Can you put sheetrock over plaster

While repairable, it will only crack again. Drywall will last long enough over the next years. I am not going to "fix" this plaster, as plaster is not the problem! I just realized I have the old lath and plaster on my ceilings and walls Some are in great condition and few are in need of a cover up The ceilings are in good shape with no cracks or anything.. I was also thinking of putting bead board paneling on the walls over the plastered lath? It will be important to find the ceiling joists above the plaster ceiling before installing any drywall to cover it.

The best way to do this is to use a Zircon m40 metal scanner. Any hits will indicate the small nails that were used to secure the wooden lath to the joists themselves. This is a way more reliable method than using a stud finder on plaster. I have had good luck finding the joists above my plaster ceilings by putting a strong magnet in an upside down clear carry-out container lid and waving it over the ceiling slowly.

I find that as my arm tires it is hard to feel the magnet pull consistently on the ceiling and that the lid technique is superior. I mark a couple nails on each side of each joist and then snap a line across the ceiling. Thinking about buying an old house from House has a mix of knob and tube and shotty Romex wiring. Can I cut holes in the plaster to replace wiring in the home and then drywall over everything? Seems that will be the cheaper and easiest route. Weird I just bought my pops house that was the 1st house built on the block and its a s place The previous owner of my new house used drywall compound over the plaster and lathe and made.

How much scraping should I do to prepare the surface? These strips add stability to the drywall and provide a straight, uniform angle. Cut a strip of corner bead tape to length. Fold the tape down the middle, between the strips, to wrap the corner. Folding the tape also stiffens it into a rigid piece.

Apply a thin undercoat of compound, as with the paper tape, and press the corner bead into the corner of the drywall. The tape should be installed with the metal strips facing toward the drywall. Next, run the knife over both sides of the corner bead to squeeze out excess compound from beneath the tape but not too much.

Apply a thin topcoat to one side of the corner bead, completely covering the tape on that side of the corner. If you try to mud both sides of the corner, the second side you mud will pull the other side of the tape out of the compound and you have to start over.

On outside corners, use a rigid metal corner bead for additional strength along the protruding corner seam, covering it with compound just like the inside corners. When mudding any seam, apply thin coats and feather the compound outward. Drying time depends on air-moisture conditions, thickness of the coat and other factors. Heating the room will quicken the drying time. After the first coat dries, scrape away any dried chips or smudges and sand the surface smooth.

It may help to thin the second coat of compound with a little water before applying. Each coat should be thinner than the last. Adding water to the mixing bucket also helps to smooth out any lumps in the compound. Gradually add successive coats, feathering the compound.

Any visible ridge can be sanded down later. With the successive coats, use broader putty knives for a smoother finish.

Before painting or papering the new drywall, sand the final coat smooth. A moist sponge will also help remove drywall dust from the surface. Consider the integrity of the plaster before hanging drywall over it.

In most cases, plaster that is in good condition is a much harder and more stable wall material. In some cases, drywall is inappropriate for the period of the home. Plaster that only has a few cracks is easy to repair with a skim coat of finish plaster. In addition to holding a degree in paralegal studies, she has more than 10 years of experience renovating newer homes and restoring historic property. By Lee Carroll Updated December 10, Related Articles.

Remove electrical face plates covering outlets and light switches with a flat-head screwdriver. Pull out the spacer boards after the wall is complete, and move the boards to the next wall.

Tip In some cases, plaster is much thicker than you realize. There is special drywall Type X that you can buy with a slightly different core, that is rated for one hour of controlling the spread the fire. How the fire resistance of drywall compares to plaster is not a simple question.

Old-fashioned plaster installed on wood lath was a tinder box. Now plaster is installed sometimes on metal lath which is a different story. Drywall is pretty easy both to install or repair. That said, the mudding and taping are more difficult, and you need them done well to have a professional-looking job. Nevertheless, if you're ready for a change, installing drywall over tired plaster will give you a classy, modern, neat, and beautiful look.