Knocking bathroom / toilet rooms together- Do I cut plaster?

[rich3422]

Hi,

Can anyone offer me any advice please?

I am renovating a 50 year old ex council house and am removing a wall between a small toilet and small bathroom to make one big room on the 1st floor.

It is a non-loadbearing partition block wall. I have read that I should make an incision around the plaster first - I assume this is to TRY to stop the plaster cracking beyond the incision as I remove it from the walls.

Facing the wall to be knocked down, whereabouts should I make the incision? Should I make it at the point where the wall joins the ceiling, or should I take it a few inches away from the wall on the ceiling? Also should I make the vertical incision on the wall itself (where it joins the vertical wall) or a few inches away from it on the vertical wall that it joins onto?

Finally, what is the best way to make the incision? (what tool?)

Sorry for all of the questions,
Many thanks in advance!
Rich

 

[cmother1]

A small angle grinder would do the neatest job, but failing that hammer & chisel, an old saw, anything really that can cut through the plaster.
Don't get your hopes up too high of the plaster being the same level both sides of the wall. You may end up having to take off more than you bargained for to level out the step.
If you can see above the wall in the loft go up and have a shufti. In my last house the breeze walls stuck up higher than the plasterboard. In this house they butt up against the laths. Knowing how it's put together will give you a better idea of how to take it down.

 

[rich3422]

Many thanks for the reply.

I had a look and there is nothing to see up the loft - the wall is not visible. The plaster board is on top of the wall, there is a parallel joist about 2 inches way.

I have started to knock the plaster off the wall. It is harder to come off than I thought. It seems that the plaster has been skimmed about 1/2 inch thick directly onto the concrete block, and it is 'keyed' into the rough surface of the blocks. Tried drilling lots of holes in the plaster but didn't really help. I am using a bolster and lump hammer now.

Thanks for the info on the possible 'step', think I am going to tile the whole bathroom, but as you say it may be an issue,

Many thanks
Rich

 

[cmother1]

Good luck. It's a filthy job. I wouldn't bother taking the plaster off first - everything's destined for the skip anyway (I assume). I found it easiest to make a hole at the top and working outwards from that, use a club hammer to crack it apart into manageable chunks. Like I say, don't go mad or you could have the whole wall wobbling like a concrete jelly. Happened to my mate Paul doing exactly the same job as you are.

 

[rich3422]

Thanks for the reply.

Do you mean just break the concrete blocks up to? I was under the impression I would have to chisel the cement out between them and remove them individually, should I just be able to break them up then?

This is my first project so I'm a bit green

Thanks,
Rich

 

[ColJack]

the should knock apart quite easily.. no need to chisel the mortar out..

 

[cmother1]

Seconded. Just whack it with the club hammer and it will eventually fracture (not always where you're hitting it, though ). The hardest bit is getting started. Once you've exposed an edge you should fly through it. Don't forget to cover the pan!

 

[rich3422]

Thanks guys, I'll give it a go and let you know how I get on!

cheers,
Rich