DaveG
Member
- Messages
- 113
- Location
- Pembrokeshire
Hi all, first post here so apologies in advance if I’m not following forum etiquette in some way.
I’m new to owning an older and characterful home having recently moved from a 1980s built ex-council house with timber frame, brick skin and cavity walls.
I’m now the proud owner of a circa 1870s stone built detached home with bags of character but also some deep scars from poor building practices over the years.
I started out perhaps as a few of you did, stumbling across Peter Ward’s website, YouTube videos and his book - “The warm dry home”.
Due to this, some of you may well be slightly confused, concerned or even horrified at my sheer mention of plasterboard.
So I know generally speaking it’s seen as evil nasty stuff that shouldn’t go anywhere near an older house but my query specifically relates to ceilings.
If you have lathe and plaster ceilings that are showing signs they need attention, if you’re going to do it properly, what do you do? Assuming you’re not just trying to patch it up and make do, if you want to take the opportunity of an open ceiling void, tidy up plumbing and wiring, perhaps run Ethernet, what should you do? Plasterboard? Or are there still people out there that will do fresh lathe and plaster?
What are the advantages and disadvantages if you stayed traditional? Some other factors in my case:
- it’s not a listed building but is in a conservation area (internal changes are not restricted but it’s just to make the point that it is a building that requires some level of sensitivity)
- it’s not exactly a building that’s entirely traditional. I.e it’s had a modern kitchen extension of which has used modern building materials.
I mention this because if the only reason not to plasterboard ceilings is to keep the building entirely original then that ship has sailed. I do want to be accommodating in keeping character and not adding additional poor building practices but for ceilings specifically it seems to me that it’s less of a visual impact if I were to choose a modern material but it’s a little more predictable to work with. Enlighten me!
Thanks in advance
I’m new to owning an older and characterful home having recently moved from a 1980s built ex-council house with timber frame, brick skin and cavity walls.
I’m now the proud owner of a circa 1870s stone built detached home with bags of character but also some deep scars from poor building practices over the years.
I started out perhaps as a few of you did, stumbling across Peter Ward’s website, YouTube videos and his book - “The warm dry home”.
Due to this, some of you may well be slightly confused, concerned or even horrified at my sheer mention of plasterboard.
So I know generally speaking it’s seen as evil nasty stuff that shouldn’t go anywhere near an older house but my query specifically relates to ceilings.
If you have lathe and plaster ceilings that are showing signs they need attention, if you’re going to do it properly, what do you do? Assuming you’re not just trying to patch it up and make do, if you want to take the opportunity of an open ceiling void, tidy up plumbing and wiring, perhaps run Ethernet, what should you do? Plasterboard? Or are there still people out there that will do fresh lathe and plaster?
What are the advantages and disadvantages if you stayed traditional? Some other factors in my case:
- it’s not a listed building but is in a conservation area (internal changes are not restricted but it’s just to make the point that it is a building that requires some level of sensitivity)
- it’s not exactly a building that’s entirely traditional. I.e it’s had a modern kitchen extension of which has used modern building materials.
I mention this because if the only reason not to plasterboard ceilings is to keep the building entirely original then that ship has sailed. I do want to be accommodating in keeping character and not adding additional poor building practices but for ceilings specifically it seems to me that it’s less of a visual impact if I were to choose a modern material but it’s a little more predictable to work with. Enlighten me!
Thanks in advance