Sheetrock over Plaster??
Yesterday my contractor pt up sheetrock over one of my plaster walls in my front parlor and in my entrance hall. I was very upset when I saw this as I had not imagined he would repair the walls this way. parlor wall was opened to install a split system A/C unit. He said the…
Yesterday my contractor pt up sheetrock over one of my plaster walls in my front parlor and in my entrance hall. I was very upset when I saw this as I had not imagined he would repair the walls this way. parlor wall was opened to install a split system A/C unit. He said the sheet rock was the best option because of the condensation risk. The hallway wall was partially rotted from water damage over many years from original radiator. He did not demo these walls just put the drywall over the existing damaged plaster. Was this the best solution? What would others recommend? He got very defensive when I asked him to walk me through the reasons why he chose that solution. I had anticipated a classic plaster repair job.
I am of the plaster is better group. I have a 5 story brownstone and have replaced and repaired plaster in many places on our parlor floor and in bedrooms, and used sheet rock in other areas where it was basically gutted — and I’ll tell you, there is nothing like plaster. I would not have admitted it 10 years ago, but I do now. There is a luminosity and solidness to plaster that even the best skim coating on sheetrock cannot replicate. But you have to find someone to do the plastering that really understands what they are doing, and in my experience that is not necessarily more expensive, although many people will tell you it is.
Don’t know about you all, but I can tell the difference between sheetrock and plaster in the “feel” of the walls and the “echo” of sounds in the apartment. Plaster feels more “real” for some reason. It seems more sturdy.
johnife, 7:23 here: I’m new to all of this and trying to understand whether there is any structural or aesthetic reason why one would choose plaster over sheetrock. In the case of a Rolls Royce and bondo, not being a car person, I assume that bondo probably doesn’t last as long or in some way damages the structural integrity of the car. If that is the point you are making, are you then saying that sheetrock is in some tangible way, beyond not being true to traditional techniques, an inferior solution?
If so, what are the issues with sheetrock?
If not, I totally understand. If I had the fortune of owning a $40k hand-made watch, I wouldn’t want it ‘repaired’ by installing a digital LCD to ‘replace’ a faulty gear mechanism.
My answer to your question, 7:23 (though I admit to a couple of instances of not following my own instincts – and regretting those decisions) is to pose another question to you. If you owned a Rolls Royce, would you repair a dent in it by filling it with bondo?
Ok, if per mahetia there is no aesthetic difference, if done well – then why would one choose the more expensive plaster option over sheetrock?
“Condensation” seems like a red herring. However, if the plaster is in lousy condition, and the lathe below is rotted away, sheetrock it a legitimate repair (actually, its a legitimate repair either way). Finishing it correctly also means dealing with changes to profiles (you are making the wall itself thicker by laminating sheetrock over it, which may mess with reveals, molding depths, etc.).
As noted elsewhere, if the contract says “repair wall”, you’ve sort of left it up to the contractor how to do it. If it says “repair in kind”, then he should be using plaster.
4:56 … there is none if it’s finished correctly.
I may be a little daft, but what is the aesthetic advantage to plaster over sheetrock?
If I understand correctly, it sounds like there was not much left of the plaster to repair. If that was the case in my own home, I would’ve taken it out completely before putting up drywall. Why add the extra weight to the house? In any case, it sounds like a lack of communication. Personally, I wouldn’t make him change it, but I’d make everything else clear and keep a very close eye on him.