Interior permanent wall covering

[Northtwin]

Any suggestions on what to use on the walls of a permanent shanty I am going to build. Other than 1/4 inch luan,could I use cheaper wall paneling as long as I glue it to the studs. I am concerned that moisture might be harder on the paneling than the luan. If you have used luan did you put poly on it or some other finish

[Fish For Fun]

You should not have a moisture problem if it is insulated well and you don't over heat it. Have vents near the ceiling that you can open.

[toolboy]

Panelling is fine, as long as if it all wood. Most lumber yards carry masonite type panelling. This WILL buckle and ripple over time. The panelling used in RV's is your best bet.

[walleye-on]

Whether or not you insulate with styrofoam sheeting, you may want to leave, at least some of it, exposed. It is clean looking, light, easy to clean, cannot rot and is handy to stick hooks into (designate an area which can be replaced from time-to-time). Also, it is great to pin up your favorite posters, calendars, etc.. Depending on your ice shanty guests, you may need to choose to keep the posters "G-rated"! :)

[Hollis Uled]

Gee, Walleye-on I would nix the exposed styrofoam, I think it was 60 minutes or 20/20 a few years ago showed how dangerous that was. In a VERTICAL situation they showed that styrene burned more like kerosene soaked rags and emitted such toxic fumes that one or two breaths of it would knock the average guy out. A building inspector told me I couldn't have any exposed styrene up in a building that I have in an unfinished basement that we had tacked up to keep it a but warmer there for that reason.
The TV thing showed a room that they ignited the bottom of the styrene, it went up incredibly fast!! So fast that I think it may be very hard to get out of a ice house in time.

[stinkycat]

Not sure if milk house board is the same as luan but once in place it makes a great waterproof, easy to wash surface. I believe you can buy it at most home improvement stores for under $25 per 4x8 sheet.

[CI_Guy]

FRP or White Board would be the lightest and easiest to clean. I have a 1 x 3 piece of cedar at the base of the wall to stop water from wicking up from the floor, then white board above it on 3 walls. Between tracking snow in and drilling holes there is always some moisture on the floor. If I did it over again I would only have the white board on 2 walls. It can get to bright in there with 3 white shiney walls.
White board is the stuff they use for dry erase boards. It has a masonite backing so moisture can be a problem. The FRP is all composite but much more expensive.

[Dacotah Eye]

I used the FRP paneling (milkhouse boare) in mine and it has been great. It is waterproof and is easy to clean. All I do is take a wet cloth and wipe it down.

[walleye-on]

Gee, Walleye-on I would nix the exposed styrofoam, I think it was 60 minutes or 20/20 a few years ago showed how dangerous that was. In a VERTICAL situation they showed that styrene burned more like kerosene soaked rags and emitted such toxic fumes that one or two breaths of it would knock the average guy out. A building inspector told me I couldn't have any exposed styrene up in a building that I have in an unfinished basement that we had tacked up to keep it a but warmer there for that reason.
The TV thing showed a room that they ignited the bottom of the styrene, it went up incredibly fast!! So fast that I think it may be very hard to get out of a ice house in time.


Hollis,

Thanks for calling me on this VERY, VERY important safety issue. I have been fishing with guys that do the styrofoam thing in their shacks for years. MAN! Have they ever been lucky that no one has died and no shacks have gone up in smoke! I will definatley pass on the hazards of this naive, and deadly practice. Safety is Number 1! It's important to "learn NOT to burn"!

Thanks again.

[Magnus]

Re the styrofoam, I wish it weren't true about the flammability thing, its light and easy to put up with great insulating value. On a worksite a welding spark hit some that was standing upright, man did it go up fast!
But good luck in getting anyone to remove it. Most guys have the attitude of that "I ain't dead yet".

A friend does that as he and his family eats fish from the lake he lives on that was badly contaminated with PCB's. The state says not to eat fish from there but he points to a guy that has been eating fish for years and "HE ain't dead yet". Of course you can say that about the very rare very old smoker. Some people get away with stuff in life for a lot of other reasons. BTW his wife is very sick with mysterious illnesses. The kids don't look healthy to me.

[Northtwin]

How much does that FRP board run? Can you buy it at Menards , Lowes etc...?

[Dacotah Eye]

I bought it at Menards and I don't remember how much it was per sheet. I'm pretty sure it was more than $20 per sheet. The good thing about it is that it is permanent.