Lime plaster on old beams

[DebsH]

Hello,

I really need some help and you all seem very knowledgable so I hope you don't mind me posting a question. I had my ceiling replastered as sections of the 500 year old original plaster fell down.

We had it lime plastered, and the finished plastering is fine but there is plaster all over the oak beams and it's just not coming off! I asked the plasterer how to get it off as I wasn't expecting the beams to be so covered, and he said I'd have to restain them ( they're not stained!).

I scraped the worst off, and I'm gently rubbing the beams with fine wire wool and cleaning with water with a tiny amount of detergent - is there anything else I can do? I'm worried that even if I stain them they won't colour evenly....

Thank you in advance for any ideas....

 

[zolco]

Hello,

I really need some help and you all seem very knowledgable so I hope you don't mind me posting a question. I had my ceiling replastered as sections of the 500 year old original plaster fell down.

We had it lime plastered, and the finished plastering is fine but there is plaster all over the oak beams and it's just not coming off! I asked the plasterer how to get it off as I wasn't expecting the beams to be so covered, and he said I'd have to restain them ( they're not stained!).

I scraped the worst off, and I'm gently rubbing the beams with fine wire wool and cleaning with water with a tiny amount of detergent - is there anything else I can do? I'm worried that even if I stain them they won't colour evenly....

Thank you in advance for any ideas....

You can get it sandblasted or try a wire brush.

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[Builderboi]

Any plastering around features like that should be protected in plastic like windows would be when rendering

 

[Dansouthcoast84]

i wouldnt use detergent or liquids as the beams will blacken. its a case of dry clean. sand paper wire brush etc but not to go mad with it.

 

[Dropsalot]

Dans got it right. I have done a bit of this (I work in historic buildings....well maybe work is a bit too far....)
When the lime mortar is good and dry, gently scrape, sand an wire brush until it's gone. TBH it's easier to spend time putting on masking tape beforehand.
Hope we've helped.

 

[Gibbo]

You could get it freeze cleaned

 

[Builderboi]

You could get it freeze cleaned

Is that when they blast sodium ice chips?

 

[Gibbo]

Dunno there is a firm near me does it cleaner than sandblasting

 

[Danny]

Dunno there is a firm near me does it cleaner than sandblasting

I sand blasted some car parts... the clean up operation went on for weeks...

 

[jamesthefirst]

I sand blasted some car parts... the clean up operation went on for weeks...

Was there lime on them?

 

[Danny]

Was there lime on them?

lol nope

 

[raggles]

Is that when they blast sodium ice chips?

No it is dry ice I have done it before many years ago


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[Builderboi]

No it is dry ice I have done it before many years ago


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Any good?

 

[jamesthefirst]

White vinegar?

 

[raggles]

Any good?

Yes it was cos obviously a lot less mess. It didn"t like wet surfaces or oily surfaces though plus obviously it is a lot more dangerous to handle compared to sand or nut shell.

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[limeplastering]

A good few years ago when working on a very well known manor house i was told that the oak beams were never to be painted, stained, or cleaned with any chemicals, only with boot polish every so often by the maintenance team. Dont know if this true but could be worth a go!