Remove just the existing plasterboard from the lime ceiling?

[stonehouse]

I recently purchased an old property (built in circa 1880). The original ceiling of lath & lime plaster is still there in all rooms but unfortunately they've been overboarded by white plasterboard.

I understand that gypsum is pink, so does white plasterboard mean asbestos?

I have a strange question - is it possible to remove the plasterboard without removing the original lath & lime plaster ceiling ?

Is it dangerous to try lever the plasterboard off while standing on stepped ladders below?

 

[endecotp]

I understand that gypsum is pink

No. Gypsum is white. But the surface paper layer on plasterboard is colour-coded: pink = fire resistant, green = moisture resistant, blue = soundbloc. Regular plasterboard is described as "ivory" i.e. light grey.

 

[stonehouse]

OK thanks. Sorry for not saying earlier but I'm not sure if the boarding is made from plaster. I think it might be some sort of fibre cement, I'll double check.

 

[Gerrydelasel]

Why do you want to remove it?

 

[stonehouse]

Why do you want to remove it?

Might as well while the house is undergoing a major refurbishment.
Anyway, I wouldn't want to live in a house with asbestos.

 

[stonehouse]

Here is a photo I've taken today:

The board seems to be brown on the outside and white inside.

 

[JohnD]

the brown looks to me like a hardboard patch. Scratch it, please.

What's the cut out section? A partition wall removed?

 

[stonehouse]

Ceiling

 

[endecotp]

Google suggests that plasterboard used to be brown on both sides. Today it's normally brown on one side and ivory on the other. I see no reason to believe that's anything other than regular plasterboard.

How do you think it's fixed to the lath & plaster above? I'd imagine that pulling it down would bring down the lath & plaster too. Even if it doesn't you'll be left with a mess of a ceiling.

In the very unlikely event that that is an asbestos product, pulling it down is the very last thing you should consider doing.

 

[stonehouse]

What's the cut out section? A partition wall removed?

No. A fluorescent light used to be there.

 

[stonehouse]

Google suggests that plasterboard used to be brown on both sides. Today it's normally brown on one side and ivory on the other. I see no reason to believe that's anything other than regular plasterboard.

How do you think it's fixed to the lath & plaster above? I'd imagine that pulling it down would bring down the lath & plaster too. Even if it doesn't you'll be left with a mess of a ceiling.

In the very unlikely event that that is an asbestos product, pulling it down is the very last thing you should consider doing.

OK, thanks.

 

[stonehouse]

How do you think it's fixed to the lath & plaster above?

I don't know. Maybe screws?