I just bought a 125-year-old house that has lathe and plaster walls and ceilings in pretty decent shape. However, there are a lot of cracks in the ceilings. Since we haven't moved in yet, I think overboarding the ceilings with drywall is a good solution to keep those cracks from becoming an eyesore in the future. I'm considering either 1/4-inch or 3/8-inch drywall. The ceilings are high, so I'm not too worried about the weight, but I do know that adding weight to the ceiling joists can be a concern. Which thickness would you recommend for this project?
3 Answers
Are you planning to install ledger boards first? If you do, 1/4-inch should be fine. Just know that if you skip that step, there’s a chance those cracks might still show through.
Honestly, I’d suggest you consider using 1/2-inch drywall instead. It's actually more common, cheaper, and holds screws better than those other options. Plus, there’s a ceiling-specific kind that’s designed for weight and density. Trust me, the extra thickness won't affect your daily life much at all; most people won’t even notice it.
We went with 1/4-inch drywall over our cracked plaster ceilings and it worked out great! It’s light and easy to handle, perfect for covering those imperfections.
Does the added weight from 1/2-inch drywall actually impact the ceilings?