1950s home Plaster????

owwdotz

Hi! 

Wondering if anyone could offer some sound advise please, I have bought a 1950s house and it needs completely renovating. I’m doing nearly all DIY. I can plaster etc although do not do it by trade Hense the reason I’m asking this question. 

Should I overboard the ceilings and walls? 

The ceilings have large cracks in going the full length of the room almost in the shape of boards although I assume they are not due to the age. The walls are not straight so I’m wondering weather I should plaster over the top of the existing plaster which does have some hollow spots so would I just pull these off untill solid and put some bonding in to bring back up or would you suggest ripping it all off and dot and dab the walls? 

Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Keep the sarcastic dumb comments to yourself. Really isn’t worth the energy. 

THANKYOU!! 

FreeBear

Are you sure the ceilings are plasterboard ?

1950s, I would have expected lath & lime plaster - Have a look in the loft (or lift a floorboard). If you can see thin strips of wood with lumps of a white plaster squeezed through, then it is lath & plaster. Check to see if you have any areas starting to sag. Large cracks and sagging areas would suggest that the nails holding the laths up are failing (either rust or general old age). If this is the case, remove the plaster, laths, and all the nails and put up new boards. Use the opportunity to put in new cabling and modify plumbing if needed.  Also gives you a chance to fix any cold spots in the loft insulation.

Stripping all the plaster of walls is not needed unless you are planning to insulate the walls internally - Not a bad idea if funds allow. If you remove more than 25% of the plaster from the external walls, building regs would require you to insulate (same if you remove more than 25% of the ceilings).

stuart45

I would take down the ceilings rather than overboard. The 1950's was the decade when plasterboard and lath and plaster were both being used, so it could be either. The walls could be lime plaster, or sand/cement and  plaster skim. 

owwdotz

stuart45 said:

I would take down the ceilings rather than overboard. The 1950's was the decade when plasterboard and lath and plaster were both being used, so it could be either. The walls could be lime plaster, or sand/cement and  plaster skim. 

Hi, 
Thank you for the response. 
Ok so its best to get the ceilings down regardless? and what would be the best method to tackle the walls?
The cracks is one issue but in one of the bedrooms it seems like a skim coat is peeling off. Im told the house was built by two different companies. one done downstairs and one done the upstairs.

stuart45

Plasterboard is a lot easier to take down and replace than lath and plaster if it needs doing. If it's really stable you might be able to just repair the cracks with tape and fill. Depends how far you want to go. Any loose or blown plaster needs to come off the walls. 

owwdotz

pictures of the cracks

owwdotz

stuart45 said:

Plasterboard is a lot easier to take down and replace than lath and plaster if it needs doing. If it's really stable you might be able to just repair the cracks with tape and fill. Depends how far you want to go. Any loose or blown plaster needs to come off the walls. 

iv attached some photos of the type of thing I am dealing with.

stuart45

Does look like plasterboard going by the cracks. I have repaired cracks like that with tape and fill for people, but it's up to you if you rip them down. Now is the time, especially on a full refurb with a rewire etc. 
On the window reveal pic, is that a vertical felt DPC in the crack?

FreeBear

owwdotz said: pictures of the cracks

Those cracks in the ceiling is certainly indicative of plasterboard. Straight lines and at 90 degrees.

I'd be looking at removal and putting new boards up - Use screws, not nails. Use a scrim mesh on the joints/corners, and cracks should appear again. Put insulated plasterboard on the walls and fill in that !!!!!! useless vent in the wall. Use some Aerogel on the window reveals to avoid a cold spot in that area.

The problem with overboarding is in trying to get the PB screws to hit the joists first time, every time - Near on impossible. It also adds to the weight the joists are supporting which is a problem if the timbers are marginally sized for the building.

owwdotz

stuart45 said:

Does look like plasterboard going by the cracks. I have repaired cracks like that with tape and fill for people, but it's up to you if you rip them down. Now is the time, especially on a full refurb with a rewire etc. 
On the window reveal pic, is that a vertical felt DPC in the crack?

Thanks!
Yeah a full rewire is happening so may be easier to get the ceilings down, There isnt cracks or atleast many cracks in the ground floor ceilings so could these potentially be overboarded, or do we have the same problem (they originally had polestyrene on and has left lots of hard glue residue, they are also extremely unlevel) ill attach a closer photo of the large crack it seems to be a black mortar type material not a felt DPC.

owwdotz

@FreeBear Thank you for your reply!
Removal of the ceiling boards and replace with new! gotcha!
In terms of the walls do you recommend a dot and dab insulated plasterboard everywhere?
Yes them useless vents are going theres one in every room haha!
Also Aerogel, Right ill write that down thankyou!