On 17/04/2014 20:28, Bob Minchin wrote:
GMM wrote:
I have a lath and plaster ceiling that has seen better days and so I'm
considering overboarding and skimming.

Just trying to think through how this is done: Presumably it's possible
to find the joists because that's where all the nails are, holding the
laths in place but screwing through the pb into them would run a better
than avaerage chance of hitting a nail.

So how is it done? Aim for the timbers and accept that many screws will
hit nails or just screw through at random and rely on hitting laths more
often than not?

In my experience old L&P usually has an uneven surface where some is
starting to pull away.
When I've done this I've used new battens shimmed where necessary to get
a new level for the pb.

I've just had some success putting a layer of 25mm celotex over the old
ceiling, then pb, then screwing through to the joists. This was a small
landing ceiling with attic above, though.

--
Cheers, Rob