Lath and Plaster Ceiling Repair or Replacement

[Adam]

Hi All

First post.

Can anybody help. We have a L&P ceiling damaged by a leaky bath above. The ceiling is hanging precariously and may need to be replaced. Does anybody know of a plasterer with experience of these type of materials in the Essex/East London area who can advise if repair or replacement is required and who would be able to replace with L&P if necessary.

Thanks
Adam

 

[Nemesis]

Oh dear - leaky baths are the cause of so much lath and plaster disaster.

Have you had a search on the 'Seeking Specialists' part of this site?

If nothing useful there, the SPAB may be able to help with a list of people.

Maybe someone will read this and know of someone in particular.

If not. try calling your local authority Conservation Officer, or Essex CC which has an excellent conservation team and runs courses in lime plastering - bet they can help.

(Go on a course, DIY? If it's only a smallish patch it may be possible...)

 

[Moo]

You say that the ceiling is hanging precariously.

You could, perhaps, stop it from coming down for the time being by hiring some acrow props and using planking to hold up a false 'ceiling' of something like hardboard as a temporary support while you take advice and make decisions.

 

[NT]

Options:

pull it down and replace
push it up and glue it there, then fill or skim

A stick of wood is much cheaper than acrows.


NT

 

[BMcD]

If you wish to hold it in place whilst you make the repair, then instead of acrow props or sticks whicn get in the way, why not find where the joists are and screw into them a sheet of plasterboard or ply wood over the loose area to support it. If you can then get to the ceiling above to check out the state of the lath and they seem well fixed to the joists still (most water damage to L & P ceilings or walls is due to the laths warping when they dry out and this in turn breaks the plaster nibs off which holds the ceiling up) then hoover out all debris and dust, dampen down and pour a haired sand:lime (3:1) mix between the joists. This will bond to the existing plaster and envelope the laths within. When it has gone off, remove the board from the underside and heypresto one ceiling restuck to the original laths. All you need do is fill the cracks and screw holes and coat with a decoration of your choice.

NB If the lath has come loose from the joist or is broken then screw some sheets of rib lath (a type of EML) into the joists and wire the lath to this for extra support (it might be worth doing this anyway)

If you want a plasterer try this link http://www.plaistererslivery.co.uk/plr/indexe7c4.html?/plr/trade/