How to Tell if Your Lath Plaster Ceiling Needs to Come Down.Period Charm. how much can you take away Its a difficult decision isnt it We all love the period charm of an older house but what to do when repairing something as notorious as a lath and plaster ceilingA sagging ceiling does not necessarily mean that the plasterwork has broken away from the lath though.Old houses settle and the ceilings go along for the ride.I keep hearing that most people find that there are small things that they didnt think about until after they finished construction that they wish they would have.Using Recessed Ceiling Lights.Recessed can lighting typically provides most or all of the general lighting in a room.They can also be used as good task lighting.It can be difficult to find that point where you need to stop repairing a ceiling because removing the ceiling is the cheaper option.I always shed a tear when an original old lath and plaster ceiling comes down, as I cant shake the feeling that the house will lose a little of its character.But times change and our expectations with them, for example, modern light fittings simply do not sit well in lath and plaster.At least not without a lot of work or compromise.Cost is also a big factor, during major renovations ripping out a ceiling and plasterboarding it is not that big a deal cost wise, especially in comparison to hiring in lime and plaster specialists to repair the ceilings.Whereas any competent DIY enthusiast or local builder can replace lath and plaster with plasterboard relatively cheaply.Since you are here though, youve probably got a sagging ceiling or one that is badly cracked and falling off the laths.Caveats first though OK.This how to explains how to evaluate whether to repair andor to take down a lath and plaster ceiling.Plaster ceilings in some listed houses may need to be retained and repaired rather than removed check first.OK, enough blurb, lets take a look at your plasterwork.Evaluating whether to repair or remove your lath and plaster ceilings.Stand underneath one corner of your ceiling on a suitable ladder and with your head almost touching the ceiling look across the surface, do a 9.Try again from the opposing corners.Your ceiling may look flat from the floor, but once you get up there and have a closer look, you will get a much better idea of its condition.Lath and plaster in textbook condition.A sagging ceiling does not necessarily mean that the plasterwork has broken away from the lath though.Old houses settle and the ceilings go along for the ride.So, if your ceiling is sagging or sloping, it may still be OK.In any sagging areas where you suspect that the plaster has separated from the lath, stand underneath and gently push upwards with the palm of your hands.A little give is normal but if you feel the plaster move up and down, this means that it is not attached to the laths.Dust and debris may fall from cracks as you do this.NOTE Dont go crazy here, if you push and shove a really bad ceiling hard a few times, you might end up wearing it Go gently Lath and plaster and how it usually fails.When a ceiling fails completely the lime mortar or plasterwork separates from the laths and drops down.Effectively this means that the plasterwork is hanging underneath the laths, virtually unsupported.Sometimes it is only the horse hair strands in the mortar that is holding up the plasterwork This rarely happens over the entire area though.Some areas may be perfectly fine.If left in this perilous state, chunks of plasterwork will eventually start to crack and even drop away, either in small pieces or in large sheets if there is a water leak or even someone jumping on the floor above etc.Keep or start over It becomes a question of percentages.Once more than a third of a ceiling has failed, replacement may be a cheaper option than repairs.Check the entire ceiling as described above and mark any areas that you think have separated with big pencil circles.From the floor try to judge how much of the ceiling has failed from your marks.More than a third to a halfBecause repairing a lath and plaster ceiling like this can be expensive, or beyond your ability as a DIY enthusiast, you might say enough is enough and sadly, I want to take the ceiling down and start over.Need More Information or Help Urban legend has it that you only need to read six books on a subject to be classed as an expert.So, here are some books I found interesting which will be useful to get you started Or drop me a comment and ask a question.All available fromamazon.Not destined for the coffee table.Old House Handbook A Practical Guide to Care and Repair, by Roger Hunt and Marianne Suhr. Install Dns Server Linux Redhat Free . Hardback. Dont be deceived, this book may be at home on the coffee table, but it packs a lot of really useful information into its 2.Passed and approved by my favorite Institute, the guys at SPAB, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.The book teaches you to work with your house, not fight it.Repair not restore or renovate.If you are into minimalistic, white flat surfaces and recessed downlights, this book may be a shock for you, as it educates us to live with a buildings character, not destroy it.Maintenance of Historic Buildings, A practical Handbookby Jurgen Klemisch.A practical, hands on guide to the maintenance of your older house.Based on many years of experience, this book teaches you the current best practices related to maintenance and is presented using a straightforward logical format.In two sections the book deals with maintenance for use by owners and how to conduct condition surveys.The book makes extensive use of helpful checklists, work cards detailing routine cleaning, deep cleaning, inspection, servicing and redecoration and even spreadsheets to help plan your maintenance.Following the books recommendations would also over time build a useful record about your house, which will be helpful when deciding the timing of future repairs and allow you to assess costs accurately.A damp house is a dying houseThe Damp House A Guide to the Causes and Treatment of Dampness.By Jonathan Hetreed.Hardback. I thought that I would include this book because as the owner of an older property you will soon come to learn that water or damp is the mortal enemy of your house Managing the moisture and water, on, in and around your home is vital in the battle to preserve and protect it.From the patio to the ridge, water is trying to get into your house and cause damage Read Jonathans insights and learn how to keep it at bay.The Victorian House manual from Haynes.The Victorian House Manual By Haynes.A no nonsense book that even Conservation Officers like and useThis book covers some of the most common problems found in houses built in this era, along with some of the more common misconceptions about some of the repairs commonly touted as being able to cure all ills.As you would expect from Haynes these books have great photos and easy to understand and follow instructions.A hard to beat primer for anyone owning or thinking of buying a Victorian or Edwardian for that matter house.Guide to using natural finishes.Using Natural Finishes Lime and Clay Based Plasters, Renders and Paints A Step by step Guide By Adam Weismann.Adam Weismanns book is more specialized than those above and would suit the hard core enthusiast who wants to have a go at repairing their old walls and ceilings themselves.Kevin Mc. Cloud from Grand Designs comments that it is A splendid book.A real addition to whats out there and very complementary to the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings new technical manual on Old Building Repairs.Lath and Plaster Ceilings Forgive this sneaky plug for my own guide on lath and plaster It contains all you need to know to Evaluate the condition of your ceilings.Learn 7 ways to repair your ceilings.Learn 5 ways to replace your ceilings.Learn how to easily remove your ceilings.Ill be happy to hear from you about your own lath and plaster problems, because if I can help you, its probably going to help others too.Available in e. Book or paperback worldwide via amazon.Endnote. Lath and plaster carpet.Carpet inspired by lath and plaster walling.Bev Hisey was so inspired by the look and feel of the lath and plaster when renovating her home that she has dedicated a brand new carpet design to itClick the image to see moreStay well.
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