I'm renovating my 1950's home and have noticed that the existing walls feel super tough, almost like cement. They're quite a hassle when it comes to drilling for things like outlet boxes, but I'm thinking this could actually be a blessing in disguise. I'm considering finishing my basement and want to use the same type of material to make it resistant to any damage from future tenants. What materials should I look into that would be suitable for this?
3 Answers
Honestly, if you're really worried about damage, regular drywall paired with a good security deposit might be the easiest approach. Plus, conducting thorough background checks on your tenants can help too.
It sounds like your walls are made of old-school lath and plaster, which is indeed very hard and durable. If you're looking for something similar that’s easier to work with, you might want to consider:
1. Double-thick drywall; using two pieces of regular drywall glued together makes for a solid barrier.
2. Plywood under the drywall can also work great—it's a more accessible way to achieve that hard feel similar to plaster, plus it’s really common in Europe.
Durock cement board is another material you might want to consider. It's about 1/2 inch thick, really tough, and it’s usually used in bathrooms. You can get it in 3x5 sheets for about $10 each. It seems to be quite similar to what you have in your home currently.