Protecting Plaster walls

[pyroboy1der]

I'm in the design process of putting together a tank upgrade. I'm trying to achieve a built in look in my relatively small living room while still making it possible to remove the tank and get the space back without having to do major deconstruction/reconstruction after. I've got most of it figured out except for one thing.

My house is 65-70 years old and so has plaster and lath walls. For the age of the house they're in really very good condition so I'd really like to save them as best I can. My concerns are primarily the high humidity causing problems in the closed space above the tank but i'd also like to protect from the occasional splashes that will happen if possible.

I know I can install a humidity controlled vent fan above the tank but I have friends with tanks in larger rooms with a humidity controlled fan and they say they pretty much never shut off. I also thought about using an epoxy paint or one of those waterproofing paints like Drylok. That way if i need to take the tank out to sell the house or something I can just paint over the wall and it will still be in good condition. Has anybody tried this? Are there other products people have used in similar situations?

Here's the design mock-up I made that might give you a better idea of what I'm looking at. The add on section is highlighted in Red. The wall to the back of the tank is an interior wall and the wall to the Right is an exterior wall. There is a window behind each couch that is not pictured.

 

[theatrus]

Paint does work wonders, but you may still have to wipe off any mold that does grow as part of routine maintenance. Trapped super humid air is a recipe for things growing.

A combination of exhaust + paint is obviously the best bet - in the winter it may be advantageous to even humidify the house.

 

[woodnaquanut]

How about lining it with FRP (fibreglass reinforced panels)? Caulk the joints and you'd be good to go.

You still need to vent it so moisture and heat can escape and oxygen comes in.

 

[Breadman03]

How about lining it with FRP (fibreglass reinforced panels)? Caulk the joints and you'd be good to go.

You still need to vent it so moisture and heat can escape and oxygen comes in.

You mean like the stuff in a shower surround?

 

[woodnaquanut]

You mean like the stuff in a shower surround?

It's kind of like that. Comes in flat sheets at HD and such. Just google 'frp panel'.

Screw it to the wall and caulk the seams. Water proof.

 

[pyroboy1der]

The FRP looks interesting but everywhere suggests glueing it to the wall like a bathtub surround and that sounds like more work to remove than I'd like. I know you suggest screwing it to the wall but plaster walls don't take screws nearly as nicely as Drywall does. It's like trying to screw into cement. Either it chips out and doesn't hold or you can't get in at all.

 

[woodnaquanut]

The FRP looks interesting but everywhere suggests glueing it to the wall like a bathtub surround and that sounds like more work to remove than I'd like. I know you suggest screwing it to the wall but plaster walls don't take screws nearly as nicely as Drywall does. It's like trying to screw into cement. Either it chips out and doesn't hold or you can't get in at all.

I hear you. That stuff is tuff!!

Other than painting you will have to deal with attaching something to the wall. You could use a small masonry bit to drill a pilot hole then go from there. See Scott, aka slief on RC, install FRP here -> http://youtu.be/E-LEVQj0bPc

If you can vent it enough, paint might be sufficient. Paint is NOT waterproof so you can't depend on it if there is condensing moisture.

 

[Shawn O]

Sounds like epoxy paint is your best route. Are there any electrical outlets or switches in the outside walls that could allow moisture into the walls?

 

[pyroboy1der]

I know normal interior latex paint isn't waterproof that's why I was thinking one of the epoxy type paints or the waterproofing type paints like Drylok. But reading up on those they all list themselves for use on concrete so I wasn't sure how/if they would work on plaster and wood. My hope is somebody has experience with them used like this or has other suggestions for products that DO work on plaster and wood.

Shawn that's a good point about the electrical outlet. There is a GFCI outlet on the internal wall so I'm not super concerned about condensation from temp difference but humid air could still get in the wall and cause trouble. Anybody have suggestions for outlets that would work?