Building Oak Timber-Frame Partition

[wolfpaw]

Has anyone actually done this? I need to construct a partition wall between the entrance hall and the utility room. I had originally planned on building a basic stud wall and covering it in plasterboard but I've now decided that I want something more characterful. I'd prefer to use old oak beams, with the plasterboard added between the wood (fixed to battens) rather than over the top. Has anyone done this? Is the method so very different from building a basic stud wall out of pine? Obviously the oak beams will be larger and more substantial.

 

[skier-hughes]

yep, built my en-suite using this method. I'm sure there are some pictures on here if you look back through my posts. I used new oak though, easier to work with.

 

[biffvernon]

Seems a shame to go to the trouble of making oak framing and then just using plasterboard.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

How about a nice bit of lath and plaster in-fills?

 

[middi]

A word ( or two) of advise if you wish to build an exposed traditional oak stud partition.

If using "green" oak make sure that you use pegged mortice and tenon costruction on top and bottom plates and any opening or doorways. If this is not done you will end up with exessive unsightly gaps between the oak surfaces as the horizontal plates shrink.

When "plastering" make sure any "green oak" is well protected from contact with the plaster as this will react with the tannic acid in the oak and you will end up with an unsightly surface for the first few years of it's life.

If you wish to use reclaimed oak ( this is not advisable for a couple of reasons) the above will also apply but to a much lesser extend.

One reason for not using reclaimed oak is that it is difficult to work with, such as ruined tools due to old nails etc.. and difficult to get square tenons if the wood is well "old" and "semi rounded".

The other reason is that if the building is listed and of timber stud construction the history of the building will totally confuse future historians, hence the directive to date and sign additions or repairs of new constructions.

 

[skier-hughes]

Seems a shame to go to the trouble of making oak framing and then just using plasterboard.

But doesn't it show in the years to come what is new and which is old?

 

[Ian Bond]

I've done lath work for walls and ceilings and it's fairly expensive and time consuming. I used riven oak lath which is an excellent background for plaster, but not cheap.

As a more economical and quicker alternative, why not use a wood wool, reed, or clay board and give it a lime plaster finish?

You can apply a lime finish to plasterboard if you really want to, but it would be my last choice.

 

[OddJob]

My personal preference would be lath and plaster,mostly I've used the cheaper pine laths and put them up with a decent nail gun powered by a compressor,cut the lath with a decent pair of secateurs.
I find it quite a quick and strangely enjoyable job :shock: