Ceiling plaster board mesh – how to deal with it?
I have had to rethink a lot of things in my basement. One of them was cutting the plasterboard (with cement backing) right to the ceiling. I was going to cut it 1/2 way down the wall because the plasterboard was still good, but after seeing the wood frame behind it was rotten, I had no choice. So in the process of taking out boards the plasterboard that was still good has cracked so I trimmed in back to the ceiling. If you see in the picture, I cut back the plaster and board to the ceiling, but the mesh is still there. I am not sure how to deali with it. Should I cut it out? Should I leave it?
Also, this goes for the corners as well, since I have had to get rid of a lot more plasterboard than I originally thought.
Replies
I would leave it there.
Here is another image.
and another
How do I get the drywall to butt up against it considering it is in the way?
David.
As I said above:
"get as close as you can-push what's left up and back. Run your board up tight to the ceiling."
The mesh is pretty pliable. bend it back to the studs/plate-board (drywall) should work as planned.
Best of luck.
Probably ought to leave it, since trying to remove it will cause even more cracking. (It looks like they used the metal lath in the corners of the rock-lathed walls.) If you must remove it probably an abrasive cutoff blade in an angle grinder or die grinder is the way to go.
David
Experimentation in remodeling is a usual activity.
Try whatever you wish, pick the best.
The wire lath is / was on the surface of the plaster board. If you replace w/ drywall, it won't work.
I take a wide beater chisel, that I keep sharp and chop it off at the top plate/ceiling line. Usually do it b/4 I've removed the rock lath-gives some backing for the chisel.
You can use snips too, get as close as you can-push what's left up and back. Run your board up tight to the ceiling.
Best of luck.
I try to end up with a straight edge when dealing with situations like this. If some of the mesh is intact but has lost the plaster on it that's not a big deal, but it does require a little more work to fill the void. Basically it's a tradeoff between time to make what's there easier to sheetrock, vs. fitting the sheetrock around uneven areas and filling gaps such as the mesh areas.
Cutting through mesh is a pain so it's often better to leave it mostly intact and deal with some filling and whatnot.