Wall material in 1956 home

[bzzrd2]

Hello
I'm doing a kitchen renovation in a home built here in Canada back in 1956. Looks like I will need to pull the wallboard and re-do it. I am curious about the product that is on there. It is more like cement sandwiched between paper than gypsum. Very hard! Also, it appears like they built mini footings for the walls to rest on. Can anyone enlighten me as to what this board is and are there and hazzards associated in pulling it down? Thank You.

[Cole]

Can you post pics?

[bzzrd2]

I'll take a couple of shots tomorrow and post them. Thanks!

[Cole]

Great, look forward to seeing them!

[bzzrd2]

I have posted the pictures at:
http://www.bejobber.com/kitchen/wall_project.html

Now that I see there is 2 layers plus plaster it gets stanger. The kitchen looks unmolested since built. The old cupboards were built right in and nasty to get out. Hopefully the home owner will approve gutting. Even the electrical is a nightmare. 2 outlets and the stove line in the whole kitchen.

[Don_P]

I'm going to guess a gypsum lath (the paper coated inner ply), a brown coat of plaster and a finish coat of plaster. The bases look like plaster "grounds" to guage depth and provide nailer for trims. If I'm right that cement layer is not a sheet but a trowelled on coat, can you tell?

Some old plaster contains hair in the brown coat (pioneer surface bonding cement) I've heard the hair often came from the tanner and was pretty well laced with things like arsenic and heavy metals. I imagine yours is more modern but I'd wear a mask and open the windows.

2 outlets, they were upscale.

[bzzrd2]

Thanks for the insight Don. The outer layer does not appear to be board but must have been a trick to do on the ceiling! Also, it is very uniform. The guy that applied that certainly knew what he was doing.

I think the homeowner is convinced the should gut it so masks and good ventilation it will be. Thanks!