Over boarding over boarded ceiling

Russinating · 26 Apr 2015 at 10:33

I got the expanding one of our loft hatches this morning and found that the ceiling is over boarded. We're getting the plasterer in in 2 weeks and his original plan was to over board the artex, but that would now mean it'll be tripled. I've asked for his advice too but wanted to get some other opinions here.

Loft hatch cross section:

We had the ceiling tested for asbestos before we moved in, which was a negative, but obviously didn't get this hidden layer tested. It has a pretty identical finish to the bottom layer (whispy artex) so could this be why they boarded it over?

My initial thought is to removed the bottom layer, which definitely doesn't contain any asbestos, and overboard onto the original layer as planned.

Russinating · 26 Apr 2015 at 12:54

It could be skimmed yes, but either way should I take the bottom layer down, none, or both?

Russinating · 26 Apr 2015 at 17:13

Just had this reply from my plasterer, ignore the terrible grammar etc:

it depends if they nailed the boards or screwed them has to skim over has it is . it would have to be scraped back flat.
thats a lot of hard work plus your adding more weight to it. if it was mine i would over battten then board which i did price to do. it just gives you that piece of mind. hope this helps .

Can anyone explain what he means and offer their thoughts? I think he means create new battens then board onto those, on top of what's there already? But unsure.

Russinating · 26 Apr 2015 at 17:44

As in rip down both layers?

Russinating · 26 Apr 2015 at 18:23

Stupid question, but will all the insulation not fall down if I do that? How do I stop if from falling down?

Russinating · 26 Apr 2015 at 19:14

Yeah it's rolled wool but it's a double pitched roof so access to one half of the bedroom ceiling is via another tiny loft hatch at the other end of the house which isn't boarded either.

Hmmm, lots of mess and will need a skip too... and get it all done before the plasterer is booked in 2 weeks. Ahh!

Russinating · 26 Apr 2015 at 20:28

Both. Our original plan was to do up, sell, move on, but I think we'll be here some time yet (5 years maybe). I don't like the idea of bodging but am also weighing up mess/unleashing other issues and ease/quickness/cheapness (no skip required).

Would removing just the bottom layer be a happy medium? Not dropping all the dirt down from the attic or disturbing insulation etc but reducing the weight on the joists and amount of general bodge.

Russinating · 27 Apr 2015 at 13:03

It took just over a week for us to get asbestos results back before which is time we don't have unfortunately, so I think I'm just going to assume the layer underneath does contain it and dispose of it at the tip (they accept asbestos double bagged etc). Rest of it will go in a normal skip. Hopefully with part-access from above we'll be able to get most down as full boards, or near enough to.

Russinating · 29 Apr 2015 at 09:26

Thanks folks. Skip booked. Extra hands booked. Just not looking forward to the dust.

The room we're doing it in is at the front of the house but the window only has a top opening, the large glass pane which makes up most of the window can't be opened. Do you think it would be worth popping to a local glass shop to get them to remove the pane (and replace next week) so we can just pass rubble buckets straight down to the street (and exit ourselves there, rather than traipsing through the house)?

If so, how much should I expect to pay for that?

Russinating · 29 Apr 2015 at 10:29

Yeah UPVC double glazed and there's a glass shop on the corner of our road.

Russinating · 29 Apr 2015 at 11:50

Hmm yeah. Means I could put it back in overnight as well. I assume it's going to be as "simple" as this:

And I assume it can't fall out if I'm only removing the internal beading?

Russinating · 29 Apr 2015 at 12:14

I'll have a look tonight, thanks. They're not that old so hope/presume they're internal.

Russinating · 29 Apr 2015 at 14:32

Yeah I think we'll definitely do that Simps. We're also planning on removing the old crumbling lime plaster from one wall and the lime/lathe from another too so we'll also be doing that first.