this post was submitted on 14 Dec 2023
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Is there a guide out there to renovating pre-war apartments? (self.asknyc)
submitted 1 year ago by ArbitraryValue to c/[email protected]
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I live in a 20-story building built in 1929 and I want to do some minor renovations on my apartment. I've worked on a basic modern house made of 2x4s and drywall, but I'm out of my league here. I don't even know how to hang a mirror up on the wall...

If it's made of gypsum brick, can I treat it like masonry? What if it's hollow? Can lathe-and-plaster support any significant weight? Is drilling into the wall going to release some ancient evil they used as a normal construction material back then?

I'd love to find a guide for how to do even the basic things in these buildings. Does anyone have recommendations?

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not an expert, but a couple of things I learned when living in a 1920s duplex:

  1. Standard stud detectors don't work on lathe-and-plaster. We had success hanging moderate loads (TV, etc) using a metal detecting stud finder and standard wood screws.

  2. Walls may not meet at right angles - found that out the hard way when building a bookshelf.

[–] Patches 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Walls may not meet at right angles

Just so you are aware. This is all homes/apartments everywhere. New/Old alike It's just not practical for the level of precision that 90 degrees implies.

That is why trim moulding is coped and not mitered.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Thanks - it's always good to learn something new