Strawboard

[imroberts]

I've recently moved house and have found that the partition walls upstairs are Stramit 58 strawboard. I've never seen this stuff before and there doesn't seem a huge amount of information online.

I've established that there are vertical channels at 30cm intervals which makes for easy wiring.

The question I have is how I cut out and mount electrical boxes in the stuff? The strawboard appears to be coated with standard plasterboard and skim, so I can cut out a square with my oscillating saw easily enough, and I guess I could cut out a section of the interior the same way, but what kind of mounting boxes should I use and how do I mount them?

 

[Newboy]

Cut a recess about 20mm deeper than the backbox and use drywall adhesive to secure.

 

[SUNRAY]

Cut a recess about 20mm deeper than the backbox and use drywall adhesive to secure.

Plasterboard box. Cut an accurate hole in the plasterboard then enough of the straw for the box and finally some straw to allow for the fixing lugs.

 

[Newboy]

backbox and use drywall adhesive

Plasterboard box

Tried both ways (on quite a few occasions) and backbox and adhesive has been easier and more effective for me

 

[SUNRAY]

Tried both ways (on quite a few occasions) and backbox and adhesive has been easier and more effective for me

Never tried the adhesive but have done many with the PB box and found it so easy that I've not looked for an alternative.

 

[sparkwright]

If it's the strawboard I am thinking of, and I think it is...

If you cut a hole in the board, and cut some straw out, then leave it overnight - the straw expands and fill the hole up again.

With that in mind I think a dryline box is best - besides, if the box is adhered, future removal will be awkward.

 

[securespark]

Some of these strawboard walls are extremely thin. Check before chopping, otherwise you may chop a hole right through!