Hi,
We just recently layed tile on our bathroom floor. Before starting, we took off the rubbery/plastic trim stuff that was glued to the bottom of the wall (is it called a kickboard?). Anyway, it was stuck on with some serious stuff and it's ruined the drywall all the way round the bathroom from the floor up about 4-5 inches. There aren't any holes, it's just peeled a few layers down to the brown part. Are the methods described here the best way to fix that as well? We bought some drywall "mud" and thought the way to do it was peel away loose paper, apply the mud and sand then paint. Is this correct? Everything on the web talks about patching holes or cracks, nothing about this peeling problem. Thank in advance for any advice.
Leigh
COMMUNITY FORUM
If the only problem you have is peeled paper when the rubber base was removed you are correct. Just recoat it with joint compound (more than one coat may be required due to shrinkage) sand it smooth and repaint. Be sure to paint the raw joint compound with a good wall primer first or the patch will show through. If you have any areas with more serious damage that has compromised the structural integrity of the drywall you will need to use the fiberglass mesh described above or cut out the area and replace it.
Leigh, why not cover the problem with a nice wood trim or with a single row of 6" tile that matches the floor tile?
The reason that you have cracks in the plaster is that , over the years, the house has settled/shifted. If you just cover it up with plaster, it may well crack again. THus the need for tape or the fiberglas tape, which indeed is better and easier to use.
I agree that the best approach is probably to go on top of the whole mess with 3/8" drywall. Sometimes this may not be practical, though, because the additional wall thickness is not OK (for example, if there is a doorway in the wall). IN that case, you should remove the existing plaster and leave the lath, then go over it with 5/8" drywall (or whatever thickness fits). The only other alternative is to hire a plasterer...but he will not want to go over a base plaster that is not solid.
By the way, doing a "skim coat" of plaster is not a job for someone who does not have experience. It takes a bit of practice to get it flat, and the beginner will have a hard time getting it right, even if they do several coats.
