Preserving original cornicing - can it be done? Re-generate an old or tired space and give it a fresh breath of life. Click here for answers, information and tips

[blissbaby]

Have just bought old farmhouse and it has some beautiful cornicing, ceiling roses, etc. However we need to remove most of the lathe and plaster walls to insulate, and replace with plasterboard (as there is virtually no insulation throughout the entire house!). Can we preserve the original features, and if so, how?
Would be very grateful for any help.
Thanks!
Jacqueline

[acsimpson]

Old plaster can be very fragile so you would need to expect some repairs in the finished plasterwork.

If you want to leave it in place it should be possible to remove the plaster up to them and then finish the new walls at the same level, although should the wall be supporting them due to weak fixings then you may need to add extra support.

The best solution would be to hire a firm who specialises in plaster mouldings. That way if they fail to preserve them they would have to fix them for you.