Lath & Plaster ceiling repair help please

[Colin]

Hi,

Just removed an internal wall and am now looking to repair the ceiling.

The ceilings that I hope to join up are in good condition. They are lath and plaster and about 2" thick!

I was thinking of trimming to the nearest joists and securing plasterboard to the joists. Perhaps two thicknesses? And then plastering.

The thing I am worried about are cracks appearing along the join of the plasterboard and the existing ceiling. Due to the thickness taping is not possible(?)

Any suggestions?

TIA Colin

[John Rouse]

In article , Colin writes

Why not do the job properly with lime plaster? Its a much more suitable material for d-i-y use as it stays workable for anything up to 24 hours and you can pick the bits up off the floor (as long as its clean) and still use them - try doing that with gypsum plaster!

John

[BigWallop]

If you keep the edges of the plaster damp they shouldn't crack back. Also, if you overlap the new plaster on to the old plaster for a couple of inches and polish it over with a wet brush and a plaster float the cracks shouldn't appear at all.

[Colin]

Thanks I'll try that.

I was really thinking of cracks appearing after it has dried and the children start jumping around in the bedroom above. I may be just paranoid, but I was wondering if there was a technique to ensure that the join between the old and the new plaster didn't crack with time...

Colin

[The Natural Philosopher]

I'd say if you awant a 'period'look then use new lathe and lime mortar.

If you want it smooth, do as you describe. lay a layer of lining paper or indeed scrim over the over the finished joint, and skim.

Any cracks you do get can ultimatley be scraped out to a v notch, and filled with decorators caulk and re-painted.