[questions about Fermacell]
Just an update, cos I know you're all itching to know ;-)
The builder was very amenable to trying something new, so we now have a bunch of partition walls in Fermacell. It's not been entirely satisfactory, I have to say. In sheet form the stuff isn't as rigid as I'd been expecting from the small sample sent, and this is definitely not helped by the lack of horizontal noggins.
It's also a lot more "crumbly" than I'd been expecting. The builders have had problems driving screws close to the edge without the stuff splitting (yes, they had the proper screws) - it doesn't seem any better than plasterboard in this respect.
They've also had a bit of trouble with the joints. Looking at the problem sideways, as it were, I think the problem here might be that they've not used enough jointing glue between non-cut sheets, so there are patches where there are little hollows to fill, rather than a long line of the stuff to chip off. Filler doesn't like Fermacell - the rough, fibrous surface makes the stuff go all streaky rather than smooth
- the same problem occurs over screw heads.
It's a good experiment though, and worth it for the experience. The builders don't seem dead set against using the stuff again, though they say they'd like to go on a course or something to learn any "tricks". Since Fermacell didn't manage to send me a DVD I can't tell, but perhaps the DVD would be a good resource for them.
We're nowhere near the "finishing" stage yet. One more question - is it worth going for the Fermacell Fine Surface Treatment stuff, or will a coat of diluted PVA and a roller full of half decent paint be just as good?
Hwyl!
M.