Crumbly plaster problem - falling off with the wallpaper?
Question:I'm renovating the house I've just got as a family home. I have taken the wallpaper of the walls and the plaster has crumbled away in some areas, but stayed firm in others. Should I take off all the plaster and start again, or will I be able to work around the firm plaster and patch the areas affected. On some walls over 50% of the plaster is in need of replacing.
Many thanks, Regards, Richard.
Answers:
You don't say if it's the skim coat that's coming off, or the whole plaster coating ie backing as well that's coming off. If it's just the skim coat that's coming off, and the backing coat is still solid then you could just re-skim the affected walls-this isn't exactly easy but a decent DIYer should be able to do it reasonably well.
If the whole plaster coating is becoming delaminated from the wall, and in areas of 50% of a wall or greater, then you'd be better calling in a plasterer to do the job for you. Other people here have posted the suggestion of using drywall, or what we'd term in Britain as dot & dab. This will mean removing the skirtings from the affected rooms, and then literally sticking plasterboards to the walls, by means of a plaster "dab" mixed with PVA glue, which is spotted onto the back face of the board then the board is simply offered up to the wall and held by the dab. Using this method you can cover large areas very quickly and evenly. Obviously you'll have to re-do the skirtings afterwards.
Hope this is of some use
The best thing is to tap all of the wall for any other blown plaster to fall off, then get the hole thing re-skimmed.
you may find out patching may cost as much as replacing all of it and you will still have to worry about the original plaster falling off.
Dark S. probably has the right answer. If it's starting to crumble in places now, the future doesn't look too bright.
Grit your teeth, get some drop cloths and whack the whole thing. New drywall is relatively easy to put up, and you'll be able to fix wiring, plumbing etc. while you're in there.
If 50% of some walls are coming off it cannot be long until the rest follows suit. I would replace with drywall
Pengy is right on !Drywall is the answer (you can do it yourself or have a pro install it).
if over 50 % you are better off taking it all off. repair & make good any defects first. good luck
possibly you have lime based plaster, my advice is to take it off and replace with a modern insulating plaster. It's a big job to do yourself if you are a novice, but if you give in and just patch it up, how long will the old plaster you leave up last?
Prepare for dust as thick as four inches all along the top of aunties piano.
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