ᐅ Remove wooden ceiling and either plaster over or cover with paneling

Hello,

I need some advice. In my kitchen, the old wooden ceiling is going to be removed. I have already taken down a few slats to see what is underneath. I suspect it might be Fermacell, but I am a complete amateur. I have attached some photos. Is it possible to simply remove the wood and the supporting framework and then fill and sand the existing panels? The problem is that the ceiling cannot be lowered because the new kitchen is planned to go almost up to the ceiling. So far, the craftsman’s plan has been to install a metal framework and then drywall panels, but that would reduce the ceiling height more than the current level.

Thank you very much for your help!

It's actually a bit strange why someone would suspend a drywall ceiling again with wood paneling underneath. Did the builder explain why they want to install another metal frame and drywall on top?

You should check what the drywall is attached to—that should be your raw ceiling.

At first glance, the screw spacing on the ceiling seems somewhat wide. It might be worth adjusting, then filling and applying a fleece wallpaper over it to finish.