| Author |
Message |
    
Paddy
Citizen
Username: Paddy
Post Number: 185
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 1:14 pm: | 
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I have a room with plaster walls (heavily textured) that I'd like to put drywall over. Plaster is in good shape.
As long as I can find the studs, has anyone else done this and were they happy with the results. Or should I just take the plaster down? |
Jgberkeley
Citizen
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 4148
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 1:28 pm: |
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Either way, you will have problems to solve with the depth of electrical outlets, door-window jambs and moldings.
If I have my choice, I remove the plaster. In my opinion the depth problems are easier to solve, the finished project looks better and you have the by product of being able to inspect, repair or replace all the electrical, plumbing, insulation and framing in 4 walls. This way you can often slove a problem in a joining room from the removed side.
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bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7008
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 2:39 pm: |
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I agree with JG. Someone drywalled over the plaster in our sunroom and the window and door trim seemed to disappear.
Taking down plaster is dirty work, but not difficult. I think Sportsnut posted about having a demolition contractor do it for him and this might be worth the relatively small expense, even if you are doing the sheetrocking yourself.
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sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 1645
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 3:20 pm: |
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Bobk - good memory.
I had J&R (I think) out of union do this to an upstairs bedroom. They pulled down the ceiling, all four walls and the closet. Showed up with a crew of about five or six and were pretty much finished in the early afternoon. Total cost was $900. I also did this myself once.....once and I will never do it again (at least not a whole room).
As JG says it was perfect to run new electric, add insulation move fixtures etc. Now it is the warmest room in the house.
I also had the downstairs of my house skim-coated and ran into the problems above with the electric boxes and trim. If I had it to do all over again I would have used that money to rip out the plaster and insulate. The only thing I would have lost was the plaster crown moulding. |
Michael K. Mc Kell
Citizen
Username: Greenerose
Post Number: 485
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 5:21 pm: |
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Ditto... Gut it.. |
Travis
Citizen
Username: Travis
Post Number: 51
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 8:47 am: |
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I have to insert a voice against gutting plaster, at least not in every situation (I've taken down some plaster ceilings).... Plaster finish is far superior to drywall and wears much better.... Best thing you can say about drywall is that it is relatively easy to put up.... I know in these old houses the plaster may not be in the best of shape (I suspect remodelers broke the keys on some of our plaster with mindless hammering), but where possible saving it is better than gutting.... Insulation via blown-in cells is possible and way better than FG.... |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 585
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 9:10 am: |
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Also keep in mind that the sound-insulating properties of plaster are in a different league than those of drywall. Drywall is cheap, can be replaced/patched easily (which is good, because you'll be doing that a lot), and is simple to install -- especially compared with plaster.
But on the other hand, if you switch from all-plaster to all-drywall, you may feel like you just moved into a hotel room. Plaster can be a pain in the butt, yes. But it does have its benefits.
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kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 357
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 1:43 pm: |
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Who in their right mind would take down a "high-end" wall finish (in good shape) and slap up cheeseball sheetrock? I can't even guess what the reason could be.... |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 4873
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 4:55 pm: |
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Paddy didn't say why he/she wants to do this. Maybe it's because she doesn't like the texture.
Sheetrock doesn't really look bad, and it's more practical. Cost to put up is about one sixth that of plaster. We looked into it. |
Bobkat
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7081
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 5:09 pm: |
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No sane person is going to replace plaster with sheetrock. However, because of settling and age plaster cracks and pulls away from the lath. Sometimes there is no practical thing to do other than replace it.
Trust me, I know. I have spent days patching, taping and coating ceilings, only to have the cracks reappear in about two months.  |
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 358
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 6:44 pm: |
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Call me reactionary....I am horrified by all these McMansions with acres and acres of sheetrock walls. Who conned the American Home Buying Public that soaring ceilings, clerestory windows, sklights and wall after un-articulated wall of 10'-0" high sheetrock is something to strive for?
I cherish my textured plaster....cracks and all. I love the warmth, the solidity (the resale value) of my 1920's original plaster on wood lath.
In new construction, perfect walls are easier to attain by putting up two layers of backer board and finishing it all off with a skim coat of ....plaster! No nail pops, very little movement.
I am a firm believer that you should live in the home that you bought....don't try to paint a tudor beige and call it "fresh, bright and airy". Don't rip out original lumpy plaster walls - in good condition - and try to turn the space into a room the same way you would a basement.
Sorry to rant. Preservation of our 1920's housing stock is a big issue for me. I have sheet rock in some places where the plaster came down and I couldn't afford to replace it like the original. I am realistic and passionate. |
Bobkat
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7083
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 24, 2004 - 4:51 am: |
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In New England, especially around Boston, most new construction is done with a skim coat plaster system over "blueboard". This isn't limited to high end construction. My wife's sister added a family room on to a modest bungalow and they used the skim coat system.
Unfortunately, I don't think there are a lot of people who can do this around here. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 4879
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 24, 2004 - 12:41 pm: |
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Do fans of plaster walls also claim that LP's sound better than CD's? |
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 360
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 24, 2004 - 1:03 pm: |
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Only the people I know who sing opera say that! ;) (One friend even has her favorite copy of the same vinyl album....) |
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