Attaching Beadboard/wainscotting to Horse Hair Plaster
Hi,
I am renovating a small back entry way and want to replace the (ugly) paneling with 3.5″ fir bead board (or wainscotting). I was planning on gluing it to the horse hair plaster, as I think nailing it will be too difficult. This is an unheated area, about 5′ x 5′ but usually doesn’t get below 40 degrees in the winter.
What do you suggest for the glue product? I only know of Liquid Nails and not sure how good it is or if there is something better.
As always, your advice is most appreciated!
Joe Joyce, Boston MA
Replies
Joe
PL Premium.
This will glue damn near anything to everything.
One caution-I'd cross nail it with an air finish gun-16 ga. better-but since I have both-I'd try the 18 as well. Deflection is what to be concerned about. Since it's old plaster-I'd not be wrong to guess there's lath there behind it.
I'd use nails long enough to go through the lath.
Glue in blobs rather than that less than for sure squiggle pattern.
Urethane glue will expand slightly if not held in place. PL Premium is a polyurethane glue-with not as much expansion as Guerilla, but it can move. Held in place with finish nails top and bottom should do fine till the glue sets.
Joe,
Hand nailing will ruin the plaster-too much bounce.
An air nailer will work (and I'm sure I don't remember when the nails didn't make it past the scratch coat-but it is a possibility). Be very careful-straight on-the nail will (should) pass through the beadbd and go straight through-into lath hopefully.
Angled-it's also possible for the nail to bend on impact and curl around. If your fingers are within the length of the nail-it could hit it. Doubtfull it would fly through the wood, curl and come flying at you. BUT, always a possibility with that equipment-Eye protection a must! If you can get it to work with a slight angle-shooting 2 in opposing directions, it will "clinch" the beadbd and hold.
If you have casing off-an outlet opening-to check-the lath is usually fairly evenly spaced. You should be able to cypher out where it is in a range where you will nail.
Be nice to know this will work for you w/o buying into pneumatics-rent borrow or seek help to make the decision.
Best of luck.
I think I'd skip the nails, rely mostly on glue, and use a few finish screws to secure the corners and ends. You can pre-drill for the screws so they won't tear up the plaster.