I need some ideas as what to use to finish an area that’s 1 1/2″ wide and between the old plaster and the new suspended ceiling I want to finish it smooth like drywall but the compound needs to stick to wood and I was wondering what I should use a drywall compound or do I need a special plaster.
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Was once involved in a major re-wiring project in an historic house. We patched the holes in lath and plaster walls with plywood, then used ordinary drywall mud. Worked fine.
I'm not quite sure what you want ( what's the wood- lathe?) , but I generally use Gypsolite ( perlited gypsum plaster) to fill in any gaps, and then top coat with joint compond to make it smooth.
Any really large gaps or holes, I'll patch in some sheetrock and then tape and spackle.
I wouldn't try to adhere compound to framing lumber or lath. Plywood should be fine because it is a lot more stable than stock lumber. Usually I apply a layer of drywall in whatever thickness I need to almost match the depth of the plaster and then use thin layers of compound to finish. I also use joint tape where the plaster meets the drywall/compound.
I also use primer when the compound has to adhere to plaster. There are special primers for this, but I've just used all-purpose primer with no problems. If I used plywood as a backer, I would also prime that before using compound.
-Don