furring-out brick wall

[Electrician Wannabe]

Hi. I'm in hte process of renovating my kitchen. One of the kitchen walls is an exterior all brick wall with two windows. The wall was originally plastered. I have taken the plaster down and and am now left having to figure out a way to finish the wall. Having it replastered will cost me a small fortune in DC, so I am inclined to try to add some furring strips to the brick and then attach 1/2" drywall. The problem I am faced with is the depth between the brick wall and the window trim is about 1 1/8" so 3/4" furring strip plus 1/2" drywall wil be too fat. Any suggestions? Can I cut some 1/2" plywood into furring strips and use that? Since its an exterior brick wall do I need to use pressure treated for the furring strips? Any help woudl be greatly appreciated.

[pushkins]

You could always just re plaster it yourself. Lowe's and Home Depot sell a product called "quikwall", all you do is mix it with water and trowel it on. You could do the 1 1/8 in one go or do it in two steps. The product is extremely water resistant (used in ponds) and is very strong with fiberglass fibers in the mix.
Most often used to surface glue bricks and blocks without having to mortar them together.
You can finish it smooth or slightly textured and it is easily paintable.

[Electrician Wannabe]

Do you know if it can be applied directly over brick? or do you need to tack up wire mesh first? I am hesitant to go that way because I doubt my ability to get a level finished product.

[pushkins]

Yes you put it directly on the brick.
If your doubtful of your ability to get it nice and smooth, what about aiming to get a less than smooth finish, in other words don't finish it so much that it looks like you tried to get it flat but failed, finish it enough that it looks like that's the finish you wanted, and then faux paint the wall for dramatic effect.

[Electrician Wannabe]

Any thoughts on the original question?

[pushkins]

You could do it a couple of different ways:

1. If you have a table saw, mill down the furring strips to the exact size you require (5/8) install these to the wall then 1/2" drywall.

2. Use 1/2" furring strips and then 5/8" drywall.

3. Use 3/4" furring strips then 1/4" drywall. (the 1/8" deficit could simply be filled with caulk between the window trim and th drywall).

4. Use 3/4" furring strips then 1/2" drywall and add a small piece if trim (1/4") to the windows before reinstalling the window casing.

In most cases I'd use treated lumber whenever attaching to exterior brick, particularly if it is an high exposed to the elements wall, but I see it done all the time with std. lumber.

[Electrician Wannabe]

thanks for the info pushkins. I didn't know they made 1/2" furring strips or 1/4" drywall.

[pushkins]

You can also get 3/8" drywall.