Calling all artists! Does plexiglass grow mold? Can you use it for walls? How to paint?

Question

Truthfully, I figure it's my kreative kin who can help me with this one. Most folks think traditionally, and answer that to keep moisture out of our walls, follow Lowe's mold killing and renovating instructions.
Nah, I've got moderate alleriges in just six months' living here, and I want to do something WAY more original.
So, please hit me with your best, not quite-too-expensive wall ideas!
And tell me how to texturize them, make them opaque if need be, whatever you think will spice it up!
Thank you so much!

Answer 1

The good news is that plexiglass does not grow mold, that it can be painted with acrylic paint (it is acrylic).
The bad news is that it will be frightenly expensive to put it on walls and truely seal it. Just using it as paneling will leave cracks and it expands and contracts more than other (cheaper) materials. Sealing (gluing) the edges to each other will involve nearly an inch at the corners of a standard size room.

Answer 2

given that mold can grow on plastic if the humidity is high enough I don't think that plexiglas walls will be a solution. And as Megg pointed out you trap all humidity that you produce just breating not too mention any hot showers you may want to take. If you want a cheaper way of sealing yourself in, how about wallpapering your place with plastic shopping bags.... but it's not going to solve any mold problems.

Regardless what you may think about it's creative value, lowering the humidity will be the most effective solution you can use. Like round wheels may be not very creative, but they do work way better than square ones.

Also even if you seal yourself successfully in from any mold in your walls, the humidity also will affect the structural stability of your walls and eventually the house will fall down around you.

Though you could think about creative solutions about lowering the humidity....

Answer 3

Now, the issues with using plexi are much bigger than conventional materials. 1: it doesn't breathe, so it can trap moisture. I'm sure you've seen windows with condensation trapped inside.... Also, if you have a mold problem, it may be deep inside the walls. And it can become a serious health hazard, including brain damage...

You need your support 2x4 beams and insulation to keep temperatures and heat/elec. bills decent. So there's not too much you can do for traditional methods there. Now, you can always look into beadboard at lowes and see what kind of materials you can work with there.

And to opaque and give grit to your plexi dreams, use sandpaper. You can gesso them with something with even more texture, like garnet.

Or use gel medium to suspend your own pigments, makes a real interesting texture (I've used plexi, gel medium, and powedered charcoal a bit in my work).