1870s Plaster - what to do with it?

[beetle_pete]

We've recently moved into an 1870s property that we are in the process of renovating but we're not quite sure what to do with the old plaster. I've stripped the wall paper of the hall and come across this:

On close inspection the brown is almost like a paper like lining however so well stuck on that there is no way it would come off. We would like to be able to paint the walls so are wondering whether we could just repair the holes (which there are many) or if we should skim with new plaster but unsure whether it would take.

Done lots of googling but found nothing. Any advice would be gratefully received. Thanks

 

[Lime]

I can't see the picture unfortunately.
The brown stuff may be a lining or it could be a mixture of adhesive, maybe flour, distemper or paint.
It will come off.
The old method of soaking the wall or more modern method of steaming will remove it as long as you have a good sharp (meaning an edge that is cut square) scrapper.
Anyway it has to be removed before you can do anything to the wall if you want to make it look good.
Personally I would not skim the surface.
Apart from my wish to keep the original house materials, filling the holes with pollyfilla or similar is easy.
Just try not to take the modern attitude and expect to do it all in an afternoon.
It will take time.

I caught a snippet of a tv programme yesterday where an estate of old houses at a seaside resort were being renovated over winter.
The compere (?) made the comment about the owner keeping all the old character of the houses and at the same time the camera panned across the interior that had been gutted.
Bye bye historic, quant and interesting interior, hello old house being turned into a Barret box.

 

[Feltwell]

I can't see the picture either, but I would say that if you wish to paint you'll be amazed at what a difference putting lining paper up first makes - especially the Vario Non-Woven stuff. I've found it works a treat in hiding the imperfections in the old plaster.

http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/viewprod/m/MAVNWLPV/

 

[mims&pip]

No picture for me either, I'm afraid, but we have a similar issue in the 1853 part of our house. I initially stripped back to what I thought was the plaster only to realise that there was a layer of ancient, brownish lining paper beneath the woodchip etc. My first idea was to retain this if possible and paint over it - in fact in the reception room that we are turning into our kitchen I have so far kept the lining paper, but will be removing it as there are areas (damp) where it couldn't be saved - but in some rooms it has torn badly as it was extremely thin......

In the rooms where we have removed this we've found a mix of barely cracked plaster through to quite badly pitted surfaces. Currently I'm working on the study/office and have found the old plaster to be in excellent condition - although this is in the 1924 extension - some minor filling and it's good to paint. The original hallway (we have two :roll: ) is a different story and will require heavy duty lining paper applied first.

This is the first house - out of seven period properties - where we've found lining paper beneath the wallpaper, but we have had to resort to 1000 grade (or similar) lining paper previously. Only in our third house, when we were naive in the ways of restoring period properties, did we resort to reskimming

Mims x

 

[Feltwell]

Mims, although it's a lot more expensive, if you try the non-woven lining paper I describe above I think you'll find it gives much better results than ordinary 1000 grade paper. Easier to hang too. The plaster here is quite pitted, it's done a great job over that.

 

[MatthewC]

If you want to skim the lime plastered wall (especially if you have replastered only a part of a wall) you use some stuff called DG27 which is available from people like Mike Wye. It's a sort of paint with grit in it and makes a good surface for new lime plaster skim to attach to, whilst being breathable as well. I used it in several places and you can't see the join so I reckon it works. However, without seeing your picture I couldn't say if it would work on what you have (but I don't see why not).

NB It is also expensive!

 

[bennoa1]

Is the lining paper breathable as if not its likely to trap the moisture and will peel off after some time. I've tried to keep the old plaster but now the lining paper is off (previous owner who also used cement and gypsum everywhere but gradually being replaced with lime products) the plaster is now loose and I can peel the bulk of it off with my hands so I'm losing most of it, which I believe was down to the lining paper and wallpaper combined with a modern paint finish. Shame as its nearly 350 years old.

 

[mims&pip]

Mims, although it's a lot more expensive, if you try the non-woven lining paper I describe above I think you'll find it gives much better results than ordinary 1000 grade paper. Easier to hang too. The plaster here is quite pitted, it's done a great job over that.

Thanks Feltwell......will definitely give that a try for the 1850s hallway here (might need it in a few other rooms too - have only stripped/started stripping five so far :roll: )

Mims x

 

[malcolm]

Lining paper prior to painting seems a good idea. Once you get layers of paint or wallpaper the lining paper can be removed and replaced without the need to disturb the plaster. The other half painted a 17th century timber framed wall with shiny vinyl paint over the lime plastered wattle and daub because I was being too slow about it after removing the lining paper. Had I put lining paper back on this would have been reversible.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Hi Beetle-pete----- as has been suggested the brown stuff will come off the wall with a good soaking from a steam stripper. I had exactly the same in one of my houses. Having removed it, like you I was left with dents, holes and scratches so I used 1200ml lining paper, easy to apply, and leaves some of the lumps and bumps just visible which I always found attractive. After all if you want smooth walls go and live in a brand new house, that said some people do prefer a smooth finish. Plaster skim or fresh plaster should really not be necessary.

Decorating direct have excellent prices for bulk buys of lining paper. 1000ml thickness is also absolutely fine, but 1200ml behaves itself very well when you are applying it to the walls.

Good Luck

 

[beetle_pete]

Hi All, thanks for the reply's, I missed this when it went live. Does this link work?

After a bit more investigation I agree it is a lining paper that has been mounted horizontally around the room. The top wood chip wallpaper and 'lovely' 50s wallpaper beneath all came of extremely easily but there is no moving this paper. Judging by how it goes round the cracks in the wall I would say it is original so 1976. Is this flour and water glue?

I have tried cleaning the glue off the brown paper with a scraper and steamer but this was chipping into the brown paper. However it would take an age to pick it off mm by mm. Also worried leaving the steamer on too long to get the brown paper off might damage the plaster which looks in fantastic condition from the few bits I can see?

Thanks for the tip on the lining paper, I'm thinking this might be the way forward.

 

[Feltwell]

Is the lining paper breathable as if not its likely to trap the moisture and will peel off after some time.

Not sure, but I've not seen any problems here. Mind you, as you're basically covering the wall with glue, I'm not sure that any wallpaper will do much for breathability.

 

[Feltwell]

After a bit more investigation I agree it is a lining paper that has been mounted horizontally around the room.

Yes, I can see the picture now. Hanging lining paper horizontally is the correct way to do it I'm told if you're then papering over it, to ensure no joints align. Can't say I fancy trying it, but then I've only ever used lining paper as a base for paint.

I agree that if what you've got there is well stuck and not causing any problems, hang lining paper over that vertically and then decorate.

 

[malcolm]

I completely agree with Feltwell. How lovely to see an old wall in such good condition. Some of mine have had a thin skim of the pink stuff which doesn't seem to stick to anything, cracks badly, and is very prone to falling off outside walls. Filling in the imperfections with something water based and then lining paper should preserve the walls nicely if you use old fashioned water based paste and will save you or the next unfortunate owner from the hell of flaking skim plaster in just a few years.

 

[plasticpigeon]

Looks like a grand old place!