Jul 03

The Best Substitutes to Drywall for Interior Wall Finishing

drywall

Due to its simplicity and low cost, drywall is the most popular interior finish surface inside most dwellings. However, there are choices! For the greatest natural, healthy alternatives to drywall for interior wall finishing, check below.

Barn boards as an alternative to drywall

barn board

What is it made of?

  • A variety of old-growth wood, including hemlock, pine, cedar, oak, maple, and other wood varieties.

Benefits vs drywall

  • Offers insulation
  • Eco-friendly
  • Coceals flaws such as cracks and dents

Potential downsides

  • Potential woodrot since it is not waterproof
  • Can be expensive
  • Can look dated

Browse beautiful and sustainable materials on 2050 Materials.

Tongue & groove as an alternative to drywall

room

What is it made of?

  • Hardwood
  • Engineered wood

Benefits vs drywall

  • Moisture resistant
  • Saves time, material and money

Potential downsides

  • Difficult to repair

    Browse beautiful and sustainable tongue & groove materials on 2050 Materials.

Masonry & bricks as an alternative to drywall

Masonry & bricks

What is it made of?

  • Cement mortar
  • Hardened clay

Benefits vs drywall

  • Stabilizes temperature
  • Offers insulation
  • Fire resistant
  • Environmentally friendly

Potential downsides

  • Bricks have a low resistance against tension and torsion loads, making them more susceptible to seismic damage
  • Compared with stone and concrete blocks, bricks are also less strong and durable, and limited in sizes and colors
  • Plasterwork is required as finishing, which raises construction costs.

Browse beautiful and sustainable masonry materials on 2050 Materials.

Rammed earth panels as an alternative to drywall

Rammed earth panels

What is it made of?

  • Gravel
  • Sand
  • Silt
  • Small amount of clay

Benefits vs drywall

  • Environmentally friendly
  • Adds a lot of thermal mass

Potential downsides

  • Are on the expensive side
  • Are terrible insulators in colder climates

Browse beautiful and sustainable earth materials on 2050 Materials.

Plywood panels as an alternative to drywall

Plywood panels

What is it made of?

  • Thin sheets of veneer peeled from debarked wood

Benefits vs drywall

  • Easy to install
  • t is resistive to shrinking, warping, twisting and cracking.

Potential downsides

  • It is quite difficult to cut
  • Prone to termite effect and may get damaged once affected

Browse available plywood materials on 2050 Materials.

Hemp wall as an alternative to drywall

Hemp wall

What is it made of?

  • Hemp hurd
  • Lime binder
  • Water

Benefits vs drywall

  • Non toxic, environmentally friendly
  • Offers insulation
  • Excellent for preserving healthy indoor air quality

Potential downsides

  • Has low elastic modulus which makes it unsuitable for direct loads
  • Low availability

Browse available hemp materials on 2050 Materials.

Cork panels as an alternative to drywall

Cork panels

What is it made of?

  • Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak tree
  • 100% natural plant tissue

Benefits vs drywall

  • Affordable
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Easy to control dust and dust mites

Potential downsides

  • Vulnerable to damage
  • Lightens when exposed to sunlight/UV

Check the available cork materials on 2050 Materials.

Lath & plaster as an alternative to drywall

Lath & plaster

What is it made of?

  • Wood
  • Metal
  • Gypsum

Benefits vs drywall

  • Has sound-blocking properties
  • Energy efficient

Potential downsides

  • Poor wifi signals
  • Hard to hang things

Browse beautiful and sustainable earth materials on 2050 Materials.

Natural mud finishes as an alternative to drywall

Natural mud

What is it made of?

  • Natural mud

Benefits vs drywall

  • Eco-friendly
  • Can provide fairly warm atmosphere during summer and winter time

Potential downsides

  • Low resistance to stains
  • Not moisture resistant

Now that you are familiar of healthier, more environmentally friendly, formaldehyde-free, and VOC-free alternatives to drywall for wall finishing, visit 2050 Materials to discover more sustainable interior finishing options.

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