My house has lath and plaster ceilings. In two of the bedrooms the
ceilings are in excellent condition, so after recently purchasing the
house, I redecorated them - wallpaper on the walls and ceiling. The two
rooms are looking great.

However, the third bedroom which actually looked the best of the rooms,
has a terrible ceiling. I've only just found out having pulled the
ceiling paper off this very weekend. This ceiling needs replacing
badly. However, some of the laths straddle this room and one of the
decorated adjacent ones mentioned above. I've come up with two
suggestions:

1. It seems that I'll only be able to replace about 70% of the ceiling
with plaster boards and I'll have to replaster over the laths which
straddle the two rooms.

2. nail a batton into the ceiling joist that runs parallel with the
wall and nail the laths into this, cutting them off close to the wall,
allowing me to plasterboard 90-95% of the ceiling.

Do either of these sound sensible? I'm worried that if I saw the
protruding laths, it'll weaken the ceiling in the adjacent room and I
couldn't face having to repaper it. Will the old laths take modern
plaster? Is there anything else you'd recommend?

Any suggestions much appreciated?

JavaEnquirer wrote:

However, the third bedroom which actually looked the best of the rooms,
has a terrible ceiling. I've only just found out having pulled the
ceiling paper off this very weekend. This ceiling needs replacing
badly. However, some of the laths straddle this room and one of the
decorated adjacent ones mentioned above. I've come up with two
suggestions:

1. It seems that I'll only be able to replace about 70% of the ceiling
with plaster boards and I'll have to replaster over the laths which
straddle the two rooms.

2. nail a batton into the ceiling joist that runs parallel with the
wall and nail the laths into this, cutting them off close to the wall,
allowing me to plasterboard 90-95% of the ceiling.

Do either of these sound sensible? I'm worried that if I saw the
protruding laths, it'll weaken the ceiling in the adjacent room and I
couldn't face having to repaper it. Will the old laths take modern
plaster? Is there anything else you'd recommend?

I think I'd go with option 2. Not sure of the configuration of your
laths and the top of the intermediate wall between the rooms concerned;
but I don't quite see the point of fitting this new batten. I would
just remove all the old plaster then very carefull and slowly saw
through each lath in turn, gripping them firmly to avoid moving the
parts which aren't being removed.

If you have access, it may be better to do it from above, so you can
press the laths down firmly on to the top of the intermediate wall while
you cut them.

Another tip, if you're worried about messing up the adjacent room -
clear all insulation, debris and other assorted crap away from the 12"
or so into the unaffected room, parallel to the dividing wall, and
vaccuum clean it; then apply bonding plaster to the laths from above.
This will attach to the nibs of old plaster which are extruded through
the gaps between the laths, and should stabilise the ceiling significantly.

David

JavaEnquirer wrote:
My house has lath and plaster ceilings. In two of the bedrooms the
ceilings are in excellent condition, so after recently purchasing the
house, I redecorated them - wallpaper on the walls and ceiling. The
two rooms are looking great.

However, the third bedroom which actually looked the best of the
rooms, has a terrible ceiling. I've only just found out having pulled
the ceiling paper off this very weekend. This ceiling needs replacing
badly. However, some of the laths straddle this room and one of the
decorated adjacent ones mentioned above. I've come up with two
suggestions:

1. It seems that I'll only be able to replace about 70% of the ceiling
with plaster boards and I'll have to replaster over the laths which
straddle the two rooms.

2. nail a batton into the ceiling joist that runs parallel with the
wall and nail the laths into this, cutting them off close to the wall,
allowing me to plasterboard 90-95% of the ceiling.

Do either of these sound sensible? I'm worried that if I saw the
protruding laths, it'll weaken the ceiling in the adjacent room and I
couldn't face having to repaper it. Will the old laths take modern
plaster? Is there anything else you'd recommend?

Any suggestions much appreciated?

the laths that straddle the wall will be nailed to the joists in the
other room & the bits that are over the wall will be supported by
the wall. I'd just cut them from above (as advised by lobster)
and plasterboard over the lot. if you use taper edge board and
plan well uoi shouldn't even need to skim, just tape and fill, light
rub down if required and paper over.

On Mon, 20 Mar 2006 10:03:09 UTC, "JavaEnquirer"
wrote:

1. It seems that I'll only be able to replace about 70% of the ceiling
with plaster boards and I'll have to replaster over the laths which
straddle the two rooms.

You could always plasterboard over the laths, leaving them in situ. I am
sure Andy hall won't approve, but it's not a bad solution.

2. nail a batton into the ceiling joist that runs parallel with the
wall and nail the laths into this, cutting them off close to the wall,
allowing me to plasterboard 90-95% of the ceiling.

If you are going to cut them off...I had a similar situation, and I used
a Dremel with a cutting disc (a metal one, not the fibre!) to lop off
the laths close to the edge. Less strain on the laths, too.
--
The information contained in this post is copyright the
poster, and specifically may not be published in, or used by
Avenue Supplies, http://avenuesupplies.co.uk

couldn't face having to repaper it. Will the old laths take modern
plaster? Is there anything else you'd recommend?

Carlite Bonding - sticks like **** to a blanket. After the laths have
been cleaned of all loose stuff and dust i.e. hoover and then spray to
dampen.

cheers

Jacob

On 20 Mar 2006 02:03:09 -0800, "JavaEnquirer"
wrote:

This ceiling needs replacing badly.

You'll be unhappy if it's replaced badly. I'd suggest getting it
replaced nicely!



sponix

Bob Eager wrote:
On Mon, 20 Mar 2006 10:03:09 UTC, "JavaEnquirer"
wrote:

1. It seems that I'll only be able to replace about 70% of the
ceiling with plaster boards and I'll have to replaster over the
laths which straddle the two rooms.

You could always plasterboard over the laths, leaving them in situ. I
am sure Andy hall won't approve, but it's not a bad solution.


Ask any plasterer and he'll agree it's the only solution.

2. nail a batton into the ceiling joist that runs parallel with the
wall and nail the laths into this, cutting them off close to the
wall, allowing me to plasterboard 90-95% of the ceiling.

If you are going to cut them off...I had a similar situation, and I
used a Dremel with a cutting disc (a metal one, not the fibre!) to
lop off the laths close to the edge. Less strain on the laths, too.

I'm amazed no one has mentioned the absolute mess ripping lath and plaster
ceilings down will make...expect to re-decorate the room and spend a few
weeks finding soot settling on all surfaces through the house.

I agree with Bob, leave everything as it is and screw plasterboards over the
entire ceiling, re-plaster and that's it, very little mess, cheaper and
overall a better job, instead of patches of different plaster all over the
place.


HTH

JavaEnquirer wrote:
My house has lath and plaster ceilings. In two of the bedrooms the
ceilings are in excellent condition, so after recently purchasing the
house, I redecorated them - wallpaper on the walls and ceiling. The
two rooms are looking great.

However, the third bedroom which actually looked the best of the
rooms, has a terrible ceiling. I've only just found out having pulled
the ceiling paper off this very weekend. This ceiling needs replacing
badly. However, some of the laths straddle this room and one of the
decorated adjacent ones mentioned above. I've come up with two
suggestions:

1. It seems that I'll only be able to replace about 70% of the ceiling
with plaster boards and I'll have to replaster over the laths which
straddle the two rooms.

2. nail a batton into the ceiling joist that runs parallel with the
wall and nail the laths into this, cutting them off close to the wall,
allowing me to plasterboard 90-95% of the ceiling.

Do either of these sound sensible? I'm worried that if I saw the
protruding laths, it'll weaken the ceiling in the adjacent room and I
couldn't face having to repaper it. Will the old laths take modern
plaster? Is there anything else you'd recommend?

Any suggestions much appreciated?

How bad is the ceiling really? if its just got cracks all over it you could
just get matting/webbing used for putting over the plasterboard where it
joins.
Use this the full lenght of the ceiling and a foot apart intervals then
have the ceiling plastered.


--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

The3rd Earl Of Derby wrote:

How bad is the ceiling really? if its just got cracks all over it you
could just get matting/webbing used for putting over the plasterboard
where it joins.

Thew word you are looking for is 'scrim'

Use this the full lenght of the ceiling and a foot apart intervals
then have the ceiling plastered.

It sounds to me like the ceiling is ready for falling down...I don't think
he'll get away with patching it up.

On 20 Mar 2006 02:03:09 -0800, "JavaEnquirer"
wrote:

My house has lath and plaster ceilings. In two of the bedrooms the
ceilings are in excellent condition, so after recently purchasing the
house, I redecorated them - wallpaper on the walls and ceiling. The two
rooms are looking great.

However, the third bedroom which actually looked the best of the rooms,
has a terrible ceiling. I've only just found out having pulled the
ceiling paper off this very weekend. This ceiling needs replacing
badly. However, some of the laths straddle this room and one of the
decorated adjacent ones mentioned above. I've come up with two
suggestions:

1. It seems that I'll only be able to replace about 70% of the ceiling
with plaster boards and I'll have to replaster over the laths which
straddle the two rooms.

2. nail a batton into the ceiling joist that runs parallel with the
wall and nail the laths into this, cutting them off close to the wall,
allowing me to plasterboard 90-95% of the ceiling.

Do either of these sound sensible? I'm worried that if I saw the
protruding laths, it'll weaken the ceiling in the adjacent room and I
couldn't face having to repaper it. Will the old laths take modern
plaster? Is there anything else you'd recommend?

Any suggestions much appreciated?


Fix battens ,probably 2" x 1"across the joists right through the
existing ceiling ,screw plasterboard to these battens then tape/joint
the boards then paint them..Don't remove the L+P ceiling as you'll be
up to your armpits in stoor for weeks .


Stuart

Phil L wrote:

I'm amazed no one has mentioned the absolute mess ripping lath and
plaster ceilings down will make

that reminded me of eddie the labourer when my builder sent him in
to tear the bathroom ceiling down. came out looking like a victorian
chimbley sweep boy :-)

soot may not be present in a 1930's house, sarking may have been
used under the tiles which would minimise ingress. soot can also be
hoovered up before hand and the whole lot can be wetted down to
keep dust to a minimum. still a messy job though.