need to remove my tretex

[Danne031]

We have tretex on most of the interior walls in our house from '54. My wife has read way too much about how insanely dangerous it is today because it burns like crazy. The question is, do people think we should tear it down and plaster it, or is it basically just as good to just plaster over it? Alternatively, should we put up a new wall inside and add osb+plaster, which we plan to do anyway?

 

[tpsoft]

We have decided to take it down in our house and put up gypsum instead. It feels better with gypsum since it smelled a bit like a "summer cottage" when the sun hit the tretex, and it's easier to plaster and get nice walls with gypsum. It was quite a bit of work to take them down and pull out all the nails they were attached with, and it creates a lot of dust. We had tretex on both ceilings and walls in all rooms, and now there's just one left. Regards, Thomas

 

[JanneL]

Personally, I prefer Treetex. In my eyes, Treetex gives a room a cozier feel. I find that gypsum somehow feels colder. Tearing it down seems excessive. It's enough to put gypsum on top if you're worried about fire. If it starts to burn, I don't think a gypsum board makes much difference if it really catches fire.

 

[norrbottenstorpet]

Personally, I prefer Treetex. In my eyes, Treetex gives a more cozy room. I feel that gypsum somehow becomes colder. Tearing it down seems excessive. It's enough to put gypsum on top if you're worried about fire. If a fire starts, I don't think a gypsum board makes much difference if it really gets going.

Yes, gypsum is really good as protection against fire. Although, when you've put 10 layers of wallpaper on top, it burns quite well, too.

The Tretex, which I also happen to have on several of my walls, wouldn't meet today's classification standards for fire protection. Gypsum does and does it well. Gypsum and mineral wool (stone wool) are usually what's used to create fire compartment boundaries, so gypsum does add something good. Gypsum itself is non-combustible and binds water molecules. These molecules allow gypsum to absorb a lot of heat before all the water finally evaporates and the gypsum crumbles into "dust." However, the covering paper is "lightly" combustible but meets the classification.

Whether it's worth changing from Tretex to gypsum, if you're not renovating otherwise, seems doubtful. I wouldn't do it for fire protection reasons anyway (despite working in the fire-safety industry). But when you do renovate and need to replace materials, you'd naturally choose gypsum or something else that meets the classification. In fact, even solid wood actually meets the classification for walls in houses (not in public environments).

However, I would still just put gypsum directly on top of the existing Tretex since it also adds some insulation. Be meticulous with the corners and joints. IF a fire starts and it's "not tight" toward the flammable Tretex, then you have a hard time saving the house.

Do you have working smoke detectors?

 

[LLLVäxjö]

High risk that you will puncture the plastic behind the tretex when you are going to remove it. Might be something to consider.

 

[v-g]

Tretex also insulates which gypsum does not. This can be worth considering in older houses where the insulation is not always so thick.

 

[racer]

He probably doesn't have plastic behind it as it didn't become "standard" until the late 60s... I myself tear down all the tretex and burn it in the furnace, I can attest that it burns like hell.. I can't stand the "summer house smell" you get with tretex in the wall. More cozy with tretex on the wall someone said? uh hello!!! You can't get more uneven and uglier walls....if you want more insulation, just add a 45 and then gypsum and you'll have a great wall

 

[swecheck]

I have tretex on the walls in our house from '71, I just screw on drywall over it, and it creates a nice new surface to spackle and paint. If a fire starts, it's probably a lost cause anyway, as the whole house is built of plank. Losing 13 mm around the walls doesn't make much difference; there are also 6 mm drywall panels, which are probably more fire-resistant but may not hold up as long.

 

[glenn30]

same here, have only screwed drywall onto the tretex, works perfectly.

 

[Danne031]

Surely, you have working smoke detectors?

Absolutely, 2 on each floor

Thank you for your opinions, it feels like a bit of overkill to tear down all the treetex when there are planks throughout the walls anyway. Probably just putting up 45 studs inside and adding a bit of extra insulation too.

 

[v-g]

Think about what the wall looks like when you're insulating from the inside.

Can only admit to being guilty of using tretex as kindling in the furnace

Soak them in diesel and you have something that will ignite the sourest wood

 

[Danne031]

Consider how the wall looks when you insulate from the inside.

What do you mean by that?

Too bad it's a bit too much work to squeeze the treetex into the pellet burner

 

[v-g]

One should consider how the wall is constructed when insulating on the inside, as the zero point moves inward in the wall.

 

[Danne031]

Of course.., and if you feel knowledgeable and willing, please, I would appreciate more feedback in my other thread: http://www.byggahus.se/forum/isolering/121317-var-laegga-diffusionsspaerren.html

 

[v-g]

Unfortunately, I don't know enough, you seem to have puts as well and I know even less about that. Hope you get better answers from other combatants