removing ceiling, bit concerned about black dust and cleanup

[ajrobb]

they are the cork/mdf/hair type boards which are sagging in places/joint marks appearing/wavy ceiling

it doesn't sound like lathe and plaster though

 

[1stProject]

hi ajrobb, the boards are like hair type wood softer mdf type that comes apart easily, is this fibre glass? how worried should i be about asbestos?

 

[ajrobb]

hi ajrobb, the boards are like hair type wood softer mdf type that comes apart easily, is this fibre glass? how worried should i be about asbestos?

For your sake, I hope it is just soft board - used for notice boards.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

hi ajrobb, the boards are like hair type wood softer mdf type that comes apart easily, is this fibre glass? how worried should i be about asbestos?

1stProject; Have you any pictures that you could upload of the ceilings, so we can make a more informative response, sounds a strange type surface.
But to be honest if I can locate the joist, any cable and pipe work. I overboard straight to the surface.
If it's sagging boardes I screw them back up tight, if it's knackered lath/plaster and the property is empty, down it comes!

 

[1stProject]

thanks patienceboyofderry, the board wont be stong enough to hold screws, i will put up a pic tonight though, my ceeling rounds off at the edges so i thinks thats where the lath and plaster will be, hoping noto to touch on that if i can avoid it

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Don't screw to the boards, you locate joist then screw into that.
but a pic will help us.

 

[1stProject]

hi all, im not sure how u post a pic on here but the pic of the existing ceiling board is in my album anyway //www.diynot.com/network/1stProject/albums/

managed to roll all the insulation up 1 by 1 and left them at the edges then bagged them up 1 by one and passed it down the hatch for my wife to carry downstairs. There were no laths that i could see, i came across lots of pices of loose old nailed battons laying scatered around the whole loft??. once i got rid of the insulation, lots of rubble and what seemed like off cuts from roof tiles, i got my new friend henry to start doing some work, because it's virtually impossible to see rubble hidden away under the thick black dust even henry was having a tough time, i decided to call it a day and will carry on tomorrow. It wasn't so bad a day, apart from the inside of my nostrils being lined with black dust and not being able to see anything out the silly goggles which i decided to discard!! but i think the worst is still to come......

 

[Nige F]

Definitely softboard - and the answer to why London is called " the smoke " google London Smog.

 

[ajrobb]

hi all, im not sure how u post a pic on here

You can use the DIYnot BBCode:

Untitled

• 1stProject
• 26 Mar 2010
• 1

Untitled

• 1stProject
• 26 Mar 2010
• 1

This gives you reasonably large thumbnails that allow interested viewers to see the full picture.

I'm glad it's soft board. Once Henry has done his stuff in the loft, the boards should not make too much mess when they come down - nothing Henry can't cope with.

Last time I'll mention it, promise; are you going to use foil-backed board?

 

[1stProject]

yes ajrobb, i will use foilback boards since you mention it, thanks for the tip. are there any modifications i should be making to henry, i.e remove filter/bag etc to make it more efficient as it sort of slows down after a little while... thanks

 

[ajrobb]

are there any modifications i should be making to henry

No, I don't think so. Henry is designed for the job. Just keep changing the bag. I'd try using a shovel to get up the worst and leave Henry for getting it clean. After all, your not worried about damaging the ceiling.

 

[1stProject]

the shovel... great idea. THANKS

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Looks like a messt but not too complicated project for you, 1stProject.
I'd get stocked up with rubble bags for the waste, I use a dustpan and brush for the in between joist mess, prior to hovering the finer stuff.
The foil back boards are called duplex.
Link
http://www.british-gypsum.com/produ.../gyproc_standard/gyproc_wallboard_duplex.aspx

use 12.5mm thick and if you use 2400x1200 you'll have less joints and cover more area quicker, so get a pal to help you and use a deadmans prop, it's a great help and you can make them yourself.
link.
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Dead_man_prop

When you fit the boards up, stagger the joints as
link
http://www.zurich.co.uk/NR/rdonlyre...DE0F7CFBC0/0/PlasterboardCeiling107782A02.pdf

Use drywall screws, 40s will do and screw every 150-200mm along joists.
The screws should bring the board and joist tight together, the screw should be slightly countersunk in to board, but not breaking the skin of the plasterboard, so if you can torque your driver it will help.

 

[ajrobb]

Useful links by PBD. While you're resting your aching limbs, you might want to read through the British Gypsum Site Book.

 

[1stProject]

lol@resting my limbs !! they're like jelly at the momment, wobbling all over the place, i strated with the shovel then resorted to the dust pan, didn't use a brush in case i disturbed the dust too much, just scraped the surface with the dustpan and then into a bucket. most of the clean up is now done, i was surprised how quickly the henry bag got full up, it was like a sack of salt in no time even after clearing most of it with the dust pan, got through all five that came with it. anyway, final once over again with henry tomorrow and i should be ready to start breaking the ceeling. Many thanks for all those links, haven;t had a look yet but im sure will be very usefull, many thanks to everyone for their input, ive never done any diy before and i've only managed this far with the confidence i got from all you guys, so... a very BIG THANK YOU. now, i know we shouldn't divert from the topic but was thinking of exposed joists, at least in the master bedroom and maybe the passage.. any thoughts??