What ceiling?

[Anne]

I need some advise working this out. We're replacing the gutters and discovered a large section of roof that is completely rotted and will have to be replaced. This means taking down the ceiling below which is nothing special and there is nothing special above it, I checked no old lath and plaster hiding there. We currently have plyboards as a ceiling that have been painted. As I want the house to breath nicely I'm going to the trouble to put up breathable felt and insulation the last thing I want to do is have plasterboard stopping my lovely breathing. Best solution would be laths and lime plaster, but I'm really worried about the costs as this whole roof was a surprise and I'm not skilled enough or strong enough to plaster a ceiling with lime. Is there any other breathable solution or should I just look at insulation up there until I can afford to have it lime plastered? Any suggestions?

 

[biffvernon]

Our bedroom ceiling is made of tongue and groove timber boards painted white, presumably done by someone face with a similar problem to yours. Pretty breathable if you keep away from the plastic paints.

 

[NT]

If you do that its a good idea to put PB above it as a fire break.

NT

 

[Anne]

Interesting idea, thanks for that its given me another option.

 

[NT]

Personally I think they look much better limed than painted.


NT

 

[Penners]

Anne

I think you have to ask yourself why this ceiling needs to be breathable. Assuming the roof is effective at keeping the weather out, and is properly ventilated, the ceiling shouldn't encounter any damp problems.

Lath & plaster would of course be the best solution from the point of view of aesthetics and being true to the building, but if you simply can't afford it I don't think you should lose too much sleep if you have to resort to plasterboard.

OK everyone: ready, aim, fire!

 

[Gervase]

Like Biff, we've got a T&G ceiling in one upstairs room (thanks to a slipped slate half a century back). It's been stripped back and limewashed and looks rather nice. So nice, in fact, that we're now thinking of doing the bathroom the same way.

 

[Ian Bond]

Is the ceiling made from ordinary floorboards Gervase, 3/4 inch thick or thereabouts? And do they have any bead mouldings to disguise the joint, or are they plain?

I've got some walls made of T&G flooring, and I think that they look fine in a cottage.

It must be arm-aching work doing a ceiling in t&g - it's hard enough putting them down as a floor when gravity is on your side! probably still a lot easier than trying to do a L&P ceiling from scratch, pushing plaster on with a trowel. I've only done small areas of repair that way and it was knackering.

Ian

 

[NT]

Its a whole lot easier using 9mm T&G

NT

 

[Ian Bond]

I thought that it must be something thinner than floorboards!