Ceiling plasterboard wooden battens on top

[David J Williams]

Hi
I have recently moved into a former pub in Wales and one of the lower floors ceilings is a bit strange (to me) see pictures is anyone familiar with this type of ceiling and why it is done this way
Cheers
Dave

 

[sparkwright]

It is done this way to cover up all the joins in the boards.

If you removed the battens you would find loads of joins...

As well as plasterboard, they used to do it with hardboard too.

 

[David J Williams]

Sounds like this was before the days of tape and plaster or just laziness

 

[sparkwright]

If it IS plasterboard, probably done like this if the ceiling wasn't fully skimmed, or the installer was worried the joins were going to crack.

Tape would often show through in those days.

Scrim tape was available then too, but it's amazing how many plasterboard ceilings in the 50s-70s did crack.

Personally I'd rather see the battens if I thought the workman wasn't able to joint fill a ceiling properly.

If it is hardboard, then you've got no chance of filling the joins.

 

[Nige F]

Leave it as it is - it's a feature yaki da