Suggestions on how to finish ceiling between wooden beams

[Moo]

But there's a difference between 'out-of-line' and 'lumpy-bumpy'.
When they wanted to, in the important areas of a house, artisans in the past could do a pretty smooth job.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Absolutely! I'm sure they took a great pride in their work and the smoothness of the finish.

But also, things that started life very smooth and true are now out of line and lumpy bumpy, and that lovely patina is to be enjoyed as well.

"All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
Praise him."

 

[mm289]

and the debate rages on - not bad for my 2nd post eh? :lol:

To Masochists-r-us the finish you describe (lime plastered on top of board and rockwool as oppossed to lumpy bumpy :wink: ) is just the sort of thing I was thinking of. Don't suppose you have any pictures do you?

I am guessing it took a while as it must have been pretty fiddly?

I am also considering suggestions to just polyfilla the cracks between plasterboard and beam and paint rather than pull down the existing plasterboard, which i agree will save a lot of work. My problem with that is two fold:
1. The existing plasterboard has either very thick emulsion or thin artex painted on with a "lined" finish, lots of long lines - looks awful and can't see how painting plain plasterboard can give a good finish.
2. I kinda subscribe to the premise that it was done properly in previous generations and the workers new what they were doing, but if anything - that drives me more towards plastering and limewash rather than simply painting or skimming plasterboard, i would always know it wasn't the "best" finish and that would bug me - nearly as much as it bugs me the way the people who "restored" this place in the '80's have tried to ruin it by short cuts and cost cuts

Just my view of course but as ever, appreciate all the input on these forums as that is what triggers good ideas and innovation.

Cheers,

Paul.

 

[masochists-r-us]

Paul,
Photo attached.
I would suggest that if you're happy with the sound insulation given by your current arrangement, plaster, paint and forget about it. If not, why not remove the plasterboard, but leave the batons in place as this was the fiddliest bit of the job.

 

[chapel]

Hi Paul,

it sounds as if we have pretty much the same situation as you, and no doubt many others on here. On the basement, ground floor and first floor we have beamed ceilings just the same as in masochhists picture above. Ours were all infilled in the 70's with a combination of hardboard and rockwool and covered in a light artex. No the prettiest by todays tastes but they did a pretty good job.

Just counting up, if we were to replace all this we'd be looking at removing, then cutting/fitting/plastering/painting around 100 panels (each about 7ft x 2ft) - that's a lot of work...

completely agree with Masochists here - if you're happy with the sound insulation, and the infills are pretty sound, i'd just look at skimming over and painting. That's our plan.

Paul

 

[dans]

Resurrecting an old thread here, but thought I'd share my solution to filling the gaps between exposed beams. Not the correct way, but it does look good, we filled the gaps with solid insulation, plasterboard between the joists, then used a one-coat plaster, steel troweled but slightly wavy, to give a oldy-worldy appearance and a more textured finish than standard pink plaster.

The finish result looks like its old lime plaster, plus it dries white so no need to paint it!

 

[Zebra]

I inserted new laths on new battens, then a lime/hemp base coat, and lime/sand top coat, but then, I'm probably being even more of a masochist than masochists-r-us! And my house is only small.....

 

[robgil]

I would also consider a sound deadening material as the ceiling to floor above space isnt the biggest and sound will travel through it , in both directions.