corrugated slate in the attic between rafters?

bryanb

It wasn't weird at the time. Plasterboard hadn't been invented

ormus

virtually every pre war house had the same ceiling construction.

looby-loo_2

My house has lath and plaster ceilings and internal walls. Best not disturb it as the 'hole' just gets bigger and bigger and you have to replace the whole ceiling/wall.
My house was built in 1908 and the lath and plaster areas are still flat or have gentle undulations. The kitchen ceiling extension is showing lines where the 4' x4' pieces of plasterboards join after just 20 years.

ronaldmacdonald

I think this house must have been very early 30's then - I am going to go very carefully around this lath and plaster concoction. The bits that have broken will have no structural benefit anymore so I will bin them as I go along. I am attempting to strip out all the old insulation which looks like its been there since the 30's as well :rolleyes: so I can track the electrics and sort out replacing the horrendous old eyeball spotlights all over the upstairs with some nice "normal" lights. I will see when I come to pull out the spots what happens as I will have no choice but to bang about a bit to fill the hole.
If it goes it goes. C'est la vie.

DVardysShadow

ronaldmacdonald wrote: »

I think this house must have been very early 30's then - I am going to go very carefully around this lath and plaster concoction. The bits that have broken will have no structural benefit anymore so I will bin them as I go along. I am attempting to strip out all the old insulation which looks like its been there since the 30's as well :rolleyes: so I can track the electrics and sort out replacing the horrendous old eyeball spotlights all over the upstairs with some nice "normal" lights. I will see when I come to pull out the spots what happens as I will have no choice but to bang about a bit to fill the hole.
If it goes it goes. C'est la vie.

Oh dear.

Leave well alone - don't even attempt to clear up the broken bits, in case you get a little carried away. Eyeball spotlights are bad news too - the grip will now be destroyed for substantial areas.

Your best bet now, I fear, is to plan to replace the ceilings at a time of your choosing. In our place years ago, we had 1 ceiling come down unplanned and it was a complete disaster, mess and filth everywhere. We ultimately replaced all of the ceilings in the house - and we had 2 which showed imminent signs of collapse - we just bit the bullet, cleared the rooms and took them down ourselves at a time of our choosing. That was a whole lot more satisfactory than the one which fell.

Sorry to see you going into this.

ronaldmacdonald

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Oh dear.
In our place years ago, we had 1 ceiling come down unplanned and it was a complete disaster, mess and filth everywhere.

:eek: I'm going to stop reading this thread - it's making me paranoid. I really *don't* want it to come down now - planned or unplanned. It looks pretty solid from below. I am going to pul up the floorboards and see if this stuff is on the downstairs ceilings as well - I am pretty sure it will be

wrote:

...we had 2 which showed imminent signs of collapse..

Out of curiosity what outward symptom was there? Buldging/cracking?

ormus

my DD/SIL bought the house facing mine. its a 1935 semi.
he demolished every ceiling in the house and installed new PB ones. what a filthy job!
it does look good though.
plus new CH & windows, & laminate floors.
he spent months doing the house before they moved in.

keystone

ronaldmacdonald wrote: »

I am going to pul up the floorboards and see if this stuff is on the downstairs ceilings as well - I am pretty sure it will be

You don't have to 99.999% its lath and plaster ceiling. Why are you sad? Nothing wrong with L&P as a plastering method. Its just not how its done now.

Cheers

keystone

ormus wrote: »

he demolished every ceiling in the house and installed new PB ones. what a filthy job!

Only ever took one down - before I learned! Never again. Overboard and skim is the only way to go.

Cheers

DVardysShadow

ronaldmacdonald wrote: »

:eek: I'm going to stop reading this thread - it's making me paranoid. I really *don't* want it to come down now - planned or unplanned. It looks pretty solid from below. I am going to pul up the floorboards and see if this stuff is on the downstairs ceilings as well - I am pretty sure it will be

As keystone says, don't bother. It's 99.9% certain. Or you can just tap it and work it out that way if you are good.

ronaldmacdonald wrote: »

Out of curiosity what outward symptom was there? Buldging/cracking?

Yes. Creaking when the door is opened or closed. Falling dust. Or you can just tap it [gently] and work it out that way if you are good.

Actually once you know you have the problem, it is best just to face it head on and plan your decorating accordingly. If you had planned to decorate a room a year, just cut down to 2 every 3 years - one where you change the ceiling, one where you leave it to next time. And replace ceilings in ranking order of how imminent they are to come down. I am sorry to be bearer of bad news on this - but you are far better to take them down at a time of your choosing.