Progress on the Bedroom Ceiling
Tonight we finished off the bedroom ceiling. Removing the original (badly damaged) ceiling will allow us to reinforce the joists under the master bathroom.
This ceiling ended up coming down pretty quick...
...the bigger job was bagging it up! Thankfully the job just took two nights, not three like we'd expected...that means we get tomorrow night off!
We're guessing a whole room might take 4ish evenings or most of a day. If that's true, getting the second floor done (3 rooms and the hall and stairway) could take several weekends on our own. The great news is that we've gotten offers from friends to help. So, we're hoping to make quite a bit of progress this weekend.
However, we'll be holding off on the second floor ceilings a bit longer. Even though we were able to get most of the old insulation out, the loose material over the master bedroom dormer proved beyond us and our feeble tools. So, we're bringing in the big guns--a professional is coming Monday to suck the rest out. While we're disappointed we couldn't finish it off ourselves, we can't say we'll miss the haz-mat suits!
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Comments
Um, next time you may want to leave most of the lath in place. It makes putting drywall up much easier. Assuming that that is what you are going to do.
Posted by: Gary leitzell | May 5, 2004 8:19 AM
If I lived in Chicago I'd offer to help! For me there was such an overwhelming feeling when we started pulling the plaster off the walls and ceiling, it's that fear that once you start things will never be the same. I was really scared, but everything turned out okay, the house didn't fall down and the patched walls look so much better! You seem so calm! Your house is going to look so awesome!
Posted by: em | May 5, 2004 8:29 AM
Gary, wish we could have. Bad, bad water damage to the lathe. Rotting pieces of it, actually. Health issues didn't make it worthwhile.
Plus, we needed total access to sister those joists.
Thanks though.
Posted by: jm | May 5, 2004 10:36 AM
How would you remove the plaster without removing the lathe? We have plaster and lathe walls that need to be replaced.
Can you put new electric/plumbing behind or a new heating system if you leave up the lathe?
Would you be able to hang the drywall behind the current molding/trim? Or would you have to take that off?
Sorry for asking so many questions...
Posted by: kDgirll | May 5, 2004 10:44 AM
kDgrll--
Gary tried to send a message to you at the email address you posted, no luck though. So he's asked me to post it here--thanks! jm:
If you remove all the lath from your walls it is likely that the joists are not even and they will have to be shimmed in order for the drywall to be level. You need only remove the lathe between those joists that you intend to install new plumbing. Electric lines can be inserted behind the lathe using an electricians fish line. It is quite easy to repair plaster and not replace it. Large areas can be removed and drywall used as the patch. Joint compound can be used to level the walls or retexture them. Small areas can be patched using patching plaster over chicken wire that has been stapled to the lathe and leveled with joint compound. It is often easier to remove molding and replace it after the walls are done. Plaster can be removed from lathe by using a sturdy scraper or a pry bar to break the "key" that attaches it to the lathe.
Here is my House Website. You will see that this is quite a project. I have had to repair and smooth out many walls and ceilings, cover openings that have been made as well as rewire the place and replumb it. I have left as many walls intact as possible. If you have a specific question, I can probably answer it or direct you to a resource that will explain it.
Gary Leitzell
Posted by: jm | May 5, 2004 11:42 AM
I can really feel your pain on this one. We just removed ALL of the Plaster, Lath and filth from the 23X14 living room and the 9X11 bedroom of our 1923 Bungalow. We have finally managed to get rid of all the lath, after cutting it all into 1' sections.(We have ONE city provided garbage can)We get to spend the next umpteen weeks getting rid of the plaster bags. Out of all the unpleasant tasks (such as the initial kitchen cleaning), I think I hated this one the most!
I have received so much encouragement from your website, as we have been working nonstop for two years trying to get our place livable. I have tackled almost all of the renovations myself, from replacing all of the plumbing and wiring, moving walls and window and door openings. I think your bathroom turned our great! We started with ours too, and it is now the only %100 complete room in the house.
Keep up the good work. You will get there before you know it...and the best part is that you have a custom home that you are intimately familiar with.
Regards,
Sean
Posted by: Sean | May 12, 2004 4:55 PM