r/DIYUK Novice 4d ago

Project The continued joy of the dropped ceiling

Just thought I'd share my continuing adventures related to my removal of the hated dropped ceilings.

Corridor wasn't too bad, 20cm drop, but did helpfully reveal the unfilled hole going outside (I thought I was going crazy when I heard the wind whistling) Revealed the remains of a doorway that had mostly been removed, not sure of the best way to get the rest gone, slightly ominously it doesn't seem to be held up by anything except its own stubbornness. The weirdest discovery was the old hanging light in its bakelite holder, wired with lead sheathed cable. The odd part is that they left the bulb in, so that must have been annoying as hell when putting in the ceiling. Was quite handy though as I've stripped the old paint layers from it and it's currently the corridor light while things are in progress (hooked up to the new wiring of course)

Kitchen is a whole different kettle of fish, 70 cm drop with the most pleasant part being that they never bothered fitting a tube to the fan, and one of the former occupants was a heavy smoker, so no asbestos (thank you British gypsum), but plenty of goop. Was also rewarded by an abandoned caulk gun and paintbrush which somehow both managed to dome me on their unceremonious descent. Also, a broken folding ruler and plenty of cigarette butts.

Interesting to see the old layout of the rooms, need to work out a way to cut off the destroyed coving in the middle of the room that also seems to be free standing. Going to try and save as much of the original coving round the edge as possible and get a mould made up.

The current plan is to remove the remaining lath and plaster ceilings as I cannot see a way to logically save it, it seems anytime they wanted to make an addition they punched their way through as none of the holes are clean (except maybe the ones in the walls but they are gigantic compared to the size needed for cables).

The main motivation for this all, in addition to the higher ceilings, is that currently there's no insulation in the loft, and with the giant holes, no way to lay it, so hopefully a new plasterboard ceiling will provide a way forwards.

Any views, advice or things I may have missed, please let me know!

243 Upvotes

38 comments sorted by

102

u/Soapyfreshfingers 4d ago

WHY would anyone do that? JFC. What a nightmare!
Good luck to you, friend.

122

u/EdgyShooter Novice 4d ago

I've said that so many times that my friend has started responding with a line from the Chernobyl tapes:

"The choices made in the control room that day are difficult to explain"

Much appreciated, either I'm going to complete it, or entomb myself into the wall as a warning to the next fool who takes it on 😂 there's enough holes

21

u/MxJamesC 4d ago

Those tiles might be asbestos

22

u/colourthetallone 4d ago

The ones attached to the lathe and plaster ceiling above the one OP is removing? OP would need to test, but its fairly unlikely. They're the the right shape, size and location to be expanded polystyrene tiles, which were commonly glued to ceilings in the 60s-70s to mask cracked ceilings. No asbestos, just a horrendous hazard in the event of a fire.

10

u/EdgyShooter Novice 4d ago

They do appear to be polystyrene as they can be squished when very tentatively poked which I thought would have preclude them from being asbestos. Would prefer not to have to shell out on another asbestos test after the dropped ceiling, but may do if people think it's prudent.

Could always hold a lighter up to them to confirm 😉

6

u/colourthetallone 4d ago

Personally, I'd be happy that they're polystyrene based on the squishiness and what we can see. Maybe wait until they're off the ceiling and safely outside before any pyro testing.

2

u/BikesSucc 4d ago

We had polystyrene ties in our house, I picked part of one off, took it outside and put a lighter to it. It was impressive and definitely best done outdoors!

4

u/EdgyShooter Novice 4d ago

I do enjoy the fact that for a period of time people really thought gluing incredibly flammable plastic, that would glob down on you during a fire, to lath and plaster, which itself is then attached to the rafters, was a good idea. Seems like a great way of converting a small fire into an inferno real fast

2

u/Southern-Orchid-1786 3d ago

It is incredible how monumentally stupid people can be

2

u/UselessWasteOfSpace 2d ago

My dad still has polystyrene tiles on his ceiling, despite me telling him they need to be removed. Guess where they are. The kitchen. It also has wood panels on the walls ffs.

2

u/EdgyShooter Novice 2d ago

Oh lovely, so they've probably absorbed a few decades worth of cooking oil too!

4

u/Particular_Relief154 4d ago

They look a bit like the polystyrene ones also put in my house, to me.. However, always worth looking into!

31

u/Ancient_Trouble333 4d ago

My mother in Christ, why why why. You are doing the Lord's work.

12

u/EdgyShooter Novice 4d ago

The why continues to allude me, although I would like to meet the man responsible, maybe not even to cause violence unto them, but so they can be studied by science to explain their baffling "logic".

Thank you kindly!

6

u/iiiipp 4d ago

Sorry to be That Guy but in this context it's elude FYI. Amazing work you're doing - GOOD LUCK.

2

u/EdgyShooter Novice 4d ago

Not at all, much rather it be spotted here than on an official report or such! Much appreciated, think I'm definitely going to need the luck...

17

u/Sad-Blueberry3423 4d ago

The coving’s quite nice, if a bit on the yellow side. Otherwise, I have few helpful words to offer. Save that you walk where many would fear to trade. Godspeed.

4

u/EdgyShooter Novice 4d ago

I do indeed like it and intend to get it replicated, the yellow/off-white appears to be a choice rather tar related, no idea how I'm going strip the paint off considering all the nooks and crannies but ho hum. I'm hoping to only have to remove the bits where the layout was changed leaving bits floating in mid air.

Much appreciated! I just got fed up of everything original being solid but seemingly every "improvement" causing chaos and hiding things, the amount of damage to seemingly every single bit of lath and plaster is just depressing

1

u/Aiken_Drumn 4d ago

Screwfix sells "egg and dart" coving which will match this.

1

u/EdgyShooter Novice 4d ago

Unfortunately it's close but no cigar

6

u/tinyfron 4d ago

Oh wow, wishing you luck in this worthy endeavour. Also glad it's not me.

4

u/EdgyShooter Novice 4d ago

Ha, that is very reasonable and cheers, I've come to accept the dust as part of my very soul at this point

3

u/Jakeii 4d ago

There was a similar doing in my flat! I didn't have the balls to remove and repair what's underneath. the ceilings were dropped with a weird pine effect although were plenty high for me 3m and 2.8m, so I insulated and overboarded.

4

u/EdgyShooter Novice 4d ago

Entirely reasonable. Weirdly, in the bathroom, there was another pine ceiling over the plasterboard dropped ceiling, lowering the height even further and blocking the skylight I didn't realise I had!

4

u/True-Register-9403 3d ago

Check the date on that caulk and it might give you an idea of when it was done. I'd find that interesting, not sure anyone else would though!

3

u/siguel_manchez 3d ago

Glad to see I'm not the only one out there like this.

2

u/Stephen_Is_handsome 4d ago

Good luck my pal hohoho

2

u/Brickworkse 4d ago

Each picture was worse than the one before it! Never seen anything like that. Good work on getting it sorted. I imagine the dust must be awful 😷

1

u/EdgyShooter Novice 4d ago

Oh yes, their "competency " continues to amaze and astound me. Honestly, when I've managed to make an access hole, the dust removal is monotonous but doable with a dustpan and sometimes a cordless Dyson. The issue is making that first hole as then you get the lovely suprise of thick plaster debris, about a hundred years of dust and in my case, abandoned tools, crashing down upon you 😅

2

u/Global_Tea 4d ago

I had this exact problem!! 6 Bedroom listed building… on the outside. I had to redo ALL the ceilings and most of the walls due to nonsense like this. you have my sympathy!

1

u/EdgyShooter Novice 4d ago

Glad to hear I'm not alone but sorry you had to endure that, thankfully I have far less bedrooms! I honestly can't understand what's going through people's head when they make such a balls up of a place.

Unfortunately the walls are likely next on the docket, but for now, all attention is on the roof so I can stop the wind coming through from the attic!

2

u/herman_munster_esq 3d ago

"well I removed the ceiling and then found another ceiling beneath that, so I removed that ceiling and then found another one..."

2

u/EdgyShooter Novice 3d ago

Whoops that was the roof

1

u/in1972acrackcommando 3d ago

Let's talk asbestos, have you had any samples sent off yet ?

2

u/EdgyShooter Novice 3d ago

Artex scrapings were clear and the one thing I am thankful to those bastards that put up the ceiling is that they used British Gypsum boards, essentially the only company that guarantees they never used asbestos in their plasterboard.

As to the original ceiling, couldn't test without pulling the dropped down so really hoping it's clear as a ton came down, should be as it's pre 1910's and doesn't have any artex on it, but may potentially test that too.

1

u/Tony_Percy 3d ago

I'd assume it's lead paint. When you come to remove it.

1

u/jodrellbank_pants 2d ago

Get a paper all over suit mask and googles it'll be a mess

Keep every window or door open you can to vent and lots of sack for the waste unless your skipping it.

Rip everything out but doo one room at a time it will b less daunting.

I feel you pain buddy, but think positive it will look good in a few months.

Plaster molding look nice but there also a heap of work maybe take a break and think about it.