GBR

Measure the span of the ceiling joists, measure the spacing. Plaster is heavy, adding more drywall may all crash down or at least sag, especially if water-based texturing it. Did you go into the attic for this information yet? Older houses had plaster and lath which weighs 8 pounds per square foot, depending on the framing material and the span with the on center spacing (how far apart each one is), one can calculate the load for the lumber.

Gary

gnostic19

i rolld out some insulation last month and think the joists were 16", cause the rolls fit snugly between each joist. Well ,come to think of it, maybe they were 24". I'll have to check it out t be sure.

binahweb

IMHO-- You can screw new over old, but you really don't know where to screw.. You have no studs to go by.., You could screw into a wire or a pipe, and then it would be a possible disaster..

Its a few hundred dollars more to pull the old stuff off and start with clean studs.. You can see the framing and see if there are other problems when you have it open..

For taping its all the same, but usually there is less waviness to the ceiling when its new drywall. If there is waves or humps your taper will end up by spending more time and using more materials to make it flat. Better to start right, rather than doing a cover job.

__________________
Glenn S. Berlow, Author

[url]http://www.drywallinstitute.com[/url]

nealtw

It's not productive to say a plan is rinky dink when some one is taking time to help you. It sounds to me like he has the knowledge and I to have done this in the past. I think I would regret calling him pal after he came back the second time. It's your job to understand or ask more questions, not get pissy.
Just saying.