What is NatureWall? – Can I Just Ask? | Ep.33

NatureWall was developed to bring the performance benefits of wood fibre internal wall insulation into contexts where conventional wet-trade systems are impractical — larger schemes, commercial projects, or any situation where the priority is speed, mainstream contractor compatibility, and dry construction throughout. Most wood fibre IWI systems originate from a heritage building background where lime plaster is the natural finish, and there are relatively few people who can execute that finish to a high standard. NatureWall replaces the lime plaster finish with plasterboard, which any mainstream plasterer can work with, while preserving the thermal mass, moisture buffering, and hygrothermal performance that make wood fibre the right material in the first place.

The system builds up in distinct layers, each with a specific function. A flat substrate — either existing plaster or a fresh plaster skim where the wall is uneven — is followed by rigid wood fibre boards dry-fixed to the wall. A membrane is then adhered and taped continuously around all junctions, window openings, and service penetrations to establish airtightness — something plasterboard alone can’t achieve, being a dry material with inherent gaps at joints. Timber battens are then fixed back through the insulation to the masonry, insulated between with flexible wood fibre, and plasterboard is fixed to the battens and skimmed in the conventional way. The battens sit in front of the membrane, which means services — back boxes, cables, pipework — can be run through the batten zone without ever breaching the airtight layer, resolving one of the most persistent problems with membrane-based systems.

The choice of membrane within the system adapts to the building. A highly vapour-permeable but airtight membrane is used where the wall needs maximum inward drying capacity — stone buildings, unrendered facades, or walls with significant wind-driven rain exposure. A variable diffusion membrane is used where more control over room-side moisture is needed, typically on buildings with greater protection or where thicker insulation layers require more careful moisture management. The flexible wood fibre between the battens also provides secondary acoustic benefit, cushioning the plasterboard and reducing reverberation. Long-term maintenance is straightforward too: plasterboard is a material any tradesperson can repair or replace, with no specialist skills or materials required.