstairs is made with it so would be a major construction task to replace all the walls so not keen on going down that route!

wouldnt decorator caulk show up when painted?

GDB2222

Caulk is more flexible than filler, so it may be better for those cracks. 

Two caveats:

I am useless at decorating and have low standards.

Somebody will be along in a minute with details of a highly flexible filler.  

stuart45

Caulk is a flexible filler, and popular with painters because it's quick and easy to use. However, if it was better than tape and fill for the wall/ceiling junction it would be used all the time as it's a lot quicker.
In general you will find that if you tape and fill a joint or crack it will last a lot longer than caulk, or just filler. 
The majority of pro painters won't tape and fill because of the time involved.
Most people seem to accept the cracks coming back after a year or less.

ashe

stuart45 said:

Caulk is a flexible filler, and popular with painters because it's quick and easy to use. However, if it was better than tape and fill for the wall/ceiling junction it would be used all the time as it's a lot quicker.
In general you will find that if you tape and fill a joint or crack it will last a lot longer than caulk, or just filler. 
The majority of pro painters won't tape and fill because of the time involved.
Most people seem to accept the cracks coming back after a year or less.

My concern with caulk is it building up, I think the lounge was caulked along the ceiling and as such there isn't a smooth corner line along the ceiling it's slightly rounded, and this has lifted slightly over time so putting more on will only build on top of that I guess 

stuart45

If you have the time, it's worth having a go at tape and fill. Knauf fill and finish is easy enough to use. 

FreeBear

stuart45 said:

If you have the time, it's worth having a go at tape and fill. Knauf fill and finish is easy enough to use. 

And Fill & Finish can be wet sponge sanded to blend it in - I like the stuff for small repairs here.

GDB2222

Could you guys come and do my house for me, please?

ashe

FreeBear said:

stuart45 said:

If you have the time, it's worth having a go at tape and fill. Knauf fill and finish is easy enough to use. 

And Fill & Finish can be wet sponge sanded to blend it in - I like the stuff for small repairs here.

Ah annoying I've already bought something - I think without checking it was easy fill 60; am I better off getting some of this?