How to Replace a Plaster Ceiling & Walls

Removing Old Plaster

• 1

  Locate electrical wiring, water pipes and wall studs. The initial breaks in the plaster need to avoid these areas. Mark areas with a pencil to ensure avoidance.

• 2

  Remove any furniture or other items from the area and cover the floor with tarps. Remove any baseboards which may be in place. Place the edge of the tarp to the edge of the wall to catch as much falling debris as possible. Put on goggles, gloves and a respirator to protect yourself from excessive dust.

• 3

  Hit the wall or ceiling with a chisel and claw hammer. Make the initial break with a chisel by holding it to the wall and hitting with the hammer. This will make small holes to act as starting points for the demolition. Repeat this several times in areas not marked as having electrical wiring, water pipes or wall studs.

• 4

  Remove the plaster between the initial chiseled areas with a sledge hammer. Hit the wall and pull the loosened and broken plaster down by hand.

• 5

  Pull off the plaster surrounding any wiring, piping or wall studs by hand or with the claw side of the hammer.

• 6

  Break and remove the wood lath from behind the plaster. Older plaster is installed over slat walls or wood covered in wire. Ceilings may have solid wood ceiling under older plaster. Use a claw hammer to remove the wood from the wall studs and ceiling rafters after the plaster is removed.

Replastering

• 7

  Create a new wood lath for the new plaster. Cut 3/4-inch plywood to fit and nail with 3-inch nails to the wall or ceiling studs. Stretch wire mesh across the plywood and nail in place with u-shape nails every 3 feet. Be sure the wire is tight, but not stressed.

• 8

  Mix the plaster carefully according to the manufacturer's direction.

• 9

  Spread a thin layer of plaster over the mesh wire with a trowel. Apply enough to barely cover the mesh wire in a smooth motion and allow to dry.

• 10

  Add a second layer of plaster and allow to dry before adding a third layer. In the third layer, texture may be created using the trowel.