Plasterboard without skim?

[Lacan07]

I did a board, tape and fill joint a few years ago on all the walls of a room. The owners said that they would strip off all the plaster and have it ready for me. Luckily I saw them before I started and they told me it was all ready. When I asked them if they had used the laths for kindling they told me that they didn't realize the laths had to come off. They did remove them all and de-nail all the studs for when I got there.
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removing all those nails is the most mind numbing job in my experience but it makes you appreciate how much work goes into lath & plaster and why they charge so much these days.

 

[lizziecupcakes]

Thanks all, it’s not something we wanted to do at all. It would have let all sorts fall through including millions of nails and sharps. The previous owner left the loft space in a right state. Our decision was based on that. We arent too worried at all as the plasterer we have also did a neighbours with the same limitations and it’s looked great for months now. It’s just a small risk we were willing to take vs sharps raining down on us.

 

[lizziecupcakes]

It also gives us an opportunity to apply lime plaster in the future future

 

[Kearn]

Unless you were intending to get those laths lime plastered there wasn't much point in leaving them there to be honest, other than the fact as you say the old lime came off very easily. You may have well just ripped it all out with the back of a hammer. I'm not sure any gypsum plasterer will enjoy over-boarding that ceiling with plasterboard.

Indeed. They’ll want a flat set of clean joists, de-nailed.

 

[fernicarry]

Laths vary in thickness so attaching boards with them still in place is more of a battle. You'll also curse them if you decide to fit downlights or anything else that needs a cutout in the ceiling. On the positive side they help to bring the plasterboard out closer to the level of the original plaster so less depth of skim required.

 

[lizziecupcakes]

Laths vary in thickness so attaching boards with them still in place is more of a battle. You'll also curse them if you decide to fit downlights or anything else that needs a cutout in the ceiling. On the positive side they help to bring the plasterboard out closer to the level of the original plaster so less depth of skim required.

Yes, all of this is true and we considered it all, thank you for sharing

Our chosen plasterer also felt leaving them would help with levelling with the cornices. I guess we will have to see what happens and I can report our experiences here if it’s helpful to anyone.

 

[paulc]

It also gives us an opportunity to apply lime plaster in the future future

I found a lot of the nail heads rusted through when I took my ceilings down. Really wouldn't have wanted to put lime plaster back on. After ripping the laths down and denailing, I took the opportunity to stuff 100mm of loft insulation between the joists and made sure it went right up to the walls. That has helped to reduce the cold spot around the perimeter of the room.

 

[lizziecupcakes]

I found a lot of the nail heads rusted through when I took my ceilings down. Really wouldn't have wanted to put lime plaster back on. After ripping the laths down and denailing, I took the opportunity to stuff 100mm of loft insulation between the joists and made sure it went right up to the walls. That has helped to reduce the cold spot around the perimeter of the room.

That’s great @paulc . Could you have added the insulation from the loft though? Or is it difficult to get to it?

we probably won’t apply plaster to the laths in the future, it was just more a pro on the list. we also won’t add down lights - just our personal taste. We don’t have any except in the Bathroom for good lighting.

The laths are in good condition and look level. They did a good job over 100 years ago lol

 

[paulc]

Could you have added the insulation from the loft though? Or is it difficult to get to it?

Like most lofts, mine is full of crap stuff and partially boarded (about 75%). Getting right up under the eaves is next to impossible, and my caving days are over, so no real desire to go crawling around in grubby spaces. Taking the laths down has provided kindling for the next three years.

 

[lizziecupcakes]

That’s great, I’m glad it’s warmer for you. We found a really great plasterer who is very experienced and dedicated who did a good job on neighbours with same situation- laths left intact. There is a risk of cracks appearing either way for anyone putting plastering on their ceiling in a period property.

 

[Cubist]

sharps

Sharps! Crikey, was the house some kind of drug den or just the usual collection of old nails, screws and copper pipe off-cuts?