Walls —- they make up a big part of a house…. And we might think a wall’s just a wall!!! The reality is…
Walls and wall coverings are made up of whatever material someone chooses to cover up the framing materials with. Lathe, Plaster, sheet rock, wood, paneling, tile, brick, and many combinations of these materials are all fair game. …mostly paint… but also wallpaper and texture adorn many of these materials.
In older homes most walls were typically covered with lathe & plaster (that was a LOT of work and took a heavy dose of patience and skill!!!) If a house was CONSTRUCTED WELL and the plaster well done, it may still be in great shape today… quite smooth and very solid (if you’ve ever tried to hang a picture with a nail on a plaster wall…. You know what I mean!); that’s good news and bad news! Solid as a rock means changes will be a bit more of a challenge.
If you have a house with plaster and cracks…well… you are not alone! Sometimes you can just say they add character. (That may work for a while 🙂
The main issue that I have seen people deal with is whether to ‘COVER UP ISSUES…REPAIR THEM… OR REPLACE EVERYTHING’…. the wrong choice here can turn a small project into a monster … or can create results that might be not so desirable… there can be lots of options— some much better than others!!! My encouragement is to Do your homework!!!
I did a project restoring on a 120+ year old recreation & activity center that had been condemned…. (This was a lot beyond a little ‘home repair’… There were good bones (you would not believe some of the framing materials!!) so, it was a gutting — refurbishing—- restoring—- renovating— improvising– year long process…. There was brick and plaster, and you name it to deal with…. That 6000 square foot space is now hosting all sorts of activity… and will be for many, many years to come. I’m not big on our tendency to plow down very functional buildings simply because we can. Old fashioned??? Maybe… but that’s OK!!!
The bottom line is walls hold & display our STUFF, give us privacy, and give character to ‘our space’…. and there are different strokes for different folks! If it makes your space ’feel good’ I say go for it! If, however, you’re planning to sell in the near future, or you are someone who can’t sleep with some imperfections…. you may want to carefully explore the options.
TO YOUR CREATIVITY!! 🙂
CEILINGS:
Much of which is concerned with ceilings is covered in WALLS & Painting… however…
take note that things are a bit more challenging when working over your head… gravity comes to life. There is also the difference between a seven-foot ceiling and a fifteen foot ceiling. Ceilings can and do play a significant role as to how a room feels and a huge part of that formula is the lighting that is, or is not, incorporated into the ceiling. Ceiling fans also can play a big role in the comfort level in a home… remember – hot air rises.
Drop ceilings are another area that gets utilized quite often. There are a wide range of options here and unfortunately arenas were less than handy do-it-yourselfers cobble things together in a make-shift fashion… Remember- Right & Wrong way to do everything. This is also an area that is plagued by a choice based solely on price… not the best option in most cases. I understand that these folks simply want to cover up unsightly elements such as wiring, plumbing, venting, etc.; but there are pros and cons and a variety of options.
I had an old ballroom as part of a year-long makeover of a condemned space. The ceiling was fifteen foot up, with an old 2X2 stamped tin ceiling with many panels rusted and/or severely damaged. It was a formidable challenge, but I choose to refurbish. With some creative repairs, some serious inside water blasting and some specialized paint options we ended up with a vintage ballroom ceiling that looked like new.
Take your time, be creative and explore your options and you may just be pleasantly surprised at what you can end up with.
Remember, We’re Pullin’ for Ya!
