Old lime plaster walls

[Powysperson]

We've stripped off the wallpaper in our house and sanded the walls ready to paint... I'm now tempted to leave a wall or two with bare as I really like the colours and texture! Has anyone done this?

Is there anything I could do to stabilise it so it's not so dusty but still retains the old patina?

 

[fernicarry]

Umm, well, I give the plaster a coat of diluted wallpaper paste to seal dust in before papering, but I'm not sure of the aesthetic of leaving it exposed...

Where you intend to paint its a good practice to use lining paper first rather than painting directly onto the plaster.

[And those surface run cables and outlets ]

 

[Gothichome]

Just my thoughts, I would be inclined to paper with a suitable style for the period.

 

[Kearn]

It will likely be an old soft distemper, which has a habit of being soft and rubbing off. It shouldn’t be dusty though.

A gentle mist/ wash down may help with any accumulated dust. The obvious answer is a coat of line wash, but that will lose your lovely historic colours.

I’d live with it for a bit, and be gentle with any interventions. It looks original and in great condition, so please do not seal it with anything, regardless of how ‘breathable’ it claims to be.

 

[Powysperson]

Ah ok, good to know. It's been sanded but not washed. I will try that first. They is some newer poly filler type stuff in patches too which is dusty.

 

[Powysperson]

Umm, well, I give the plaster a coat of diluted wallpaper paste to seal dust in before papering, but I'm not sure of the aesthetic of leaving it exposed...

Where you intend to paint its a good practice to use lining paper first rather than painting directly onto the plaster.

[And those surface run cables and outlets ]

Yeah they are not pretty but we're here before we moved in!

 

[Lacan07]

We've stripped off the wallpaper in our house and sanded the walls ready to paint... I'm now tempted to leave a wall or two with bare as I really like the colours and texture! Has anyone done this?

Is there anything I could do to stabilise it so it's not so dusty but still retains the old patina?

View attachment 15807

View attachment 15808

Yes, utilising old lime walls is quite a common motif in 'Boho' interiors where the new and modern is actively avoided. Its usually employed sparingly though and in contrast with bold, dark colours. Try and pick one wall and make a feature of it if you can.

Lime water can be used to stabilise the wall.

 

[CarolineTheChemist]

Earthborn do a wall glaze that they say is breathable. I used it on our lime ceiling before I painted it with their claypaint. It gave a lovely subtle sheen and really deepened the contrasting colours of the existing lime layers. I’d definitely recommend it. I’ve added a snap that hopefully shows what I mean about the contrasting colours. This is a photo of the ceiling and the tops of some built-in cupboards I’m painting red.
In the bottom of the photo you can see part of the ceiling that I hadn’t yet glazed for comparison.

 

[Powysperson]

Oh wow that looks great! Thanks for the tip. I will order a sample!!