Have I gone too far?

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I've started to take down the plaster and plasterboard in what will eventually be our new bathroom. I'm glad I did as structurally some of it is shocking. The batons that go into the brick are loose and it's all a bit of a mess.

The plan (once the electrician has been) is to put new batons up and then drywall.

Regarding the huge gaps at both the top and bottom of the wall. Is this anything to be concerned with? Should I look to cover these gaps with the drywall once it's installed?

I'm concerned I've bitten off a little more than I can chew but I'm determined not to be phased by these holes and crevices (and the spiders) .

I've attached some pictures which hopefully will help.

Thanks
David
 

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Its hard to see what I'm looking at but has someone put a battened plaster board "wall" up on top of an existing plaster wall or is that the other side of the wall? If its the former I'd be tempted to carry on to the brick and if its an outside wall consider insulation backed plaster board on dabs. You wont then need any battens. If its the later than I'd be considering propping up the ceiling and rebuilding the entire stud from scratch, giving you a nice place to get all your services in.
 
I believe it's the former.

Brick > plaster > battens > plasterboard > paint.

It's all coming down. It's actually quite therapeutic.

Any tips for when installing the drywall?
 
The best tip is dont install drywall in any arrangement.
Go back to bare brick (and any bare studs) all around.
Render the masonry with a 3:1 sand & lime mix. Dont use gypsum plaster.
Use backer board on stud framing.
The ceiling/wall junction can be easily repaired.

The electrician should chase his runs into the brickwork - but most cable in a bathroom is dropping down from the ceiling area.
Remove the rad & any other fixtures to give a clean run at refurbishing.
All pipework to be concealed if possible.
Is there a chimney breast, or where a chimney breast used to be, in your bathroom walls?
 
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I've attached some pictures which hopefully will help.

Once you get all the boards off and back to brick, from looking at the 2nd and 3rd pictures, have a close look at the brickwork for signs of damp.
There looks like some black mould on the inner layer of plasterboard.
It could be condensation from moisture in the bathroom on cold spots on the inner skin, or as it's high up, some water from above (leaky guttering etc) and just found its way with the large gap. Worth eliminating any risk here.
 
The best tip is dont install drywall in any arrangement.
Go back to bare brick (and any bare studs) all around.
Render the masonry with a 3:1 sand & lime mix. Dont use gypsum plaster.
Use backer board on stud framing.
The ceiling/wall junction can be easily repaired.

The electrician should chase his runs into the brickwork - but most cable in a bathroom is dropping down from the ceiling area.
Remove the rad & any other fixtures to give a clean run at refurbishing.
All pipework to be concealed if possible.
Is there a chimney breast, or where a chimney breast used to be, in your bathroom walls?

Why render the brickwork if you are battening the wall and fitting plasterboard?

Just curious ... I'm currently renovating a bedroom. And I've got two walls taken back to the brickwork - one on the wall between bedroom and landing, and one on a party wall. I was just going to batten the brick walls, fit acoustic insulation, then plasterboard.
 
jwilson16,

Nowhere do I advise: "battening the wall" or "fitting plasterboard" in fact, if you read my 6 August post, you will see that I advise the complete opposite on the above bathroom walls.

Ref. sound insulation - research diynot.com for past info.
 
DavidH1983,

I notice that you claim to be a Novice DIYer. You also appear to be a novice in thanking or acknowledging my 6 August 2016 post to you?
 
DavidH1983,

I notice that you claim to be a Novice DIYer. You also appear to be a novice in thanking or acknowledging my 6 August 2016 post to you?

While I concur with your point about not using standard drywall in a bathroom, I can't help but think that begging for rep by being sarcastic and sanctimonious about it might not ultimately secure you the feedback you're desperately seeking?
 
David, vinn's point about aqua panel is sound, depending on what you're planning to do with the bathroom. Any wall that will encounter direct wetting such as a shower area should be panelled with someing cementitious that will not break down in the presence of moisture. Wickes currently have aquapanel on a 3 for 2 offer and it makes them pretty good value (ends Tuesday). You should also use stainless steel screws and stainless washers to secure aquapanel and you should seal them together.. All manner of proprietary stuff exists for it, search Wickes and you'll see what I mean.

If the wall isn't getting wet directly but will be in an area at will encounter condensation, you should use green plasterboard. Plasterboard requires black phosphates screws that reduce the risk of the plasterboard corroding them. Aim to get screws and battens (if you're battening) long/thick enough such that you can get approx 1/3 of the screw in the board and 2/3 in the wood I.e if it's 12mm board, get 25mm batten and 32mm or 36mm screws
Buy some of these also: http://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-drywall-bits-ph-2-x-29mm-pack-of-5/9774G to stop you burying the screw too far into the drywall( the bit will slip out of the screw when it's perfectly sunk) as powering a screw throw the face paper ruins the board

Try and get insulation, preferably kingspan type, in when you reassemble any exterior wall. Not only will it help keep the bathroom warmer it will mor importantly keep the wall surface closer to room temp and reduce likelihood of condensation. Typically once a surface reaches around 12 degrees c condensation forms, abundantly so in a moist bathroom. Ensure the bathoom is ventilated to building regs requirements. As this project involves new sanitary pipe work it is notifiable to building control

And get a decent cordless if you haven't already (it'll pay for itself time and again)
 
cjard,

I am sorry that I seem to have deeply upset you - how, I dont know because I had never heard of you before this weird outburst? Such excited profanity!
Anyhow, I'm so glad that you could spell "sanctimonious" - & that you appear to be closely following my posts - thats good too for you are sure to learn something beyond your DIY.
I'm not sure what a "rep" is but the other DIY'ers who have piggy backed on your post will surely understand such DIY terms.
Well done to you all.

Yours in feedback
 
You can dab hardybacker. I always tank showers and highly recommend it for the sake of 40ish quid
 
cjard,

I am sorry that I seem to have deeply upset you - how, I dont know because I had never heard of you before this weird outburst? Such excited profanity!

Yes, it's quite hard to convey tone via the intertubes but you may take away from the considerable lack of caps, formatting or exclamation marks in my post that it was anything but excited..

Anyhow, I'm so glad that you could spell "sanctimonious" - & that you appear to be closely following my posts - thats good too for you are sure to learn something beyond your DIY.

Perhaps we're not all fick oop Norf.. i appreciate wisdom wherever I find it so you can be sure in future that I'll gratefully receive it. The flip side of this for you is that I think you're entitled to my opinion as much as I'm entitled to yours :)
 
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