DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Hi DIY sages,

We are putting up a pair of stud walls with interior sliding doors between them. These stud walls are filling a knock through that had been carried out many years before.

In the picture attached the room the camera is taking the photograph from we do not want to completely redecorate, especially as the ceiling joins the walls with a broad plastered curves.

When we install the stud wall we are unsure if we should;

A - install the stud wall flush with the existing wall and apply a thin layer of feathered skim across the join with some jointing tape. The feather the paint job into the existing, decorated room.

B - accept setting back the stud wall by 3-5cm so the studwall becomes a shallow recess. This would be to try to reduce the visible cracking by relegating it to corners. The we would build some shelves either side of the doors to make it all feel more legitimate.

Our big fear with option A is that we have to live with endless cracking along the joint line ith the stud wall.

Hi dodger2303,
Assuming that the grey walls are existing and the white walls are what you will be installing, if the grey walls are masonry you are unlikely to achieve a join which does not crack longer term.
If the grey walls are stud walls you will need to cut back the existing plasterboard to 1/2 way across the existing studs. You will then need to cut back the surface skim layer of the surrounding plaster so you have sufficient depth for the scrim. Fit the new plasterboard add scrim and plaster - dampen the existing plasterboard before you plaster.
Regards S