Removing Plaster sheets

[mattbl]

Hi All
I'm planning on embarking on a repair job where I need to remove the plaster sheeting from the external walls and ceiling in my study.
I only want to take ot 2 of the 4 walls and the ceiling though (study on ground floor of 2 story house).

Can I remove the cornice from the wall not being removed without ruining the sheet that its attached to in order to get the ceiling sheet out?
I was also thinking of running a sharp knife down the internal corners of the walls and carefully removing the sheet from the butt joints.
Or should I just scrap the entire room and start fresh?


Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Matt

[rod@plasterbrok]

Yes the cornice can be removed ok. As you have mentioned, run the knife along the junction of the wall cornice as well. This will prevent the paper face tearing down the wall.

I use a 3" joint knife to break the bond of the cornice along the wall. Depending on how well attached it is you may need to work along the wall with the joint knife tapping it with a hammer. Have busted more than one joint knife doing this but it works well.

Cheers Rod

[pawnhead]

What's wrong with your ceiling, and what's the repair job mattbl?

I use a 3" joint knife to break the bond of the cornice along the wall. Depending on how well attached it is you may need to work along the wall with the joint knife tapping it with a hammer. Have busted more than one joint knife doing this but it works well.

I just used that method this weekend replacing a masonite wall. I managed to save the cornice for re-use. I know they're cheap, but it's less rubbish to get rid of. Split the handle on my scraper at the end though.

Now there's just one masonite wall left in that bedroom, but it's not as rotten as the old external wall was. That wall was leaking, and I had to virtually re build it.
I've removed the cover strips and corner quads from the masonite on the one remaining wall, and gappo'd it up so it matches the rest of the room a bit better, but I know the masonite will keep moving between seasons.

Another job for another day, but I'll have to make a new handle for my scraper first.

[mattbl]

What's wrong with your ceiling, and what's the repair job mattbl?

1. The fundamental problem with our house is that it has an open floor plan on the ground level therefore given the long joist spans the first level floor is real bouncy.
When you walk on the upper level the entire upper level floor creaks and cracks. It's structurally sound though it's just real annoying. I'm investigating where I can add support to the first level floor by accessing through the ground level ceiling.

2. Double story house is in situated on a hill with minimum protection from the north and north west. In Melboune that's where the bulk of the strong winds come from autumn, summer, spring. The main bedroom is on the north / northwest corner (study underneath) and when the wind gets up say over 40 knots there is a creaking joist and ratlle noises that drives me nuts! I've sealed up around the exterior of the windows but this hasn't made any real difference. I'm guessing its the wind pressurising the cavity between the brick and plaster wall making these noises.

So what I'm looking at doing is:
1. Removing the plaster wall and ceiling in the study (under the main bedroom).
2. Securing the floor joists better by adding 'L grip' fasteners
3. Adding some noggins to the floor joists to try and minimise some of the bounce.
4. Add insulation to ground level ceiling and external walls.
5. Double layer gyprock on the exterior walls.

I know it sounds extreme to go to all this expense and effort but we really love where we are and don't want to move. But feel we need to be happy at the same time. Not being able to sleep properly is half the battle.

I wish I knew what I know now and this house would have been a lot different.
There's no way the houses of today built using light materials are going to last the years like the houses of the older times.
Another example of our throw away society and builders mass constructing on the cheap.......

Cheers

Matt