Ceiling appears to be plywood

[Pryan]

Recently moved home. The kids bedroom ceiling appears to be just a painted piece of plywood (or similar). Is this dangerous (fire risk?) Or should I not be concerned given how long it appears to have been there. Should I really take it down and put a proper plasterboard celing up? Any help much appreciated. Thank you

 

[motorbiking]

You could put standard plasterboard over the top and either tape and skim or do a full skim. There is no need to take it down unless you have a low ceiling and can't spare 12mm

 

[blup]

What's above the plywood, maybe an original ceiling, possibly artexed, or fixed straight to the ceiling joists? Either way it will be messy taking it down unnecessarily

Blup

 

[mattylad]

Makes an ideal backing to board to.

 

[Pryan]

Thanks for the three replies here. Sounds more positive than I realised.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Are you sure it's not Sundaela fibre board or Masonite? Both were used in the 1940s to the early 1960s in just such a role (Sundaela is insulating to an extent). Both are no better nor worse than plywood in such a place. Whatever it is it is likely to be fairly thin and/or light - I really can't see anyone humpimg 3/4in plywood onto a ceiling! (so you'll need to locate the joists, and try to gauge the thickness so you get sufficiently long drywall scews)