Good Morning!
New Fine homebuilding member here. I just purchased a home built in 1968 that has rock lath and plaster. I am looking at removing the ceiling in the great room and kitchen to do some wiring and renovate the space. My question is in your experience what is the best way to remove this material? My current home we have done substantial work to and I am comfortable with drywall, but never worked with this material before.
Thanks!
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Replies
Pretty much the same as Sheetrock. Narrower than drywall and with the plaster added, sharper and heavier per ft.
Wear breathing safeguards, protect the floor and seal the room.
Glad I’m done.
Like Calvin said, pulling down rock lathe is similar to drywall. But be aware, wire mesh is frequently used to reinforce corners, and it likes to rip flesh. Wear gloves when removing the mesh (and probably the rock lath as well).
Shep,
Ugh!
Metal…..
Now I remember.
If you can stand the dust, you can score the corners with 4" or 4.5" grinder and diamond blade.
Still not as bad as the old horsehair and wood lathe.
I use a grinder with a masonry cutting disk. Rock lath will eat drywall bits on rotary tools pretty quickly. It also destroys your typical drywall saws. The dust is obnoxious; fine powder from the drywall and plaster components and heavier grit from the cement in the center of the sandwich. Get Zip walls up and keep them tight. I have not run into much metal screen in Eastern Pa, so I haven't had to deal with that. Rock lath also seems to be great at blocking WIFI signals. Good luck.
Thank you for sharing your experiences! This will be a beautiful space when we are done. It's just a matter of getting that rock lath off first. I will come back in and update with some photos and anything that I learn along the way.