When remodeling a space or several rooms, a substantial part of the renovation is replacing the ceiling. Whether the ceiling is plaster or drywall, breaking through the ceiling is done much the same way: by demolition. This is not a difficult job, but it is time-consuming and can be tedious. The best part about breaking through a ceiling is that any do-it-yourselfer can tackle the job without having to hire a contractor.
Instructions
1. Rent a small dumpster to dispose of the ceiling debris. Have it placed in front of your garage or another easy access point.
2. Move everything out of the room, including furniture, decorations and personal belongings. Strip the walls bare, taking down pictures, mirrors and shelves.
3. Put several drop cloths on the floor to catch dust and debris as you break through the ceiling.
4. Put on safety glasses and a dust mask to protect your eyes from small ceiling fragments and your lungs from inhaling dust. Put on gloves to handle the insulation.
5. Place a ladder near a corner in the room. Retrieve a claw bar and pry away the molding from the ceiling. Continue along the wall, prying the molding free. Throw the molding into the dumpster once you have taken it down.
6. Break through the ceiling by starting near a corner, using a claw hammer. Hammer into the drywall or plaster to expose the trusses above.
7. Use the claw bar to pry the plaster or drywall away from the trusses, breaking off large pieces of ceiling at a time. Pull the insulation out, if necessary, and dispose of the ceiling pieces and insulation periodically, throwing them into the dumpster.
8. Pull out any nails remaining in the trusses with the claw hammer and claw bar. Put the nails into your pocket and dispose of them in the dumpster once all the nails have been removed.
Tags: breaking through, , claw hammer, dispose ceiling, dumpster once, into dumpster