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Thread ID: 104863 2009-11-10 23:30:00 Sheets of Polystyrene johcar (6283) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
828929 2009-11-10 23:30:00 I have just removed some (horrible) "Castleside" cladding from our house. If you're not familiar with the product, think of "longrun decramastic tiles".

Behind the cladding was thin sheets of polystyrene, presumably as a cheap alternative to insulation.

I have got a taker for the steel, but what can I do to get rid of all the polystyrene?

No, I don't want to dissolve it with acetone - that becomes another disposal problem.

Any ideas?
johcar (6283)
828930 2009-11-11 00:02:00 How easy is it to remove the sheets intact? I am aware of theatre companies that have used thin sheets of polystyrene for building sets and backdrops (i.e. nailed to a thin wooden frame, and painted) as it's very light and makes it much easier to move around. If you could get the sheets off the wall relatively intact, it might be able to be used for something like that. somebody (208)
828931 2009-11-11 00:29:00 Fire. Metla (12)
828932 2009-11-11 00:40:00 Fire.

x2, that stuff burns great, heaps of black smoke.
wratterus (105)
828933 2009-11-11 00:47:00 x2, that stuff burns great, heaps of black smoke.


Great for poisoning your neighbours.
somebody (208)
828934 2009-11-11 01:12:00 How much exactly do you have? Cato (6936)
828935 2009-11-11 01:39:00 Behind the cladding was thin sheets of polystyrene, presumably as a cheap alternative to insulation.


It's not a cheap alternative, It's the new common as dirt building material. **** isn't it? And they wonder why they don't last anymore.....
pctek (84)
828936 2009-11-11 02:31:00 How easy is it to remove the sheets intact? I am aware of theatre companies that have used thin sheets of polystyrene for building sets and backdrops (i.e. nailed to a thin wooden frame, and painted) as it's very light and makes it much easier to move around. If you could get the sheets off the wall relatively intact, it might be able to be used for something like that.

It's pretty broken up - not many large sheets came off intact. It was only about 1cm thick, so pretty fragile...


Fire.

Like it! Unfortunately, neighbours live a bit close and incinerators have been banned on the Shore for some time now....


How much exactly do you have?

A pile about 1 cubic metre - currently held down by some heavy timber.... Hmmm. Maybe I could take the timber off and it would become a neighbourhood disposal problem... :)


It's not a cheap alternative, It's the new common as dirt building material. **** isn't it? And they wonder why they don't last anymore.....

This stuff has been behind the Castleside cladding for 40-odd years...
johcar (6283)
828937 2009-11-11 02:59:00 Polystyrene is a very common insulation method, particularly refridgeration. The panels that line coolstores are full of foam or poly.

If it was only 1cm thick I doubt itd be for insulation and probaly more to reduce movement of the tiles?

As for getting rid of it, I think you can dump it up to a certain quantity? We use it at work a bit and it just goes in with the rest of the trash.

Probaly easier to burn it or a dig a whole and bury it. Itl burn quick so do it at night after neighbours are in bed
hueybot3000 (3646)
828938 2009-11-11 03:34:00 If it truly is polystyrene, when it immolates it gives off phosgene gas - the stuff they killed the entrenched infantry in WW-1 . Not a good idea to burn in the broad daylight or the darkness of night . Officials may find the immolatee dead on the ground in the light of the next day .

It is banned as an insulating or moisture barrier in all US homes because the burning fumes are deadly and has been so banned for years now . It is considered HAZMAT and there is a premium charged in disposing of it .

What you really need for a moisture barrier is Tyvec, as it is variably-permeable and takes the moisture OUT and won't let it pass INTO the structure . Polystyrene just collects condensate from lifeforms inside the home (you and other homosapiens or bipedal humanoids) and promotes wood rot , black mold and dry rot to the frame .

I am sorry to hear that NZ building codes are so lax and unsafe .
SurferJoe46 (51)
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