Hanging Drywall Over Plaster Walls

Plaster screws have a washer type fitting that helps prevent the plaster from cracking.

Hanging drywall over plaster walls.

It s made from gypsum calcium sulfate which is ground up made into plaster and pressed between paper in the factory. This is the most effective way to attach drywall over plaster. Instead use a screw because they won t break the plaster wall. They can generally support pictures of up to 20 pounds.

The drywall should be the same thickness as the plaster. When attaching sheets of drywall always make sure you start at the top of the wall and always install your drywall sheets horizontally. It usually comes in 4 8 or 12 foot lengths. Drywall is the most common type of finish for walls and ceilings.

As mentioned earlier avoid using nails on plaster wall because they will likely cause the drywall to crack. Repairs take much work and can destabilize the walls even further. Cut a piece of drywall to fill any holes. For lighter items simply screwing into the plaster with a 1 1 4 drywall screw is usually enough to get the job done.

Use drywall screws to attach the drywall to the joists or lath. They are typically spaced 16 inches apart from center to center. A practical and economical solution to make old walls look as good as new is to hang drywall over plastered walls. Hanging drywall over cracked or damaged plaster can give your rooms a face lift.

It is not always possible to repair plastered walls especially in old homes. Scrape any crumbled plaster off the lath and fill the resulting hollow with a patch of drywall. One of the fastest ways to cover old damaged or cracked plaster walls is to hang drywall over them. 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.

Cut a small hole in the ceiling to locate a joist if there isn t one already. Using a caulk gun apply a generous amount of liquid nails to the surface onto the wall. You need to check the fit before you press the drywall to the wall. This message has been edited by lawrence edited.

Screws and screws with masonry anchors for heavy items are your best choice for hanging things on plaster walls without picture rail. Drywall is available in different thicknesses up to 5 8 of an inch. Plaster hooks or hanging picture hooks are a common solution for hanging pictures on plaster wall.