#TEARING DOWN LATH AND PLASTER WALLS HOW TO#
#TEARING DOWN LATH AND PLASTER WALLS INSTALL#
#TEARING DOWN LATH AND PLASTER WALLS WINDOWS#

It’s really important to clear away at the end of stage 1, when all the plaster is on the floor. On really poor ceilings the trowel can be slid underneath the plasterwork and large pieces can be levered away. Working in front of yourself, tap the plasterwork with your hammer to break it up and if it doesn’t drop away, keep tapping it and then either use the claw on your hammer or lever the plasterwork off with the trowel. Remove the plaster using a claw hammer or similar and a stout trowel.Read removing lath and plaster from above if applicable. Removing a lath and plaster ceiling is a three stage process (assuming that you are removing it from underneath).

#TEARING DOWN LATH AND PLASTER WALLS WINDOWS#

Obviously if you tackle the job in broad daylight and there are windows…… Ventilationīit obvious this one, but you should open any windows if you can and don’t forget your dust mask! Step by step guide to take down your lath and plaster ceiling….

#TEARING DOWN LATH AND PLASTER WALLS INSTALL#

Once the room is cleared and sheeted down, including the floor, you may need to install your temporary lighting and remove any light fittings in the ceiling and make safe any wires that you disconnect (don’t forget to isolate the supply first!). Don’t ask me how I discovered that little gem as a young apprentice! Lighting The dust is very fine in particle size and it gets everywhere, really, I mean it, everywhere! If you have to sheet down some stuff, I would recommend that you include a polythene layer as the dust is often fine enough to go through the average dust sheet.

All that mess comes from the accumulated dust on top of your old plasterwork and from within the plasterwork itself. You can also just make out the trestles which, when coupled with scaffold battens made a perfect working platform for removing this high ceiling. Oh, and in case you were wondering, this kitchen was coming out. Seriously, it makes so much dust that I recommend that you remove everything from the room and seal off the doors with masking tape before you start. Before you start please consider………”The mess”

Electrical screwdrivers for removing old light fittings.

Rubble sacks (or Gorilla style tubs if you have a skip).

Dust protection such as Polythene and dustsheets.

Optional other gear… (depending on your situation)

Shovel, sweeping brush, dustpan etc and vacuum cleaner (preferably not the missus’s best one!).

Pick axe (optional but useful for getting the old laths down).Working platform, sturdy step ladders or builders trestles etc.Some Tools… (obviously, unless you’re really, really strong…)įortunately you won’t need many and you may already have them in your tool kit. What you need to take down a lath & plaster ceiling…. Fair enough then, enough with the burb, lets get on with the job. But if your ceilings are economically beyond repair, it’s understandable that you want all the mess out of the way now, while you are still upside down.

#TEARING DOWN LATH AND PLASTER WALLS HOW TO#

Taking lath and plaster down should arguably be a last resort though, (if you want to repair your lath and plaster ceiling, follow the link to the “ How to Repair Lath and Plaster Ceilings” page next door instead). Uh oh….so you’ve got a period lath and plaster ceiling that needs to come down hmm? Luckily, it’s not all bad news, but I won’t lie to you, it can be hard work and very messy! That said, taking down a lath and plaster ceiling is an perfectly possible DIY project, even for relative beginners.

Tearing down lath and plaster walls