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Stripping Wainscoting in a Historical Home

ClaraD

ClaraD

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So, this whole quarantine thing has me a little on edge at home, bored to damn death is more like it...but there are numerous projects...I finished my yard, garden, so forth...and sat at the computer and looked at the crack in my plaster...and then bam cracked paint...so I go get the scraper...and here we are a few hours later...so ....how do I get it to the bare wood? Would you strip it to the raw wood and then sand and stain or should I just paint it again? I added the exterior so that you can get an idea of the style of the home. My home was built in 1890

The plaster is cracking because it is old as hell so yes, I made a hole in the wall around the crack in order to fix it....I don't want to replace with sheetrock, because it has a historical designation...so I have to do it the hard way and repair it with plaster again....then the color for my mantle.....(the mantle I did some time back...so no, I didn't strip it down in a few hours..just the one wall of the wainscoting. Any advise?? My husband is in Charleston for the rest of the week..I would like to suprise him when he gets home...so I don't want to call him for what to do...he would just say, I will do it when I get home...takes all the fun out of a suprise.

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ClaraD said:
So, this whole quarantine thing has me a little on edge at home, bored to damn death is more like it...but there are numerous projects...I finished my yard, garden, so forth...and sat at the computer and looked at the crack in my plaster...and then bam cracked paint...so I go get the scraper...and here we are a few hours later...so ....how do I get it to the bare wood? Would you strip it to the raw wood and then sand and stain or should I just paint it again? I added the exterior so that you can get an idea of the style of the home. My home was built in 1890

The plaster is cracking because it is old as hell so yes, I made a hole in the wall around the crack in order to fix it....I don't want to replace with sheetrock, because it has a historical designation...so I have to do it the hard way and repair it with plaster again....then the color for my mantle.....(the mantle I did some time back...so no, I didn't strip it down in a few hours..just the one wall of the wainscoting. Any advise?? My husband is in Charleston for the rest of the week..I would like to suprise him when he gets home...so I don't want to call him for what to do...he would just say, I will do it when I get home...takes all the fun out of a suprise.

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Not exactly sure what I am looking at in your first pic. If the wainscoting is a tongue and groove type, it will be very hard to, first strip plaster from it and second, to finish the wood and have it look right. Was the plaster applied directly over the wood, (I a hate covering wood with plaster, paint, etc.)

I recommend troweling some plaster back over, no telling what you uncover once you begin........
 
Rexedgar said:
Not exactly sure what I am looking at in your first pic. If the wainscoting is a tongue and groove type, it will be very hard to, first strip plaster from it and second, to finish the wood and have it look right. Was the plaster applied directly over the wood, (I a hate covering wood with plaster, paint, etc.)

I recommend troweling some plaster back over, no telling what you uncover once you begin........
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No, I am repairing the cracked plaster...the wood you see there is the wood used to adhere the plaster to. So that is actually just being repaired...what I am talking about is the wainscoting....the first pic of the exterior of the home is to give an idea of the style of the home...that can be hard to tell from a few select interior pics of a living room that is being peeled apart. It has lots of groves as you see...so, I don't know if I just scrape the loose stuff, sand and paint...or go full out and strip and then stain...yes, I know I won't be done by the weekend...but I would love to have a lot done.
 
ClaraD said:
So, this whole quarantine thing has me a little on edge at home, bored to damn death is more like it...but there are numerous projects...I finished my yard, garden, so forth...and sat at the computer and looked at the crack in my plaster...and then bam cracked paint...so I go get the scraper...and here we are a few hours later...so ....how do I get it to the bare wood? Would you strip it to the raw wood and then sand and stain or should I just paint it again? I added the exterior so that you can get an idea of the style of the home. My home was built in 1890

The plaster is cracking because it is old as hell so yes, I made a hole in the wall around the crack in order to fix it....I don't want to replace with sheetrock, because it has a historical designation...so I have to do it the hard way and repair it with plaster again....then the color for my mantle.....(the mantle I did some time back...so no, I didn't strip it down in a few hours..just the one wall of the wainscoting. Any advise?? My husband is in Charleston for the rest of the week..I would like to suprise him when he gets home...so I don't want to call him for what to do...he would just say, I will do it when I get home...takes all the fun out of a suprise.

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What? There is no historic factor with keeping plaster lathe! Who the hell told you that? Tearing out that wainscoting is going to take the plaster with it so you might as well come into 2020.

New plaster jobs are basically mold resistant Sheetrock with a veneer finish anyways.

I use a 1/4" angle grinder with a 1/8" thin wheel and cut a straight edge using my laser light just above the wainscoting and rip out everything below the line when I'm done cutting. I then make furring strips to bring the plaster board out to meet the existing plaster if needed.
 
ClaraD said:
No, I am repairing the cracked plaster...the wood you see there is the wood used to adhere the plaster to. So that is actually just being repaired...what I am talking about is the wainscoting....the first pic of the exterior of the home is to give an idea of the style of the home...that can be hard to tell from a few select interior pics of a living room that is being peeled apart. It has lots of groves as you see...so, I don't know if I just scrape the loose stuff, sand and paint...or go full out and strip and then stain...yes, I know I won't be done by the weekend...but I would love to have a lot done.
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After looking again, I see your interior shots are at weird angles. They all need to be turned 90 degrees to the right, right?
 
RetiredUSN said:
What? There is no historic factor with keeping plaster lathe! Who the hell told you that? Tearing out that wainscoting is going to take the plaster with it so you might as well come into 2020.

New plaster jobs are basically mold resistant Sheetrock with a veneer finish anyways.

I use a 1/4" angle grinder with a 1/8" thin wheel and cut a straight edge using my laser light just above the wainscoting and rip out everything below the line when I'm done cutting. I then make furring strips to bring the plaster board out to meet the existing plaster if needed.
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oh, I don't want to rip out the wainscoting..I want to take it to the wood and either repaint it a nice color or stain it...not sure which...do you think I should rip out the wainscoting? Replace it with new? So just tear out all the plaster and re sheetrock?
 
Rexedgar said:
After looking again, I see your interior shots are at weird angles. They all need to be turned 90 degrees to the right, right?
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yeah, my computer is rather old and it is posting it wierd...I can't make them stand right for some reason...they are upright when I post them.
 
ClaraD said:
oh, I don't want to rip out the wainscoting..I want to take it to the wood and either repaint it a nice color or stain it...not sure which...do you think I should rip out the wainscoting? Replace it with new? So just tear out all the plaster and re sheetrock?
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In that case you can take 5 minute hot mud and fill the hole and wet sand it when it begins to set off. Just make sure your remove any loose pieces first.

I can't tell by the pictures if you have texture or a pattern in your plaster. If you do, they are easily copied with a little patience and technique.

I restore older homes for as a business.
 
RetiredUSN said:
In that case you can take 5 minute hot mud and fill the hole and wet sand it when it begins to set off. Just make sure your remove any loose pieces first.

I can't tell by the pictures if you have texture or a pattern in your plaster. If you do, they are easily copied with a little patience and technique.

I restore older homes for as a business.
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No it is just flat, no texture. My husband does as well...it is just this is a secret and my little keep me busy project because I am bored to damn death. I hate to see him have to come home and do stuff here after working all week there doing exactly the same thing...so I am pulling my weight since I am stuck home anyway...just not sure what all to do and don't want to piss him off either because I did something that damaged the historical value of the home. He was pretty impressed with the mantle from the fireplace...but this wainscot is proving to be my match...I am ready to do just what you said and rip it the hell out...but then I would be in hot water...because he loves it.

thank you for your input...it is much appreciated...I adore my home, but I do need to learn, even if it is the hard way...how to do things to make it better.
 
ClaraD said:
oh, I don't want to rip out the wainscoting..I want to take it to the wood and either repaint it a nice color or stain it...not sure which...do you think I should rip out the wainscoting? Replace it with new? So just tear out all the plaster and re sheetrock?
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Oh God, please keep the wainscoting. God I miss my house in Minneapolis that had mahogany all over the place.
 
ClaraD said:
I adore mahogany....it has to be one of the most beautiful woods I have ever encountered...then Walnut and cherry.
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I almost get weepy thinking about that place.
Mahogany slab paneling, wainscoting, recessed casement windows with stained glass, brass plumbing, crystal doorknobs, built in credenzas, beveled lead glass mirrors, old pushbutton light switches, stamped tin ceilings.

Sigh...:2grouphug
 
ClaraD said:
No, I am repairing the cracked plaster...the wood you see there is the wood used to adhere the plaster to. So that is actually just being repaired...what I am talking about is the wainscoting....the first pic of the exterior of the home is to give an idea of the style of the home...that can be hard to tell from a few select interior pics of a living room that is being peeled apart. It has lots of groves as you see...so, I don't know if I just scrape the loose stuff, sand and paint...or go full out and strip and then stain...yes, I know I won't be done by the weekend...but I would love to have a lot done.
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Not sure where you live, if you can open windows already. I'd be careful with anything that creates dust/fumes, simply because of the mask shortage. jfft

Beautiful home
 
Checkerboard Strangler said:
I almost get weepy thinking about that place.
Mahogany slab paneling, wainscoting, recessed casement windows with stained glass, brass plumbing, crystal doorknobs, built in credenzas, beveled lead glass mirrors, old pushbutton light switches, stamped tin ceilings.

Sigh...:2grouphug
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how old was the home? Since you are no longer there, do you have any pics you would like to share? It was my dream to own a historical home, the wood, the tall ceilings, large rooms and all that jazz...never dreamed at the time they could be so much work...I still love the reward though...I know each thing I do, makes the house more attractive, more valuable, etc.
 
Lovebug said:
Not sure where you live, if you can open windows already. I'd be careful with anything that creates dust/fumes, simply because of the mask shortage. jfft
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I am in the Low Country of South Carolina...it is already in the 80s here. Thank you...the minute I saw this house, I was starstruck...probably more starstruck than I should have been. It is out in the country...so I loved that. The first home we looked at was built 1864...I am certain, beyond certain that that house had too many bad things hanging around..(it was used as a hospital in the Civil War) it too was beautiful, but was more than I could handle..it was about 5k square feet (mine is 3k) and had some structure issues and roof issues that were beyond my capabilities...so after I decided that was a no...this house was the third on the list...and the one I fell for. My neighbors are all nice folks...so I don't regret it.
 
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ClaraD said:
how old was the home? Since you are no longer there, do you have any pics you would like to share? It was my dream to own a historical home, the wood, the tall ceilings, large rooms and all that jazz...never dreamed at the time they could be so much work...I still love the reward though...I know each thing I do, makes the house more attractive, more valuable, etc.
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It was on Aldrich Avenue near Lyndale in Minneapolis.
I used to have a ton of interior pictures but lost them to water damage in the 1994 Northridge Quake, along with a lot of other stuff.
 
This is my Saint Paul Home I recently sold.....1912 Victorian; My brother and I gutted the plaster, sheet rocked, and refinished the wood...…the before and after are pretty telling.

Minneapolis and Saint Paul have a treasure trove of old homes.

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Checkerboard Strangler said:
It was on Aldrich Avenue near Lyndale in Minneapolis.
I used to have a ton of interior pictures but lost them to water damage in the 1994 Northridge Quake, along with a lot of other stuff.
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Minneapolis has some stunning old homes; I lived in the Summit Area of Saint Paul; those are some beautiful old homes as well.


I adore mahogany....it has to be one of the most beautiful woods I have ever encountered...then Walnut and cherry.
I almost get weepy thinking about that place.
Mahogany slab paneling, wainscoting, recessed casement windows with stained glass, brass plumbing, crystal doorknobs, built in credenzas, beveled lead glass mirrors, old pushbutton light switches, stamped tin ceilings.
Click to expand...

And sliding solid oak pocket doors....:)

We had many of those above features in our home; to include the old coal chute for the now gone basement boiler....wife use it to slide her potting soil down into the basement when she started her seedlings in late winter.
 
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Bum said:
This is my Saint Paul Home I recently sold.....1912 Victorian; My brother and I gutted the plaster, sheet rocked, and refinished the wood...…the before and after are pretty telling.

Minneapolis and Saint Paul have a treasure trove of old homes.

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beautiful job. Did you have to insulate the walls when you sheetrocked? Some of the reason we are sticking with the plaster is first the asthetics and it being old and also because we would need to insulate as well as remove all of the wood in place now. I love the varnish and the natural finish on the wood. I am personally going with mahogany throughout the house. I lived so many years in Honduras that I fell in love with that type of wood and have bought quite a few things that are mahogany.
 
ClaraD said:
beautiful job. Did you have to insulate the walls when you sheetrocked? Some of the reason we are sticking with the plaster is first the asthetics and it being old and also because we would need to insulate as well as remove all of the wood in place now. I love the varnish and the natural finish on the wood. I am personally going with mahogany throughout the house. I lived so many years in Honduras that I fell in love with that type of wood and have bought quite a few things that are mahogany.
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We used blown foam insulation inside the outer walls of the house, but were limited on the indoor walls because most of the walls had recessed pocket doors inside them; we removed the plaster and placed up new sheetrock simply because the plaster was in bad shape anyway, and we had to remove it so we could run new Romex wiring in the house for the electrical.
The wood in the house is all original; a mix of Maple and Oak, and it badly needed to be refinished.

My Brothers wife is from Honduras, and they spend quite a bit of time there when they can....My time in Honduras was limited to short stays in at Soto Cano.
 
Bum said:
We used blown foam insulation inside the outer walls of the house, but were limited on the indoor walls because most of the walls had recessed pocket doors inside them; we removed the plaster and placed up new sheetrock simply because the plaster was in bad shape anyway, and we had to remove it so we could run new Romex wiring in the house for the electrical.
The wood in the house is all original; a mix of Maple and Oak, and it badly needed to be refinished.

My Brothers wife is from Honduras, and they spend quite a bit of time there when they can....My time in Honduras was limited to short stays in at Soto Cano.
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ah you were relegated to the military base and staring at the mountains. I don't recommend the inland part of Honduras right now...but if you want a beach you will find no where else...go to Roatan or Utila. What part of Honduras is she from? My husband is from San Pedro Sula. He said whenever we decide retirement is our thing we will go to the islands to live, but he wants to build a home identical to the one we have now.
 
ClaraD said:
ah you were relegated to the military base and staring at the mountains. I don't recommend the inland part of Honduras right now...but if you want a beach you will find no where else...go to Roatan or Utila. What part of Honduras is she from? My husband is from San Pedro Sula. He said whenever we decide retirement is our thing we will go to the islands to live, but he wants to build a home identical to the one we have now.
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She is from Minas de Oro, which is fairly close to where I was....She and my brother have a decent speck of land higher up, and her father grows coffee on her land and his.
 
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