Plank constructed partition wall

[MikeG]

Abi, that's mid- to late 19th century or later softwood, so the earlier discussions of planks & muntin walls were somewhat off-beam.

You've got yourself a reasonable amount of work to do. Do the architraves and skirtings sit on the boards, or is there a layer of plasterboard behind them?

 

[Abi Cott]

The architraves sit on the boards. The plasterboard was just nailed to the planks over the top of several layers of wallpaper, and overhanging the skirting.

I'm fairly sure the wall dates to when the first indoor toilet and bathroom were installed in the house. From the construction of the door I was guessing Victorian, but I can't be any more precise than that so far.

The architraves and the support post by the toilet window have very detailed mouldings you can't really see them in the photos, but there are multiple ins and outs on them.

 

[Abi Cott]

This might give you a better idea of the thickness of paint I'm dealing with.

The orange is on top of pink, then a layer of brown, then dark green. It was covered with two layers of wallpaper, a layer of plasterboard and a further two layers of wallpaper.

 

[MikeG]

Rather you than me, Abi .

 

[Kearn]

This might give you a better idea of the thickness of paint I'm dealing with

The orange is on top of pink, then a layer of brown, then dark green. It was covered with two layers of wallpaper, a layer of plasterboard and a further two layers of wallpaper.

Think of all the insulation that was providing! :wink: I feel your pain though, similar thickness to the three plank doors I stripped, all of the gaps and holes drove me nuts!

It is a huge improvement though, will be well worth it in the end...(if there is such a thing?!)

 

[Abi Cott]

HOLES!

Plasterboard is usually fixed to studs. The nails are in nice organised lines. But not when they have a whole plank wall to work with. Oh no then they randomly smack nails in where ever they feel like it. Going straight through the planks and out the other side.

I'm going to get the boards as clean as I can and remove the ?polyfilla? From the grooves but the eventual finish will have to be a painted one I think.

 

[Abi Cott]

The burn marks from candles are quite interesting. In its early life (before paint) people clearly took a candle to the loo with them and rested it on the bottom support bar or central muntin.

 

[Kearn]

Would be a real shame to repaint it...? I spent ages with the point of a knife removing the final remnants!
With my doors I was ok leaving the traces of history carved out, from previous latches and lock boxes, but thankfully we didn't have lots of aimless holes!

Candle marks are a nice nod to the past ...

 

[88v8]

Matchboard.
Yes, a lot of fiddly stripping.

The understairs loo in our previous house (1920) had a matchboard wall.

If the house hasn't had CH but will, I'd leave off repainting that boarding for a good while, otherwise the paint will crack all over the place as the wood reaclimatises.

Ivor

 

[Abi Cott]

Thanks Ivor, It's full gch so would be fine for that but I'm going to leave all the decorating until after the lime plastering is done on that floor.

 

[MikeG]

........ I'd leave off repainting that boarding for a good while, otherwise the paint will crack all over the place as the wood reaclimatises.......

Or choose a flexible microporous paint like Bedec Multi-Surface Paint (MSP), and never have to worry.

 

[Abi Cott]

I'm leaning towards the Earthborn products for both wood and walls. I have a design concept where the wood in the master bedroom is painted the same colour as the walls on the landing. So I'm looking to use one supplier for wood and walls and the Clay paint is appealing.

 

[88v8]

Or choose a flexible microporous paint like Bedec Multi-Surface Paint (MSP), and never have to worry.

You do seem to rate that stuff. Better than Demidekk?

I'm currently starting a paint campaign of linseed external and Sikkens AZ internal. Linseed to the south only.
Last year tried Demidekk over Visir primer, think I mentioned it, horrible to apply although as someone pointed out, I was using the wrong sort of brush.

Ivor

 

[MikeG]

I've no direct experience of Demidekk, although I do know lots of people are very happy with it.