Hanging Drywall Over Plaster Walls

When attaching sheets of drywall always make sure you start at the top of the wall and always install your drywall sheets horizontally.

Hanging drywall over plaster walls.

A practical and economical solution to make old walls look as good as new is to hang drywall over plastered walls. This is the most effective way to attach drywall over plaster. Screws and screws with masonry anchors for heavy items are your best choice for hanging things on plaster walls without picture rail. You need to check the fit before you press the drywall to the wall.

Instead use a screw because they won t break the plaster wall. Attach your drywall over the plaster. Scrape any crumbled plaster off the lath and fill the resulting hollow with a patch of drywall. Use drywall screws to attach the drywall to the joists or lath.

It is not always possible to repair plastered walls especially in old homes. It s made from gypsum calcium sulfate which is ground up made into plaster and pressed between paper in the factory. They are typically spaced 16 inches apart from center to center. Using 1 4 inch sheets you can cover old imperfections without adding too much additional finish work.

It usually comes in 4 8 or 12 foot lengths. As mentioned earlier avoid using nails on plaster wall because they will likely cause the drywall to crack. This piece doesn t have to be a perfect fit. Drywall is the most common type of finish for walls and ceilings.

Plaster screws have a washer type fitting that helps prevent the plaster from cracking. Covering plaster with 1 4 inch drywall will achieve the same if not greater thickness as 5 8 inch drywall on the studs which is quite good. Using a caulk gun apply a generous amount of liquid nails to the surface onto the wall. For lighter items simply screwing into the plaster with a 1 1 4 drywall screw is usually enough to get the job done.

This message has been edited by lawrence edited. Drywall is available in different thicknesses up to 5 8 of an inch. They can generally support pictures of up to 20 pounds. Cut a piece of drywall to fill any holes.

Hanging drywall over cracked or damaged plaster can give your rooms a face lift. Cut a small hole in the ceiling to locate a joist if there isn t one already. Repairs take much work and can destabilize the walls even further.