What a job. I thought taking off the plaster and the lathe was a job, but this is going to beat all. First you tape, then you put plaster. Let that dry and then plaster again. Let that dry and then plaster again. Of course these only goes over the seams, but once that is dry, then its sanding. What a job.

I've started upstairs to get practise before I get to the downstairs. I so enjoy doing this type of work, but it is hard.

Anyone else done this type of work in their homestead? Any tips to making it easier?

You have my sympathys. I had to gut and re-drywall all of the rooms in my old farm in MI. The previous owner was trying to be a "part-time" farmer. He started tearing out the walls in the old house, some say he was looking for the orginal owner's money hiding place, not remodeling.

I was lucky enough to have help from my sister and neighbor (I bartered two of my ponies and tack for his daughters for his help).

It's a hard job. Especially putting up new ceilings! Let me know if I can help!

http://img17.photobucket.com/albums/v50/SusieJD/Happy/My%20Name/Susie_1.bmp

Good for you! :hurray: I may have to holler for advice...DH decided he wants to drywall upstairs ourselves........I don't ever remember saying I wanted to do this, lol!!!

the only tip I know is wet sanding. You plaster the joins as smooth as you can, then when dry, you use a sponge, wet to wet sand the plaster. It smooths the joints and patches without a lot of dust to breathe.

BUT it is so caustic on your nails that it practically lifts your nails off your fingers. Wear rubber gloves.

We're doing the tapeing now on our house. The damp sponge, mentioned before works real good. Are you texturing too? We aren't, so the tapeing has to be real smooth.
lacyj

Margery, can you explain that better. Both dh and I are trying to figure it out.

So you wet the sponge, then wet the plaster - now what?

We've done so much drywalling over the years that I absolutely hate it now. Dh is this very moment tearing out the fold-down attic steps, so that means drywall will have to go up, ugh!

CJ, you dampen your sponge so it's not too wet and then lightly rub it over your plaster til it is smooth. If you rub too hard or the sponge is too wet it will take off too much plaster or gouge into it. You'll get the feel for it after a few minutes. Oh, and rinse your sponge out often so you don't get plaster build-up which will cause scratches and your surface won't be smooth. It is a whole lot less mess than sanding; the sanding makes tons of dust and it finds it's way through the whole house somehow.

Thank you Dana. Now I'm going to try that and see how it works. I hate the thoughts of sanding and if this does the trick, I'll be doing a :hurray: .
I'll try that tomorrow when I'm not quite so tired.

CJ..The wet sanding technique works great. My Hubby has done many, many jobs where new wall-board was put up & needed taping & sanding. Try it you will be amazed.

Liz, I tried it and its totally amazing. I couldn't believe it and when dh came home yesterday from work I showed him. All he kept saying was "I'd never have believed it, if I hadn't seen it". No sanding for me!! :)

Yea! Glad it's working for you, CJ!!!