People who do drywall can also install PlasterMax, that is the majority of installers. It actually takes LESS time to install than drywall. Link to read more is http://www.barrett-inc.com/plastermax.php

Thanks for the replies.

Still, though, I haven't heard from a single person, builder or home owner, who actually used it.

Would love to hear from some.

I really think these manufacturers have a marketing problem. Although the point brought up that labor alone was several times the cost of drywall is probably the main issue. I was thinking of applying it myself. May find out why it is not much used.
I wouldn't keep asking about this but I HATE drywall.

We have used the Gigacrete products for many years. The first project was probably about 2006. This project utilized two full tractor trailer loads of material. There have been no negative issues with their product in all of our applications since. We find excuses to recommend and apply Gigacrete products, both plastermax and Stuccomax. They have great products that require a little different approach than "this is how we have always done it" (similiarly to ICF). If you are trying to learn about a product, spend YOUR MONEY, go to the manufacturer, get educated, don't rely on the many inaccurate opinions on forums like this to make your decisions. These forums have tons of misinformation, poor advice that may not be relevant to your geographical area. Furthermore, many of the frequent posting individuals would probably not pass a your own litmus test for subcontractors. Find some local contractors that you can physically visit with on jobsites and make your evaluations based on your own factual observations. Get on a flight to Las Vegas, spend the weekend looking at the great architectural features along the strip, visit with the folks at Gigacrete and learn first hand about the products. You should be the same way with other producst as well, go do the research based on the ideas you learn on forums such as this, but don't rely on the forum posts as the basis for a decision. 99% of the time when things go wrong, the reason can be traced back to "operator error". Same is true with building a home.

Posted By Ian S. Giesler on 02 Jul 2011 08:52 AM
We have used the Gigacrete products for many years. The first project was probably about 2006. This project utilized two full tractor trailer loads of material. There have been no negative issues with their product in all of our applications since. We find excuses to recommend and apply Gigacrete products, both plastermax and Stuccomax. They have great products that require a little different approach than "this is how we have always done it" (similiarly to ICF). If you are trying to learn about a product, spend YOUR MONEY, go to the manufacturer, get educated, don't rely on the many inaccurate opinions on forums like this to make your decisions. These forums have tons of misinformation, poor advice that may not be relevant to your geographical area. Furthermore, many of the frequent posting individuals would probably not pass a your own litmus test for subcontractors. Find some local contractors that you can physically visit with on jobsites and make your evaluations based on your own factual observations. Get on a flight to Las Vegas, spend the weekend looking at the great architectural features along the strip, visit with the folks at Gigacrete and learn first hand about the products. You should be the same way with other producst as well, go do the research based on the ideas you learn on forums such as this, but don't rely on the forum posts as the basis for a decision. 99% of the time when things go wrong, the reason can be traced back to "operator error". Same is true with building a home.

Good points. Thanks for being the first who has actually used the products to post. I certainly understand what you are referring to. Still, if the product was in widespread use there WOULD be internet chatter. I am at this stage planning to use plastermax but will probably go with brick on the exterior. Not that I think gigacrete is a bad product. Forums can certainly be a source of bad info. They can also be a resource. About the only thing I disagree with you is that it is not up to the homeowner to fly to vegas to find out about the product. IF the manufacturer wants the product widely used, it is up to the manufacturer, distributors and dealers of the product to make information available to the public. If I were a contractor I would have already bought my plane ticket and arranged for training.

In the stucco and plaster industries, there are many training programs. For the most part on the east coast, these industries are heavily union, same goes with the west coast. Only in the south is the unionization of plaster trades not so strong. Because of the bad rap that stucco products have received in the press due to failures that are 99% installation error, the plaster trades and manufacturing companies don't necessarily market to "non-trained" applicators. As such, the limitation for you would not be to purchase the product, but to find a qualified applicator of the product in your area. It doesn't make sense for a company like Gigacrete to market like crazy, give away a job here or there, because the return on investment is not there.... they are better served by the distributor/applicator team that controls the product and insures every application is done correctly, this is not a product that will be mainstream home depot or lowes off the shelf, the knowledge base for these products is just not there. If you open a wall and ceilings magazine, you see many products touting venetian plaster..... I have probably yet to see these products in someone's house. The plaster and stucco industry (not including the pickup contractor that works on houses and changes the company name every 5 years to get out of issues) is a conservative industry, hence the reason why they aren't all on here touting how great the product is....

Before the recession there was a good market for Venetian plaster in the New York metro area. There are a lot of high end homes here, and people appreciate and are willing to pay for quality.

thanks Ian for the posts! We are looking for potential installers (drywall/stucco) but people are used to the way it has always been done. If you are an installer/contractor in Northern Fla and want to attend a seminar , please let us know! The company is willing to come and train us.
More and more people are learning the benefit of a green alternative to drywall. I recently talked with someone who removed a shower/tub wall and found their Green Drywall ( suppose to be mold barrier) was covered with black mold! Mold will not grow on PlasterMax!!!!!!!!!!! GigaCrete is developing new products to do it once, do it right!

I am 2 nd generation plaster of 35 yrs., we were also the first to do the EIFS stucco system in our area, the first to do the AAC (areated autoclaved concrete) and now we are a certified applicator in the PlasterMax by Gigacrete. I have completed over 2500 sq. ft and have a contract to do 36,000 sq. ft on a school in Ohio in spring of 2112, with another school in the same summer. What can i say, THIS PRODUCT IS THE BEST I HAVE SEEN AND USED IN MANY YEARS.

Ask me in two years. I'm about to finish the interior of my ICF basement with PlasterMax, 1000 square feet. I am the homeowner, I have zero stucco or plaster experience and limited drywall experience. But I'm going to give PlasterMax a shot because, like the OP, I HATE DRYWALL.

Natjwest. would you take pictures of your project, before, during and after ? I would love to see them and know how you feel after the project. Am confident you will like the outcome! Good luck! I am with you about the feelings of drywall.

I'am a certified applicator thru Gigacrete and I was told, that if you are not a certified applicator, than you will not be able to buy any gigacrete products. Believe me, PlasterMax is a very difficult product to use, even with 35 yrs experience.

Tootall, this is NOT correct! We are national factory direct distributors for GigaCrete at www.TheGreenBuilidngProductsStore.com GigaCrete does provide free training for installers but there are many professional and DIY who have used our products very sucessfully. People find our products very easy to apply, takes much less time that traditional products.  You also stated in prior post " What can i say, THIS PRODUCT IS THE BEST I HAVE SEEN AND USED IN MANY YEARS."

WE certainly agree with you regarding that statement.
 Anyone wanting more info please contact us at 877 904 8424 and we would be happy to assist you.
Callie Barrett