Tearing down plaster and replacing with drywall

[ja123005]

We have a very old home; 179 years old. There is no known insulation and it’s evident by the insanely drafty winters. We would like to take 1 room at a time and tear down the plaster & lathe from the walls and ceiling, rewire the electric, seal any gaps, insulate and hang drywall. We were all up for it until people have told us that we can ‘disturb’ some potentially hazardous materials when we do this and fill our house and our family’s with cancer causing dust. I’m very confused on what is real and what is not. Can someone; anyone, please give us an educated, experienced response to what we should do. As a side note, there were new windows put in about 15 years ago, but I believe that there were gaps and that is adding to the draft. Please, please, please-HELP!!!

[Faron79]

There is almost automatically Lead in the old paints.
This has to be removed by licensed contractors!!
You can’t do it on a “piece-meal” basis, or you’re constantly having to re-seal areas off.

Same with Electrical…can’t be done room-by-room. You may be able to do a “floor” at a time, but with all the ducting, etc., etc., to be run…you’re talking some SERIOUS $$$ HERE….

You MAY pay for this home twice-over…
* New insulation, New wiring…
* Asbestos and/or Lead removal…
* Probable new ducting/heating supply…
* New Primers, paints…..

A lot ahead of you!

Faron

[Author]

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