Good luck.

First off, I haven't dealt much with plaster personally. But I must say I don't care for the idea of either sanding or stripping what's there. A lot of dust and/or fumes in the air. Some of those can be really nasty.

Of course difficulties with one's parents (or in-laws) is outside the scope of this forum!--but heaven knows we can ALL use help in this regard! But I kind of like your mom's idea of putting on additional plaster. Now getting her to leave you alone....aha, this is another problem..., LOL Or maybe you can get her do it while you're both out, say for a couple weeks?

Good luck,
-k. in Colorado

It sounds like you are flirting with it being easier to just slap up a brand new, 1/4 inch layer of drywall and create a whole new wall surface, entirely. Doing so would also enhance insulation (sound and temperature). Drive the support screws or nails through the existing wall to the studs, making the old layers of paint and plaster irrelevant. Often, that is the simplest solution to these sort of problems.

As for your mother, there is a word you can use to prevent her from wreacking havoc in your home: "No." :-) It's your home, as you noted, and she should know your complaints more than any of us should.

[This message has been edited by Lawrence (edited October 25, 2003).]

Thanks for the ideas and also the mom-thoughts. What it boiled down to is "no" doesn't work with my mom. We came in one day and she just had the first layer donw...plastered over the entire wall, patches of paint gone, existing paint, and everything. There's about a half inch of plaster all over the new wall. It looks fine...she did a decent job after all, but I still worry it's going to come crashing down eventually.

One day I imagine we will have to do something more substantial, but for now the choice was taken away from me, resulting in a huge blowout and her being told that she's disrespectful and should mind our wishes. Which she didn't even hear. She goofed up our hard wood floors a bit too due to doing what she wanted when we were away and ignoring our "no's". Next step: changing the locks? *grumbles*

Anyway, when it's time for more house fixing tips I will most assuredly be coming back to this board and asking you people for input. Very helpful, and very reassuring! Thanks.

Heather