Older home remodeling in Valley Glen, Los Angeles County
Remodeling Older Homes in Valley Glen
Should the old plaster in a Valley Glen house be kept or stripped to the studs? How we test, sound and repair plaster during a whole house remodel.
Is the original plaster in a Valley Glen house worth keeping, or should it all come down to the studs? It is a fair question to raise before calling, and the honest answer depends on the wall. Plaster that is still keyed to its lath is harder, quieter and more fire resistant than wallboard, so we save what we can and remove only what the new wiring, pipe or layout truly needs.
Reading each wall
A sample of plaster and paint goes to a lab first, since a positive result for asbestos or lead changes how any removal is done. Then each wall is pressed and tapped. A firm, solid sound means the plaster keys still grip the lath, and a hollow or springy patch means they have let go. Hairline cracks are routine and get taped and skimmed. A loose patch can usually be drawn back tight to its lath with screws, wide plastic washers and a bonding glue. Only where a section has failed widely, or a wall is coming out for the new plan, does it go to the studs.
Opening walls with a light hand
New circuits and supply lines are fished through narrow cuts where possible, and those cuts are patched with base and finish coats so the texture matches. Because Valley Glen falls within Los Angeles city limits, a Building and Safety inspector checks that rough work while the openings are still exposed. Casing, baseboard and picture rail come off before any cutting and return once the walls are painted. The same plaster survey applies to older houses in Van Nuys, Panorama City, Sherman Oaks, Lake Balboa, Valley Village and Encino.
What we can do for a house in Valley Glen
Whole-house work leads, and every other service is available for the same house.
Planning work on a house in Valley Glen?
Tell us about it. We will walk through the house and send a written scope.