Repairing internal lime plaster?

[dalivar]

Hello all,
We removed a nasty white melamine fitted wardrobe yesterday from an alcove in our 1890's cottage, and accidentally took off some of the wallpaper in the process. We hadn't intended to start yet another room with others on the go, but that's where we are! The wall underneath appears to be plastered with lime (its grey and has clumps of hair in it) but it's quite cracked and is very hollow sounding in places. I don't really want to have to re-plaster it due to the cost/inconvenience etc so I'm wondering whether to re-paper it until we are prepared to commit to fixing it properly, as Mr D suggests, or try to cut out and patch-up the weak areas using more lime. The latter is my preference, and I wonder if this would be enough of a repair or only a temporary measure? We have found a local builder who will work with lime and has also said he'd be willing to come to do any top coats of plaster for us to help with costs and still get a proper finish.

In the longer term we dont want papered walls and I'm worried that papering now will mean we damage more of the plaster when we come to remove it again. The paper that is already in situ has very little glue holding it up and it seems like it would come off without too much trouble.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

 

[Nigel Watts]

I would be inclined to bite the bullet and go for the lime repairs rather than putting things off by repapering as a temporary measure.

 

[dalivar]

Exactly my thoughts... and is patching an acceptable method? I suppose it all depends how much area needs attention but I'd like to think it doesn't HAVE to all be redone just because some areas are weak.
Thanks

 

[Nigel Watts]

I have patched up a number of areas of lime plaster in various rooms in my house and have been happy with the results. You may not get as perfect a finish with a patch than a complete replaster, but its much cheaper and less messy.

 

[dalivar]

Thanks Nigel, thankfully we've only had to remove about 5 areas which need patching, they are all about 1-2foot in area. From the stone the existing plaster is about 2 inches thick, do you think two base coats is needed or just one and the top/finishing coat?

 

[Feltwell]

After patching if you want a better finish then hang lining paper and paint that. I've done that with good results. The lining paper below is infinitely superior to "ordinary" lining paper in my opinion, I seem to remember someone else on here has used & recommended this product as well.

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

 

[Feltwell]

I seem to remember someone else on here has used & recommended this product as well.

Found the thread - it was Pford75........

I second Feltwell's recommendation of non-woven lining papers. Having used both this and heavyweight lining paper, it's no contest for me. Easier to cut, easier to hang, no shrinkage, butts easily etc. etc. The weight feels the same, but somehow (perhaps it's my eyes), it appears to do a better job of covering the imperfections in the wall. The plaster in our dining room was a bit of a state, but budget dictated that we couldn't replaster...so we lined the whole room and it's almost impossible to tell.

I know this sounds like a sales pitch, but I have rarely been so impressed by such a simple product.

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

Thanks Nigel, thankfully we've only had to remove about 5 areas which need patching, they are all about 1-2foot in area. From the stone the existing plaster is about 2 inches thick, do you think two base coats is needed or just one and the top/finishing coat?

Dalivar,

That's very thick plaster, or perhaps it's just 2" thick in parts due to the random nature of the masonry surface. Anyway, you don't want to try building up more than 0.5 - 0.75" at a time, so you'll need to work in a number of coats. First dub out the bigger depressions with coarse stuff, ideally adding broken brick or tile or small stones to reduce shrinkage. Then another coat of coarse stuff to build up. Then another coat, if necessary, finishing 2 - 3mm below finished surface. Then a finishing coat of fine plaster. There are numerous posts on here, and on suppliers websites, giving details of techniques and materials.

I've found that well-done patch repairs can effectively 'spotweld' areas of loose-but-coherent original plaster back to the wall, so avoiding the need for wholesale stripping of the wall. Lining paper is definitely your friend on a patchy wall.

 

[dalivar]

Hi Andrew, we decided we'd have to line it after thinking we wanted it just limewashed. Its just too rough otherwise! Some of the adjacent plaster is not attached to the wall very well, so I am hoping that the repairs will help bind it. I'm also very worried it might 'ping' it off since I've not had much practice using lime and none plastering!