Wood Doors & Iron Doors

Thursday, July 26, 2007

 

Cutting Plaster - Wood doors

Plaster is a lot tougher to cut than drywall. The degree of difficulty depends on the type of plaster system that was used. The oldest type of plaster was applied over closely spaced strips of wood called wood lath. Plaster contains mostly sand and is abrasive enough to strip the teeth right off a reciprocating-saw blade. Instead, chop through the plaster with a wide flooring chisel or a brick chisel. After outlining the cut with a chisel, break up the intervening plaster with a hammer. Once the plaster falls off, cut the wood lath with a saw.

The next type of plaster was used in the early 1900s, when wire lath replaced wood lath. To remove this plaster, score and break it. The plaster will ding to the wire lath, exposing a strip about 2 in. wide. Cut the wire lath using a combination of a chisel, sheet-metal snips, and wire cutters. You can then pry away plaster panels from the framing with a pry bar. Wear heavy protective clothing and leather gloves.

The last type, modern plaster, is applied over gypsum lath, a drywall-like product that can be cut with a reciprocating saw. The plaster veneer is quite hard, so you may need to score the surface with a chisel before sawing the gypsum lath.

Once the framing is complete, fasten the wall surfaces to the framing around the opening. Be careful to place the nails so that they'll be covered by the trim. For more information please contact Greatdoorsandgates.com developer of Wood doors and Wrought iron doors.

posted by Great Doors  # 6:33 PM  1 Comments  Links to this post