Drywall over uneven interior stucco surface. Urgent Project!!
by
Lou
+1
We intend to have drywall installed over our interior brick fireplace wall that is covered by uneven and jagged edged synthetic stucco. The area is 8' x 5.5' wide. Two photos are attached. Please suggest how to install drywall over such a surface. I hope to apply 3/4" plywood over the fireplace wall then drywall over the plywood. Note, the fireplace is no longer used and the firebox opening will be covered. The hearth has been removed and replaced with engineered hardwood flooring. I am a novice. Thank you
OK! My suggestion is "Save your Money"! Knock off the highest parts of the texture, clean it very well with TSP or something similar and then skim coat it! Now I CAN do drywall (sorta kinda) but I hired a pro to do this as these walls were 18 ft tall! This in a new bathroom which used to be an outside area with stucco on it and it came out beautifully! Even though this is above a wet area it has held up great. So, give it a try! You can always drywall over it if you don't like it.
Google "How To Direct Stick Plasterboard Over A Brick Wall". There are a number of videos. So long as you are not planning on hanging anything off of the drywall, this should be fine. If you are thinking of putting up shelving, you will need to attach strapping and then drywall. Google "How to Cover a Brick Wall With Drywall". It may look a little daunting but I'm sure you can handle it.
I would glue and screw 1X2 boards to the fireplace 16" on center like building a wall. Use concrete screws into the mortar joints. Use a level to make sure the boards are plumb (up and down). Shim as needed. Then screw the drywall to the 1X2's. Less trouble than trying to smooth or level the wall and saving money on 3/4" plywood. If your plan is just to cover the fireplace, since it's never used, you can try removing the brick and rebuilding the wall even with the existing wall.
I'd frame it out, deeper on the outside edges, tack strips on the inside. Make it look like shallow shelves or deeper on the outside, trim inside with moldings and make a display wall focal point for art. drywall can be done by amateurs but remember to do thin (very thin) coats vs trying to put your "float" on in one heavy coat. Lightly sand with screening in between coats. Texture goes on last.