"Sure, plaster has that classic charm, but sometimes practicality wins out... especially if you're tired of patching cracks every few months."
Haha, I feel this on a personal level. Plaster definitely has its moments—especially in older homes where you want to keep that authentic vibe—but man, the maintenance can be brutal. Have you tried combining flexible drywall joints with a skim coat of plaster finish? I've seen some pretty decent results with that approach. You get the flexibility underneath to handle movement, but still keep some of that classic plaster look on top.
Also curious—did you notice any difference in sound insulation when switching from plaster to drywall joints? I've found plaster walls tend to dampen noise better, which is great if you're dealing with noisy neighbors or street traffic. Drywall can sometimes feel a bit hollow acoustically, so I'm wondering if the flexible joints affect that at all.
Another thing I've been thinking about lately is how these materials hold up long-term. Sure, flexible joints are easier to patch after minor shakes, but do they degrade faster over time compared to traditional plaster? I haven't seen much data on longevity yet, just anecdotal stuff from friends who've made the switch.
On a side note... anyone else ever feel like DIY earthquake-proofing is basically just an endless cycle of "fix one thing, discover another"? 😂 Every time I think I've got it figured out, something new pops up. Guess that's part of the charm (or frustration?) of home improvement projects.
Haha, totally relate to the endless DIY cycle... every time I think I've nailed it, something else pops up.
"Have you tried combining flexible drywall joints with a skim coat of plaster finish?"
Actually did this on one of my older properties and it worked surprisingly well. Sound insulation wasn't quite as good as pure plaster, but still decent enough. Long-term though, I've noticed flexible joints can start looking a bit rough after several years—still beats patching cracks every few months though!
Did something similar in my basement reno—worked wonders at first, but yeah...
"Long-term though, I've noticed flexible joints can start looking a bit rough after several years"
Exactly my experience. Wonder if anyone's found a solid workaround for keeping those joints tidy over time without constant touch-ups?
I've run into the same issue myself—flexible joints are great initially, but yeah, they don't age gracefully.
"Long-term though, I've noticed flexible joints can start looking a bit rough after several years"
Honestly, I haven't found a perfect fix yet, but I've had some luck using higher-quality flexible caulks designed specifically for seismic or structural movement. They're pricier but seem to hold up better over time. Still not maintenance-free, unfortunately...but at least it buys you a few extra years before things start looking shabby again.
I've had decent results switching to silicone-based sealants instead of standard flexible caulks. They're a pain to apply neatly, but once they're set, they seem to handle movement better and don't degrade as quickly. Still not perfect, but worth a shot if you're tired of frequent touch-ups.
