Removing battens on old wood panel walls

[TCX]

Hi there - have been lurking here for a while but thought it was time to emerge from the shadows and introduce myself (and start picking brains ). I have just bought a renovator's nightma….sorry, DELIGHT, and moved in a month ago. Embarked on my vision with great enthusiasm, but very quickly ran up against the solid brick wall of my own inexperience and DIY ineptitude…local tradespeople will very soon come to love me, as I have accepted there are a LARGE number of things I can't do myself!

Luckily, "major" stuff (electrics, gas, plumbing, re-stumping, exterior weatherboarding, paths and verandahs) were all completed in the few years before I bought the place, so the vast majority of the stuff I have to do is cosmetic. However, the house was built in around the 1920s, and the décor….well let's just say I pulled up some lino in the back kitchen and it had been under-laid with newspapers from February 1931, so there is some work to be done!

So here is my first question - having searched the forum I can't find an exact answer so I hope someone can help me out...

All the interior walls in my place consist of plywood (or similar - very thin wood board) nailed over studs, and then the panel joins are covered with thin "battens" of wood (photo attached). I want to get rid of all these horizontal and vertical battens to make flush walls. How do I do this? The battens come off easily (and thankfully don't take the boards with them) but what is the best way to fill the gap (only 1mm or so in the ones I've pulled off so far) and then cover the join so it doesn't show under paint? Do I just have to apply crack filler (that's a lot of filler) - in which case I assume I then need to sand back? - or is there some other clever technique (tape or something) that is more usual.

Any and all suggestions gratefully received. I will be back with the next question forthwith…

TCX

[journeyman Mick]

If you want flush walls your best bet would be to cover the existing with plasterboard and flush all the joins. You'll have to rework all the architraves on doorways and windows though and fit new skirting. Trying to fill the gaps will just result in a wall that shows lots of filled gaps.

Mick

[TCX]

OHHHHHHHHHH! I had a feeling that might be the answer - but I don't wanna !! That's a heck of a lot of plasterboard.... (12ft high ceilings, BIG rooms!) Ah well, c'est la vie...

So in that case - should I remove the original boards and nail the plasterboard to the studs behind, or can I just nail the plasterboard to the existing battens (thereby also giving myself a DIY cavity-wall?)

[journeyman Mick]

Remove the battens but leave the sheeting there. You'll also need to line up a sparky to remove and refit all your switch plates and power points. You'll need new cornice also and I'd fit 6mm villaboard in wet areas.

Mick

[TCX]

Thanks Mick - not sure what villaboard is, but shall now go and Google....

(Luckily most electrics (except some light switches) are in the woodwork so not too much to move)

Cheers,
T

[Vernonv]

Villaboard is compressed fibre cement sheet, whereas plasterboard is gypsum.

Luckily most electrics (except some light switches) are in the woodwork so not too much to move

Do you mean they are in the architraves? If so, you will still need to remove the architraves, skirting, etc when installing the plasterboard or villaboard.

[redheeler]

TCX - I was faced with similar issue, and yes very daunting! However, I have just finished replastering hallway and 3 rooms and it was worth the STEEP learning curve. The advice from Rod at Plasterbrokers and his website was invaluable. These forums have pretty much guided me through renovating an old, out of plumb house. All the best with it.

redheeler

[bitingmidge]

I agree with Mick, but have to say it's a shame you haven't decided to work with what's there. It clearly gives the place some character, and is indicative of the way it was built.

I've been involved in a few "restorations" to redo work after it's been "renovated", and it's just a reflection on changing fashion.

Think about how you can keep as much as possible, even if it's only a couple of feature walls.

cheers,

P

[TCX]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Bitingmidge - yes I admit I am torn between leaving the battens and just cleaning them up/replacing the damaged ones, or ripping the whole lot out. As I am installing a totally new kitchen (including knocking down two internal walls)(yes, a professional is doing that for me, as they are holding some of the roof up!) I think I will re-plaster the kitchen walls, but - for now at least - work with what I have in the bedrooms/living rooms, which will be staying more "traditional".

Actually in the kitchen, the existing electrics are in outside walls (i.e. already brick and plaster) and other areas that won't require them being moved. Just have to get some more points installed once I decide exactly what I am doing with the whole kitchen-thang.....

Off to read the Plasterbrokers website - thanks again all!

Tania.

[TCX]

OK, me again. Have realised what a COMPLETE beginner I am - assuming I go for plasterboard in the kitchen...I had just assumed I just nail it into the the existing studs. But now I am seeing reference to glue as well? How much glue? What kind? Where to position it (I read that you don't put the nail through the glue - so I assume nails through the studs, glue "elsewhere")?

It really can't be THAT hard to attach some stuff to some other stuff, can it?!

Sorry to be a pain with really daft questions, but I'm going to do this ONCE and do it right, rather than my previous technique of "Close enough, that'll do (just don't put anything heavy, or round, on the shelves I just put up)" (AKA "Measure once, Cut Twice")

[redheeler]

Tania

You would use stud adhesive as well as nailing or screwind plasterboard. Just avoid nailing through stud adhesive as it can pop nails through surface. Some people would argue using liquid nails or other adhesives not designed spec. for plasterboard. Theses products may work just fine, but personally, I prefer to go with what professional tradespeople use. I just figure I have spent so much money on my house, why cut corners? I have spent many more hours researching every project than I have actually doing it! There is no reason why you can't undertake most jobs you need to get done (apart from electrical, plumbing or gas work obviously). All the plastering advice you will ever need is on this forum - courtesy of Rod.

Cheers
redheeler

[flynnsart]

My sister had a house with similar wall treatment, and she took down the old battens and replaced them with rounded over battens, looks a little neater and doesnt catch as much dust. I saw one where they replaced the hip-height rail with a wider fancy one and left it wood coloured as a feature and painted upper wall with light paint and lower wall with a darker tone, looked quite nice.

Donna

[Charles81]

Great timing with the thread, Im doing exactly the same thing in my house.

So what do you mean putting plasterboard over the old wall? Once you remove the batten, your still going to have that hole to fill. If you put plaster board, then it will only become a deeper hole to fil!

Or do you the the plasterboard over the batten hole and just fill the little gaps between the plasterboard sheets?

And does anyone have any good pictures of what can be done with a room filled with battens to make it look nice?

flynnsart, can you show us some photos of your sisters work?

This is part of my wall. Ugly Ugly things those battens.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v2...rrent=wall.jpg