Advice and tips in removing an old lath and plaster ceiling.
A lot of this is common sense really.... Wear a mask, goggles,overalls,etc and don't stand underneath the bit you're breaking down
,,, be careful if you're using steps.... Don't break down too big an area at a time, remember, it's heavy stuff and you don't want to damage floorboards, fireplaces, sockets,wall-lights etc, cover up any imoveable objects anyway..... If it's upstairs, same applies, but this time you have a ceiling underneath (downstairs) to consider, you don't want to damage that.... If you have a cornice in the room that you want to keep, cut the ceiling plaster 2 or 3 inches out from it,all around the room, and the old plaster will not break away any further than the cut...Put tape around all the doors of the other rooms because the black dust will go right through the house otherwise... Tidy up as you go and it won't look so bad.... Again, "don't" just rip it down, use a garden hoe or similar, and take it down small areas at a time. Finally If you're going to put up new plasterboard, take everything down"including" the old laths, and make sure all the old nails are removed from the joists. Then, after all that destruction, things will only get better.
Roughcaster.