I cut out some access holes in my kitchen to do a *exploratory* of what’s there, etc so I can gauge the overall working dimensions for the cabinets.
Man, what a chore ! I made starter holes with a hole saw and then cut the squares with a 6 TPI Milwaukee Blade. Whew….after a couple of these, which I knew was going to happen, there was no teeth on the blade 😉 The house is 50 years old and it’s plaster 1/2 cement as the top layer, and the backlayer look like plaster.
After wearing out my blades, I gave it a go a Lenox Carbide Tipped blades I had. The blade kept on deflecting , so off to the grinder and a diamond blade I went. That did the trick but it caused the most dust….
Any recommend tips on breaking this plaster when it comes time to DEMO as I want to keep dust to a minimal. I’m thinking, I would do 24″ and 36″ STRIPS running across the entire wall with the grinder. I would just follow up with a sawzall to cut the stud behind it and then break off the walls in strips. I would follows the same method I used today when cutting, which was having the vac hose follow the cut to minimize the dust.
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No rotating tools.
This may sound odd, but I have a method of removing all the plaster and then the lath. My method avoids the tangled combination of lath and plaster that is tough to pick up or shovel up.
I loosen up the plaster by hitting the wall in the middle of the stud space about every foot or so from ceiling to floor. By hitting the middle of the stud space, the lath has enough spring to it to really bounce and loosen things up (most of the plaster is still on the walls at this point, but just loosely hanging there).
Then with a tarp on the floor and a large trash can on wheels (or wheel barrow) I lift large plates of plaster off the wall by hand (with the help of a hammers claw and a flat bar) and place them in the trashcan. This helps keep the dust generation to a minimum. Then with all the plaster removed. I pull all the lath down.
My BIL has used the plaster he removed as a base for patio pavers. He made a shallow excavation, added plaster, used a vibrating tamper to pack it smooth, added an inch of sand and set his patio. Worked great and less debris hauled to the landfill.
"This may sound odd, but I have a method of removing all the plaster and then the lath. My method avoids the tangled combination of lath and plaster that is tough to pick up or shovel up.
I loosen up the plaster by hitting the wall in the middle of the stud space about every foot or so from ceiling to floor. By hitting the middle of the stud space, the lath has enough spring to it to really bounce and loosen things up (most of the plaster is still on the walls at this point, but just loosely hanging there).
Then with a tarp on the floor and a large trash can on wheels (or wheel barrow) I lift large plates of plaster off the wall by hand (with the help of a hammers claw and a flat bar) and place them in the trashcan. This helps keep the dust generation to a minimum. Then with all the plaster removed. I pull all the lath down."
I don't know if it's odd or not, but I use the exact same method. At least for me, it seems to work the fastest and generates the least amount of dust.
Maybe it's a regional, Land 'O Lakes, technique. It works better with some plasters than with others, but still a decent way to handle an indecent task.
That's the way I do it too. I saw it on This Old House years ogo when all the guys thought Norm was God. But its true. It make the job much easier, shoveling the plaster and piccking up the lathe. When one side of the wall is off I take the tamping end of a digging bar and pop the lath of the opposite wall to break the plaster free. Dust masks and safety glasses are a necessity ans exhaust fans and zip wall will help keep the dust from migrating to unwanted areas.
An exhaust fan in a window or doorway will help. Plastic and tape on the doorways to prevent dust from getting to the rest of the house. Now get a good sledghammer, crowbar/wrecking bar and go at it. Don't forget a dustmask and drink plenty of fluids. You don't want to take the wall down in big pieces [unless you are lot stronger than I am] it's really heavy.
Milwaukee makes a "plaster" blade. Works pretty well, and it's pretty hard to find, you won't find them at the big box. One of my local yards stocks them. There is no set to the blades and they work much better then the 6tpi blades on plaster. Or just wear thorugh the 6tpi and hold a board to the wall as a guide and to keep everything together.