"Michael Mcneil" wrote in message
news:03a93afc27e433365897f2de9c1bb626.45219@mygate .mailgate.org...
"Steve Gontarek" wrote in message


I have two choices re a lath & plaster ceiling (this is a bungalow, so
its only loft space above). The ceiling is pretty cracked (though it
has been repaired over the years)

1. Bring it down and reline with plasterboard directly onto joists
2. Leave original and put plasterboard on top (or rather under, if u
get my drift)

If it's lath and plaster the centres for the batons will be imperial and
new plasterboard is metric. Putting battens up will allow you to get the
finish level and even and to space them at 4oo mm centres. Start 2 or 3
inches from one edge. It will carry that much until skimmed.


O.K. - a light has just blinked on :-)

You are putting the battens at right angles to the joists so you don't have
to follow the original joist spacing and can set the battens to minimise the
cutting of plasterboard.

I was having trouble seeing why you would want to attach battens along the
line of the joists.

So this is a valid strategy even if you take the ceiling down and expose the
joists.

Ho hum!