Renewing/Replacing Ceilings - Big job? Expensive? Do Myself?

[joeellis2000]

Hello All,

I am in the process of buying a victorian end terrace house and the survey came back with a few things that concern me. I shall start with the ceilings... but I imagine there will be more posts to come!

The surveryor basically said that all the upstairs will need ceilings renewing (does that mean replacing?!) in the near future and one is more urgent than the others. It has lath and plaster ceilings. What needs to be done? Is this an expensive thing to get fixed? Is it too much of a challenge for me as an averge/below average diyer?

Any information would be appreciated!

Thanks.

 

[breezer]

its very messy and depends on your skills, also needs two people (easier)

question should be WHY do the ceilings need fixing?

say there is a leak


"there is a leak"

putting a new ceiling up will only result in a new ceiling be required again some time later

 

[joeellis2000]

I have no experience in anything like that! Best to get someone in then? Do you think it will be expensive?

 

[breezer]

i was editing my post to add more info

it then needs to be taped / skimmed if plasterboard

 

[joeellis2000]

The report says "The ceilings are in poor condition. Heavy paper has been used to hide defective lath and plaster and it is likely to become loose when decorating."

 

[Hooo]

Sounds very like the survey on my place.
You might find that some of the ceilings are fine, but there are three things you can do with the dodgy ones.
If they're not too bad you can fill them and cover with lining paper - this is what I've done with most of mine. They won't look perfect, but paint them matt and they'll be OK.
If they are really bad you can plasterboard over the old ceiling and either fill the gaps or skim the whole ceiling.
Sometimes you can't board over the old ceiling due to room features, so you have to pull the old one down before putting up new plasterboard - this makes a hell of a mess.

If I were you I would pull the paper off in every room and see what they're like - you will probably be able to patch up most of them. If you need to board over and fill the gaps you will need a couple of helpers.
If it's a kitchen or bathroom you will need to skim over the plasterboard (and I'd recommend skimming all ceilings rather than filling the gaps - if you're going to the trouble of a new ceiling you might as well do it properly). Don't even think about trying to skim a ceiling yourself if you've never plastered before. At least get some practice on your walls first!

 

[joeellis2000]

Thanks for the advice, I shall do what you suggest and see how it goes. Thanks Again.

 

[joe-90]

Surveys are a waste of money. They have to come up with something to make it sound as if they are doing a big job. How does he know the ceiling will come down when its been up there for a hundred years? Did he walk funny? Did he have crystal balls?

 

[Hooo]

joe-90

Couldn't agree more. What really peed me off about my survey was the number of occurences of the phrase "This may be an issue, and advice from a specialist should be sought". WTF am I paying a surveyor for to tell me to go and ask someone else? Especially when I then paid their recommended specialist "inspectors" to give me quote for work that I didn't really need. Luckily I got a few second opinions first and so didn't fall for it.