Walls and Ceilings - Removing a portion of a plaster wall
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Shaymer
11-03-05, 12:37 PM
I've got a plaster wall between a bedroom and a 4x4 room with stairs leading to my attic. It is not weight baring. I want to remove the wall and door and connect these to rooms so that the stairs to the attic are exposed and part of the bedroom. It will also be larger and getting things up to the attic will not involve going through 2 doors and a very tight corner.
Here's what I know
1. Cut power
2. Remove and relocate electircal switch from wall.
3. Remove trim from door. (how and with what)
4. Chissle and break away wall with hammer(s)
Now it gets hairy
How do I cut the remaining portions of the wall so that the edges and corners are clean and straight? Can I use a saws all? Can I just apply trim over the cut portions of the plaster, or do I need to cut too much and reframe with 2by and sheetrock?
The house is 90 years old and solid, but the trim is original, expensive, and impossible to match/
Thanks
Shaymer
Here's what I know
1. Cut power
2. Remove and relocate electircal switch from wall.
3. Remove trim from door. (how and with what)
4. Chissle and break away wall with hammer(s)
Now it gets hairy
How do I cut the remaining portions of the wall so that the edges and corners are clean and straight? Can I use a saws all? Can I just apply trim over the cut portions of the plaster, or do I need to cut too much and reframe with 2by and sheetrock?
The house is 90 years old and solid, but the trim is original, expensive, and impossible to match/
Thanks
Shaymer
marksr
11-03-05, 01:33 PM
Welcome to the forums
When removing the old trim, first cut [with a utility knife] any caulking and/or paint. You may be able to carefully pry the trim loose. Sometimes it is benificial to take a punch and drive the nails completely through the wood. If the wood comes loose but not off you might use a sawsall to cut the nails from behind. It will likely take a combination of these to get all the trim off. Main thing is to go slowly, as you said it is hard [if not impossible] to replace old woodwork.
As far as the wall goes a sawsall should work for getting everything ready. You can either add drywall and patch the plaster or use wood to create a fake post and beam.
When removing the old trim, first cut [with a utility knife] any caulking and/or paint. You may be able to carefully pry the trim loose. Sometimes it is benificial to take a punch and drive the nails completely through the wood. If the wood comes loose but not off you might use a sawsall to cut the nails from behind. It will likely take a combination of these to get all the trim off. Main thing is to go slowly, as you said it is hard [if not impossible] to replace old woodwork.
As far as the wall goes a sawsall should work for getting everything ready. You can either add drywall and patch the plaster or use wood to create a fake post and beam.
Shaymer
11-09-05, 09:07 AM
Thanks, thats a good idea for the trim.
For the plaster, I'm going to line up both sides of the by drilling small holes
(There's stairs connected to the wall on one side and a lower ceiling on the other)
Then just connect the dots with a pencil.
Use a strong utility knife, or a rotozip to cut the pencil lines
Then chissle away what I don't want.
Cut away with a saws all
Build up and trim what's left.
For the plaster, I'm going to line up both sides of the by drilling small holes
(There's stairs connected to the wall on one side and a lower ceiling on the other)
Then just connect the dots with a pencil.
Use a strong utility knife, or a rotozip to cut the pencil lines
Then chissle away what I don't want.
Cut away with a saws all
Build up and trim what's left.