DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

I am currently renovating a house and to be honest most of the plaster on the (brick) walls is in quite poor condition. I am considering drylining the whole house to give a nice finish that will be ready to decorate (paint) sooner rather than later.

I would appreciate any advice or comments on whether to:

Hack off all the old plaster and dot and dab

Or

Leave old plaster on and use wooden battens fixed to walls (or steel system fixed to walls) to fix plasterboards to.

I am considering using 1200 x 2400 tapered edge plasterboard but I am not sure which thickness would be best, 9mm or 12.5mm.

Also if I go for the battens option, would wood or steel be preferable?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

Hi Claretman,
If it was my project/job, i'd be knocking all the old plaster off as it is most probally past it's best and I wouldn't fancy working over it. Then i'd dot'n'dab walls. As a rule 9.5mm for walls 12mm for ceilings.
You could put stud work up timber or steel, it will have to be plumb lined and leveled, installing 600 centres for boards. But that adding more work so like I said D'n'D.
KB