Hi
First post here, so go gentle on me. I'm not a plasterer, but I've worked in property, developing, renovating etc, even involved with building, labouring and have worked with and for many plasterers over the years. 99% of the properties we've been involved with have never had problems, or at least never been reported to myself, yet ironic enough, my own rental property seems to be a plasterers nightmare.
At the time of buying the property in question, the plasterer i was working with it the time was up for doing it. Him and myself boarded walls which required it room a time, and he skimmed it. apart from the kitchen which was completly boarded, most rooms had one maybe 2 walls boarded, the rests were solid, and were just skimmed.
Having worked with this guy on and off for a good 3 years, i know his work and know he is good. Depending on the room, some walls were pva'd and boarded over old plaster, others were taken back to brick PVA'd and boarded, a a couple were taken back to concrete (its a poured concrete house with a cavity and a brick outer skin) PVA'd and boarded. All walls were Dot and dabbed and boarded in 12mm, scrim taped, joints filled where needed etc.
Within about 4 weeks of the kitchen being plastered, every board joint had cracked. not big gaping cracks, but a very fine hairline cracks. We didnt think much of it, bit of easy fill sand paint. but they slowly came back. Next took it a step further, racked out the joint, filled, sanded, painted, again, cracks slowly came back. this pattern has been consistent on near enough every boarded wall in the house. just very fine cracks down every joint.
other plasters on jobs we've spoken to have had their opinion, some saying 'you didn't scrim it', i know he did, i was there). others saying 'its fine, its settling, just keep filling', others saying 'this happens, its just the nature of dry lining' and some saying 'this should never happen on plasterboard'.
We are at a bit of a loss, as i've honestly never returned to any job he's done for me or ive done with him and seen this. dont get me wrong, you see the odd one here and there, but not to the extent of this house. he even jokes about never working in this property again as it makes him look bad.
Any ideas? All the boards feel solid, even distribution of dabs, solid sounding. the cracks dont expand when pressed. Its even very solid sounding where the cracks are, so its not like its flexing along the joint. the wall on the stairs is particularly bad, as because of height the boards were staggered, but again, all very straight, along the joints, but the joints sound solid. One plasterer told me its the tape. And that scrim tape now days is crap, and we should use paper tape like the old days.
Thanks
First post here, so go gentle on me. I'm not a plasterer, but I've worked in property, developing, renovating etc, even involved with building, labouring and have worked with and for many plasterers over the years. 99% of the properties we've been involved with have never had problems, or at least never been reported to myself, yet ironic enough, my own rental property seems to be a plasterers nightmare.
At the time of buying the property in question, the plasterer i was working with it the time was up for doing it. Him and myself boarded walls which required it room a time, and he skimmed it. apart from the kitchen which was completly boarded, most rooms had one maybe 2 walls boarded, the rests were solid, and were just skimmed.
Having worked with this guy on and off for a good 3 years, i know his work and know he is good. Depending on the room, some walls were pva'd and boarded over old plaster, others were taken back to brick PVA'd and boarded, a a couple were taken back to concrete (its a poured concrete house with a cavity and a brick outer skin) PVA'd and boarded. All walls were Dot and dabbed and boarded in 12mm, scrim taped, joints filled where needed etc.
Within about 4 weeks of the kitchen being plastered, every board joint had cracked. not big gaping cracks, but a very fine hairline cracks. We didnt think much of it, bit of easy fill sand paint. but they slowly came back. Next took it a step further, racked out the joint, filled, sanded, painted, again, cracks slowly came back. this pattern has been consistent on near enough every boarded wall in the house. just very fine cracks down every joint.
other plasters on jobs we've spoken to have had their opinion, some saying 'you didn't scrim it', i know he did, i was there). others saying 'its fine, its settling, just keep filling', others saying 'this happens, its just the nature of dry lining' and some saying 'this should never happen on plasterboard'.
We are at a bit of a loss, as i've honestly never returned to any job he's done for me or ive done with him and seen this. dont get me wrong, you see the odd one here and there, but not to the extent of this house. he even jokes about never working in this property again as it makes him look bad.
Any ideas? All the boards feel solid, even distribution of dabs, solid sounding. the cracks dont expand when pressed. Its even very solid sounding where the cracks are, so its not like its flexing along the joint. the wall on the stairs is particularly bad, as because of height the boards were staggered, but again, all very straight, along the joints, but the joints sound solid. One plasterer told me its the tape. And that scrim tape now days is crap, and we should use paper tape like the old days.
Thanks
