Walls and Ceilings - Refinishing Plaster/Mortar Ceilings with "Swirls"
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heathwa
01-15-08, 09:24 PM
My wife and I are trying to get ready for our first child (Due May 1st), which many of you know means home improvement work.
We own a 1940's Cape Cod home and I am contemplating some ceiling work for which I would really appreciate some advice. I’ve uploaded a few pictures to the following site if anyone is willing to lend some advice: http://s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj191/heathwa/?albumview=slideshow
Our ceilings have a very 1940’s plaster “swirl” design on them throughout the house. In some areas, including our nursery to be, the plaster swirls were flaking off (no water damage by the way) of the ceiling and it just plain looks bad, so I have undertaken an effort to get that ceiling fixed up. This is not the circa 1970s popcorn…..
The ceilings seem to be some sort of concrete/mortar sheets -- they are not drywall and they don't have lathe (there is concrete inside and some sort of plaster on the outside). They are attached directly to the rafters in the attic. In some cases all of the material comes off and sometimes the adhesive is still visible. The ceiling material is very strong so I have been taking a chisel and hammer to scrape it all off. I am about ½ of the way done, but want to make sure I am not wasting my time or doing something out of left field.
In some areas where the sheets some together there are small cracks or noticeable lines, which I will need to patch/cover. Is anyone familiar with these types of ceilings and do you have any advice? My wife wanted to knock down the ceiling and throw new drywall up, but I don't want to do that since there is loose insulation in the attic. I was planning on scraping all of the swirl materials off and using some sort of plaster/drywall compound to smooth out the cracks and noticeable lines before sanding and painting. Or, I could get all the large swirls off and throw ¼ inch drywall up and screw it directly threw the existing ceiling into the rafters.
I sure would appreciate any advice! -- thanks.
We own a 1940's Cape Cod home and I am contemplating some ceiling work for which I would really appreciate some advice. I’ve uploaded a few pictures to the following site if anyone is willing to lend some advice: http://s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj191/heathwa/?albumview=slideshow
Our ceilings have a very 1940’s plaster “swirl” design on them throughout the house. In some areas, including our nursery to be, the plaster swirls were flaking off (no water damage by the way) of the ceiling and it just plain looks bad, so I have undertaken an effort to get that ceiling fixed up. This is not the circa 1970s popcorn…..
The ceilings seem to be some sort of concrete/mortar sheets -- they are not drywall and they don't have lathe (there is concrete inside and some sort of plaster on the outside). They are attached directly to the rafters in the attic. In some cases all of the material comes off and sometimes the adhesive is still visible. The ceiling material is very strong so I have been taking a chisel and hammer to scrape it all off. I am about ½ of the way done, but want to make sure I am not wasting my time or doing something out of left field.
In some areas where the sheets some together there are small cracks or noticeable lines, which I will need to patch/cover. Is anyone familiar with these types of ceilings and do you have any advice? My wife wanted to knock down the ceiling and throw new drywall up, but I don't want to do that since there is loose insulation in the attic. I was planning on scraping all of the swirl materials off and using some sort of plaster/drywall compound to smooth out the cracks and noticeable lines before sanding and painting. Or, I could get all the large swirls off and throw ¼ inch drywall up and screw it directly threw the existing ceiling into the rafters.
I sure would appreciate any advice! -- thanks.