The rear of my century house has a 2 story addition. It was built long ago (poorly) post/beam construction. Prior to the roof being re-shingled last year, the roof leaked badly, probably for some time. The plaster seems still a little moldy in some spots & powdery in other spots. Can I put a vapour barrier & drywall right over the plaster, or should it be removed. It is insulated in the attic. I will be rewiring the rear area soon. If I can just put the vapour barrier up over it (as I want to do in other rooms), do I have to use caulking or adhesive, or can I just staple it to the ceiling.
Answer:
I'd want the plaster very dry before covering it with VB but after that, you can fasten it with staples and then put the drywall over it. Plaster is too good of a temperature retaining medium to discard it and besides, there is asbestos fibre in it so it's not a simple matter of just taking it out; you have to be dressed and in other ways prepared for it.
