Clive wrote:
Hi,

I have a room, with a gently (20 degree?) sloping ceiling,
following the roof line, in which I wish to fit LV ceiling lights. I'm
quite comfortable with the slope. I need advice on how to create a
ceiling to which to attach the lights.

The ceiling plaster seems to me to be the original, probably on
laths. There are some major cracks in the plaster but when I tap it
very few areas have a hollow sound. By pushing on areas of the plaster
it doesn't seem the plaster has come away from the laths.

So, should I make a frame attached to the walls and with 2 by 1
timbers on to which to nail the plaster board, leaving the original
ceiling in place and creating the void for insulation and the light
fittings? Or should I take the current ceiling down, exposing the
laths, then nail 2 by 1 (or whatever) to the exposed roof beams then
nail the plaster board to that? My thinking about taking the current
ceiling down is although it seems sound it may "detach" from the laths
in future (even though if it is original it has been in place for 100
years !).


Thanks

Clive

As a general rule, unless there is something truly wonderful about the
original structure, I go back to a well tried principle:-

'When in doubt, rip it out'

That way you have a simple job of reinstallation using 'known quality'
materials to whatever standards you (or the BCO) insist upon.

'Bodge over ********' always ends in a lot of work and an indeterminate
result.