The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
First Aid For The Ailing Houses
Should the plasterboard or wallboard sheets be butted close together, the joints can sometimes be cut out to form a V, which can be sized and filled, although with no assurance of permanence. Usually a better remedy is to nail strips of wood over the joints, 1/8 inch thick and 2 inches or more wide; the panels thus formed can be painted or papered, and the strips painted or stained an appropriate color.
When plasterboard or wallboard bulges, it will be from absorbed moisture from the front or back; in such cases it will usually be found that the sheets have been butted so closely together as to prevent expansion. The only sound remedy is to replace the offending sheets with new, although removal and trimming is a possible (but difficult) job. Insufficient number of nails or improper application will also cause bulging.
Insulating wallboards can be finished with casein paints and with resin-emulsion water paints, without sizing. For oil paints, sizing is required with a solution of 11/2 pounds of chip glue in 1 gallon of water, a commercial glue size, or a varnish size. For papering, the surface can be made smooth with glue size thickened with powdered whiting to a medium stiff paste. This can be brushed on, and then brought to a smooth surface with a rubber squeegee, such as is used for drying windows.
Plasterboard does not require sizing before applying casein and water-emulsion paints. For oil paints and for wallpaper, varnish size should be used.
Wallboards or plasterboard may be applied directly over old walls. If the old wall is so badly cracked that repair is difficult, it is often easier to use a complete covering of one of the dry-wall materials than to attempt repairs. This should be nailed through the old-wall surface directly to the studs. Longer nails will have to be used, but the board will be firm and free from danger of loosening.
Plywood is now available in a great number of handsome surface types and in different shapes. One of the most popular types is a plywood with an outer veneer of an expensive wood, cut into block or plank shape. This can be fastened to a wall by adhesive, special metal clips, or nails. The adhesive and metal clips provide the best methods because they do not leave visible signs of fastening.
Special striated woods are available, and high-grade mahogany and other fine woods are to be had in plywood panels. The edges of these are carefully cut at the mill so that they will match without trimming or planing.
