Villaboard or Ply?

[ojoonline]

Hi,

I have just been reading a heap of posts about Villaboard and ply on this forum...

We are building in Far Nth Qld - ie. high humidity - I would like to use this lining for the raked ceiling and also the walls. We are using a steel frame.

I was looking at ply as it seems to be one of the only materials you can put small nails into... we have lots of small, light pictures to hang. Villaboard looks like it has an easy joining system for the sheets, whereas ply you have to use those plastic things or timber moulding. Also, our wall height is 2700mm and Villaboard has 2700 x 1200, whereas I have only seen that you can make special orders for 2700 x 1200 in ply - maybe that size is more expensive to use? I have seen that ply should be painted on the side that goes onto the frame, presumably to protect it from moisture whereas Villaboard is purpose made for moisture areas.

I would really appreciate any opinions either way!

Thanks,

jo

[echnidna]

Used to be able to get Villaboard up to 3600 long, I expect you still can.

I used to use it for ceilings on top of exposed beam rafters @ 1200 centres.
so there were no visible joins in ceilings unless it was a wide room.

Small pics hang off plasterboard walls quite ok
For walls I'd use plasterboard in 1350 widths so you can easily get 2700 ceilings.

[ojoonline]

Hi echnidna,

thanks for your quick response!

I am concerned about using plasterboard in the humid tropics - hence the Villaboard.

thanks,

jo

[echnidna]

Probably normal platerboard is ok but you can get wet area plasterboard which is designed for bathrooms etc.

Might be an idea to message rod the plasterer

[pawnhead]

You can get Villaboard in 1350mm widths as well.

[journeyman Mick]

Where's Medlow Bath? Sounds like it should be in pommy land somewhere. I live in a pretty wet area of the tropics, not quite as wet as Tully but pretty damn wet. Gyprock shouldn't be a problem and you can use those screw in plugs for your paintings. You may want to consider picture rails of some sort to avoid making a swiss cheese of your walls. Ply is a bit of a pain to line walls with as it tends to not want to sit flat. BTW, both the gyprock and villaboard are fixed in the horizontal position.

Mick

[rod@plasterbrok]

Villaboard comes up to 4.2 long.

As long as the plasterboard is internal you should not have a problem.

Plenty of plasterboard in homes in Darwin, Cairns etc.

Heaps easier to install than Ply or villaboard.

Cheers

Rod