problem repairing lath ceiling

[Mark]

Hi

At long last I thought I'd have a look at the bulging polyfilla encrusted ceiling. Bad idea.

I stripped off the loose plaster and the polyfilla to find that some o the laths were broken. Patched them ok but most of the rest seem very very flexible. When I'm trying to plaster onto them they are moving loads, which means that the plaster to either side is also coming off.

I've never done laths before so is this normal? Or do I need to strip back under the joists and refasten them - or replace them?

Mark

 

[Penners]

If the laths are properly attached to all the joists, but are still very 'live', then I suspect that you may have problems getting any kind of satisfactory plastering job done. You may have to consider replacing them.

However, if the laths are in good condition and their flexing is because some of the nails have pulled through them, detaching them from some of the joists, then you may be able to get away with refixing them with screws and big washers. It's a good idea to use non-ferrous fixings, or at least galvanised.

 

[Mark]

cheers Penners

I've pulled a bit more plaster off and it seems that the ends of all of them are split so they are moving quite easily on the nails.

Looks like its going to be a bigger job than expected.

That's never happened before. :evil:

 

[Penners]

Mark - to avoid having to replace the laths (assuming they're in decent condition apart from the splits) you may still be able to rescue them if you use the screw-and-big-washer technique I mentioned above.

However, instead of driving each screw through the lath, drive it in right beside it - one on each side - so that the washers overlap the edges of the laths.

It's worth a try.

 

[Mark]

thats a good idea.

I'm pleased I checked back before starting to pull stuff off

:thumbs:

 

[Schoolmarm]

What are you plastering with?

 

[Mark]

a moderately fine lime plaster?

Sorry I don't understand why that makes a difference to the problem? Or do you mean what sort of float? In which case I'm using a mix of a small trowel and a standard float.

 

[Penners]

Mark - do let us know how you get on.