[Joseph O'Brien]

Hi, folks. I could use some advice about finishing my laundry room.

First, I live in a really old house, which was renovated in the late
90s. The did a terrible job on the utility room. There are a number of
issues that I'm resolving this summer, but the one that I fear the
most is fixing the ceiling.

Here's what they did. First, it looks like they tore down the old
plaster ceiling, but left the lath and all the crap that comes with
it. Then, they hung air ducts all over the place. finally, they put up
a drywall ceiling *around* the ducts. The ceiling is still above the
ducts, but the area above them is exposed lath. The problem with this
is that 120 years worth of dust and crap constantly sifts through when
the people upstairs walk around. So, our laundry room is always dusty.

I was wondering if anyone had any clever ideas about how to remedy
this situation. I would prefer NOT to remove any duct work. I thought
about using partial sheets of drywall to slide above the ducts, but it
would be almost impossible to screw them into anything that might
support the weight. I also thought about installing a drop ceiling or
enclosing the ducts in drywall, but access to the joists is limited.

Short of hanging a tarp, any thoughts?

Thanks!
Joseph

[Edwin Pawlowski]

"Joseph O'Brien" wrote in message
I was wondering if anyone had any clever ideas about how to remedy
this situation. I would prefer NOT to remove any duct work. I thought
about using partial sheets of drywall to slide above the ducts, but it
would be almost impossible to screw them into anything that might
support the weight. I also thought about installing a drop ceiling or
enclosing the ducts in drywall, but access to the joists is limited.

Short of hanging a tarp, any thoughts?

Thanks!
Joseph

How high is the ceiling? If it is an old house with 10" ceiling you can
always put a second drywall across the bottom of the ducts. Just run 2 x 4
for rafters.

[Phisherman]

On Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:49:53 -0700 (PDT), "Joseph O'Brien"
wrote:

Hi, folks. I could use some advice about finishing my laundry room.

First, I live in a really old house, which was renovated in the late
90s. The did a terrible job on the utility room. There are a number of
issues that I'm resolving this summer, but the one that I fear the
most is fixing the ceiling.

Here's what they did. First, it looks like they tore down the old
plaster ceiling, but left the lath and all the crap that comes with
it. Then, they hung air ducts all over the place. finally, they put up
a drywall ceiling *around* the ducts. The ceiling is still above the
ducts, but the area above them is exposed lath. The problem with this
is that 120 years worth of dust and crap constantly sifts through when
the people upstairs walk around. So, our laundry room is always dusty.

I was wondering if anyone had any clever ideas about how to remedy
this situation. I would prefer NOT to remove any duct work. I thought
about using partial sheets of drywall to slide above the ducts, but it
would be almost impossible to screw them into anything that might
support the weight. I also thought about installing a drop ceiling or
enclosing the ducts in drywall, but access to the joists is limited.

Short of hanging a tarp, any thoughts?

Thanks!
Joseph

I'd figure out a way to put drywall on the ceiling (lowest cost), then
second choice is the drop ceiling which can be supported using wires
fastened to the joists. The drop ceiling has an advantage that
everything above it is accessible.

[franz fripplfrappl]

On Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:29:29 -0400, Phisherman wrote:

On Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:49:53 -0700 (PDT), "Joseph O'Brien"
wrote:

Hi, folks. I could use some advice about finishing my laundry room.

First, I live in a really old house, which was renovated in the late
90s. The did a terrible job on the utility room. There are a number of
issues that I'm resolving this summer, but the one that I fear the most
is fixing the ceiling.

Here's what they did. First, it looks like they tore down the old
plaster ceiling, but left the lath and all the crap that comes with it.
Then, they hung air ducts all over the place. finally, they put up a
drywall ceiling *around* the ducts. The ceiling is still above the
ducts, but the area above them is exposed lath. The problem with this is
that 120 years worth of dust and crap constantly sifts through when the
people upstairs walk around. So, our laundry room is always dusty.

I was wondering if anyone had any clever ideas about how to remedy this
situation. I would prefer NOT to remove any duct work. I thought about
using partial sheets of drywall to slide above the ducts, but it would
be almost impossible to screw them into anything that might support the
weight. I also thought about installing a drop ceiling or enclosing the
ducts in drywall, but access to the joists is limited.

Short of hanging a tarp, any thoughts?

Thanks!
Joseph

I'd figure out a way to put drywall on the ceiling (lowest cost), then
second choice is the drop ceiling which can be supported using wires
fastened to the joists. The drop ceiling has an advantage that
everything above it is accessible.

I'll second this one. Laundry rooms / Utility rooms are workrooms.
There are many attractive acoustic tiles these days. Another benefit to
acoustic tiles is their sound deadening qualities.



--

=================================================
Franz Fripplfrappl

[RickH]

On Jul 21, 9:49*pm, "Joseph O'Brien" wrote:
Hi, folks. I could use some advice about finishing my laundry room.

First, I live in a really old house, which was renovated in the late
90s. The did a terrible job on the utility room. There are a number of
issues that I'm resolving this summer, but the one that I fear the
most is fixing the ceiling.

Here's what they did. First, it looks like they tore down the old
plaster ceiling, but left the lath and all the crap that comes with
it. Then, they hung air ducts all over the place. finally, they put up
a drywall ceiling *around* the ducts. The ceiling is still above the
ducts, but the area above them is exposed lath. The problem with this
is that 120 years worth of dust and crap constantly sifts through when
the people upstairs walk around. So, our laundry room is always dusty.

I was wondering if anyone had any clever ideas about how to remedy
this situation. I would prefer NOT to remove any duct work. I thought
about using partial sheets of drywall to slide above the ducts, but it
would be almost impossible to screw them into anything that might
support the weight. I also thought about installing a drop ceiling or
enclosing the ducts in drywall, but access to the joists is limited.

Short of hanging a tarp, any thoughts?

Thanks!
Joseph

Whatever you do, the dust will continue to land even on a suspended
ceiling. I'd get up in the attic and lay/staple some Tyvek above the
open ducts to help stop the dust there first (dont use plastic).
Obviously there was no wiggle room between the duct tops and the old
ceiling otherwise they would have jammed the drywall above the ducts
in the first place. Can you loosen up the duct strapping and pull the
ducts down 1/2 inch to put another layer of drywall across the whole
room? You can usually slide duct connections out a little then re-
screw them without a problem, the drywall guys probably just said
"it's not my job man to drop the ducts", so they did it half assed..

[cshenk]

"Joseph O'Brien" wrote

support the weight. I also thought about installing a drop ceiling or
enclosing the ducts in drywall, but access to the joists is limited.

You dont say just how far down the ducts hang. I'd be looking again at a
'dropped ceiling' with the lighter tiles and a frame just bolted to the
drywall. Some of these units are very light in weight. If you can get at
the other side of the drywall, you can use those little fasteners that open
out to spread the load.