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The plaster on the ceiling in the basement is falling down, help.
The plaster on the ceiling in the basement has come loose and is starting to fall. There are boards underneath and then plaster with reeds that are now starting to detach. How can I fix it in the best way? I have pulled down a little and am considering whether to continue pulling down what is loose and maybe put some board there instead. It can be added that the basement is unfinished and used as a laundry room/boiler room/storage. I need tips on how to solve it in the best way.
I have torn down a built-in wardrobe that probably held up the plaster because that's where it has been.
Our entire house is plaster on reed mat on the walls and ceiling. In some places, they have installed ceilings and such (1960s-style, with lowered ceiling) which locally caused the plaster to detach. If you "pry" further, you could probably make everything fall down, but my interpretation is that the plaster isn't meant to adhere tightly to the wood; instead, it's supposed to sit in the reed mat somewhat "loosely" so that if the structure moves, there's some flexibility. This, as I said, is my amateur theory. You can tell by tapping on the plaster whether it's "booming." I've repaired where it was damaged, removed what was booming, and it seems possible to get it "perfect" again.
Of course, this doesn't answer how your plaster holds, but I think it's probably possible to repair it with good results.
However, it wasn't so easy to plaster the ceiling with lime plaster (it should be lime if that was what was originally used). I've cheated in a few places with gypsum plaster; I think it might work reasonably. You apparently shouldn't apply cement plaster over lime plaster since cement is harder, which will cause it to detach from the lime plaster.
On one wall, I've placed renovation gypsum over the plaster to get a surface to tile/attach cabinets on. However, renovation gypsum is so thin that the plaster underneath should probably be intact. I've chosen not to glue the board; this way, it's a reversible process if someone after me wants to restore the plaster. If you use standard gypsum, you can probably place it over even damaged plaster. However, I believe the plaster is good for moisture reasons; it breathes but doesn't trap moisture and it prevents airflow into the structure...
So, if you can maintain the plaster, it's probably preferable.
Of course, this doesn't answer how your plaster holds, but I think it's probably possible to repair it with good results.
However, it wasn't so easy to plaster the ceiling with lime plaster (it should be lime if that was what was originally used). I've cheated in a few places with gypsum plaster; I think it might work reasonably. You apparently shouldn't apply cement plaster over lime plaster since cement is harder, which will cause it to detach from the lime plaster.
On one wall, I've placed renovation gypsum over the plaster to get a surface to tile/attach cabinets on. However, renovation gypsum is so thin that the plaster underneath should probably be intact. I've chosen not to glue the board; this way, it's a reversible process if someone after me wants to restore the plaster. If you use standard gypsum, you can probably place it over even damaged plaster. However, I believe the plaster is good for moisture reasons; it breathes but doesn't trap moisture and it prevents airflow into the structure...
So, if you can maintain the plaster, it's probably preferable.
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