How easy is it to fix plasterboard?

Legacy_user

I'm considering fixing plasterboard to a room that's been stripped back to the original brickwork, is it possible for this to be done as a DIY job?

flashg67

Doable for a competent DIYer, but like most things, takes practice and you may waste boards & time honing your skills!

I've done a ceiling, which was straightforward, just awkward (2 man job really)
I paid a plasterer to reboard & skim the walls of a room, so I'd say that's the trade you need

DaftyDuck

A plasterer will do a better job than you (or I), and will take no time in doing it.

FreeBear

Lath and plaster on the ceilings indicates that this is an older property - Are the external walls solid brick construction ?

If so, plasterboard and gypsum plaster are inappropriate materials that will give rise to problems with damp in the future. Also, as you will have stripped more than 50% of the plaster off the external wall, it has become a "notifiable work" and subject to building control involvement.

Have a read of this - https://www.labc.co.uk/news/wall-repair-basics

If you have a solid wall, you can mitigate much of the possible damp problems by leaving an air gap between the insulation and brickwork. Alternatively, use wood fibre boards and/or an insulating lime based plaster (hemp or cork) finished with a fine lime plaster. As this is a kitchen, moist air is going to be a persistent problem, and lime plaster would be ideal.

I did a refurbishment on my kitchen recently, and rather than tile or paint the walls, opted for a polished lime plaster finish. Worked out much cheaper than tiling and has given me a durable surface that isn't affected by moisture.

FreeBear

ruhe wrote: »

So on the inside of an exterior solid brick Victorian house that's been stripped back to the bare original bricks would it be totally inadvisable to put up dot and dab gypsum plasterboard straight over this and then skim coat it?

This was the plan and although haven't done it yet I'll need to possibly reconsider this as I've been given conflicting advice. Thank you very much for pointing this out!

There are very few plasterers experienced and capable of working with lime plaster - The rest will recommend plasterboard and skim because it is cheap, quick, and they won't be around when problems with damp surface.

Do your research on renovating Victorian & older properties. Have a chat with people like Mike Wye, and then draw your own conclusions.

having messed around with both gypsum and lime plasters, I much prefer working with the latter. Yes, it is a little more expensive, but it is much more forgiving. Lime plaster does take a bit more effort, and dries/hardens a lot slower than gypsum, although that can be an advantage.

ceredigion

ruhe wrote: »

Hi Daffy, Do you think this would have been traditionally more of a carpenters job or more of a plasterers job?

Traditionally the splitting of the hazel laths would of been done by a woodsman. They would of been fitted with "tacks" by a "tacker" a semi skilled profession in its own right. Then set with lime by a "spread"
We still call the fitting of modem boards "tacking" and people that specialise in it "tackers"

phill99

ruhe wrote: »

Thanks for the advice FreeBear! Only today I chatted with the bricklayer/builder and he did agree with your points. I've got the impression that it's not uncommon for people to just board over these types of walls.

Would plastering a wall be beyond the realms of a DIY'er?

It takes very little skill to apply plaster to a wall. However, to get a polished flat finished.....Well that takes a lot of practice.