Hey everyone, I have got to rip down a plaster ceiling in a bath, in the morning.
I was curious if any of you had a favorite method and tips for keeping the stuff out of your face and lungs?
This bath has been a real chore. Mud cap tile, wire lath, and instead of padding out the walls to where they needed to be with an extra sheet of plaster board they just used mud. The mud on the walls was about an inch and an eigth thick over the wire then the tile.
We still have the floor to demo too. Mud job of course.
Webby
Replies
Not sure if this will be much help, but...
I have torn out a LOT of these. I found the only way to keep this stuff out of your face is to get as close to it as possible. Get on a ladder with your head close to the ceiling. I am also a big fan of respirators. I even wear them to tear out drywall. I know, crazy, but I hate inhaling any of that junk. You'll probably find some nice rockwool up there, too (as I'm sure you know). I have not found any way of keeping that out of anywhere. I have always just tried to cover up as good as possible and wear layers, or bring other clothes for when I'm done.
The good thing about tearing out ceilings is that gravity works with you for once! I paid my dues in those nasty, dusty, hot, stinky bathrooms. Did this one have one of those "cave" showers covered wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling with tile? Those are my favorite!
Oh, yeah, I also always try to get something on the floor to catch debris (plastic, dropcloth) and take time to clean up a lot. The plastic or drop can be a help in picking a lot of stuff up at once.
I am not sure how many of these floors you've taken out, and since I'm new here I'm also not sure of your history, but in my region (Cincinnati area) under the mud floor are chamfered joists that will need scabbed and leveled. Got a good system for that if you are interested. Once there's a good crack in those floors, they crumble and come up pretty easily (with a 2lb BFH and pry bar!).
Hope this helps any.
Jed
Edited 11/18/2008 9:03 pm ET by Jed42
Hey thanks. This house dates back to the 50's no insulation in the walls I don't thin there is any in the ceiling. No shower either just a nice blue bathtub. Sub floor is oak on the diagonal.
Bathroom is original I beleive. cabinetry built in place was either fir or redwood, painted.
I plan on getting up close. That is probably a good idea to take some different clothes.Webby
Blue cast iron tub + sledge hammer=less weight to carry to the truck! I always enjoyed busting those things up...No Coffee No Workee!
Yeah, I think the plan is to bust this one up. Taking stuff out the window in the bath. I made a few trips to the dump trailer today.
At about 32 degrees the bed of the trailer was slicker than snot.
Webby
Edited 11/18/2008 9:52 pm ET by webby
I noticed that champher here in Lex,Ky in a 1915 home..any idea why they did that?Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
It was explained to me this way...
The chamfer allows for screeding the mud base without twisty floor joists getting in the way. Also they only cover the tops of the floor joist with the mud. Flat spots with thin mud on them crack easily.
Seems to me those things last a long time that way, but those old floors are usually cracked by the time I we get to them. I have had a harder time tearing out wonderboard than those mud bases...though they are awfully nasty.
Hope that was what you were looking for...
Jed
No Coffee No Workee!
Edited 11/19/2008 7:21 pm ET by Jed42
Makes sense now, thanks.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
Its going to be nasty! Get a attic vent fan and build a 20 x 20 inside size box to house it in. 20 x 20 is to fit a furnace filter. Place in the window blowing out and this will keep most of the dust out of the house. Filter goes on the room side to protect the fan some.
Put some metal screen over the outer side of the box to keep fingers out.
The boss put a fan in the window.
It was short notice, so I am not really prepared. I kind of wish I had a tyvek suit to wear. To help keep me pretty, That is what I hate about any cement material the dust ruins my hairdo lol.
At least it is not a great big bathroom.
Webby
Edited 11/18/2008 9:53 pm ET by webby
Don't forget the GOOD dust mast with two straps!! Hd has the tyvek suits
Thanks.
Well the ceiling is down but the floor has wire in it too. What fun.Webby
No cracks in this floor. Oak subfloor layed on the diagonal, tar paper, wire lath, cement, and tile.
Took the big hammer to it, well tell the head flew off.Webby