Natural Wall Coatings: Info from Australia

If you are looking to decorate the interior or exterior of your home, take time to consider alternatives to the traditional paint or wallpaper options.

There are a number of different types of materials which can be used to coat your indoor or outdoor walls. These can have practical as well as aesthetic benefits and can add architectural appeal to your home.

Some products also have the added benefit of insulating your walls, an essential factor in reducing heating/cooling costs. Choosing a natural material will ensure that you are contributing to sustainable building design.

Sustainable building design

Sustainable building design emphasises the use of sustainable resources in the design and operation of a home. This includes carefully planning the following design elements: insulation, heating, lighting, ventilation, landscaping, waste disposal and noise. A sustainable building also utilises materials with low toxicity that are safe to work with and easy to dispose of or recycle.

Natural wall coatings

Coatings come in a variety of guises, including sprays, liquid coatings and prefabricated panels.  All these require the wall surface to be clean before application.  Materials that can be used for natural wall coatings, or a combination of these, are:

• timber – visually attractive though will have to be treated for longevity
• stone and stone aggregates – stone is attractive, durable but expensive, whilst aggregates are  more affordable
• cotton – available in a spray or adhesive form and often mixed with another medium
• cellulose fibres – natural fibres in spray or adhesive form, also mixed with other materials
• mineral flakes – different size flakes give texture to your wall, often used in combination with other materials
• flax – this natural fibre has historically been used to coat walls, and is a rustic option

Before coating your wall ensure that the material will adhere to your substrate. A supplier or installer can advise on the appropriate method. If you are coating an exterior wall, your material will also need to be treated for weather resistance.

Advantages

Natural wall coatings have a number of benefits for the interior or exterior of your home, including:

• safety – most natural coatings are low in VOC (volatile organic compounds), which are potentially harmful organic chemicals
• durability
• superior finish and appearance
• low maintenance
• acoustic benefits, such as reducing echo
• low odour

The original article appeared on the excellent Australian site- www.homeimprovementpages.com.au, which is well worth a visit. The copyright is owned by them, not us, and this article is reproduced here for discussion and educational reasons only.

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