State of the walls

[Mr_Green]

Hello again,

So I stripped back some paper to see what was below in the upstairs loo.

An absolute horror show.

I think the slight leak has been fixed, gutter was full of dirt.

Now I’m guessing this is gypsum over lime, exterior is Bath stone.

A lot of the plaster has blown and cracked.

What the heck do I do next?

 

[Cubist]

I suspect you would be better off stripping the plaster back to the render coat and maybe to raw stone then.....

 

[a twig]

Afraid I agree with Cubist, whole lot off and back to stone then re-plaster in lime ideally.

Or woodwool board and skim in Reabilita Cal AC as per many of my previous posts
https://www.periodproperty.co.uk/forum/threads/plastering-question.16738/post-227203

 

[Mr_Green]

Thanks all

 

[Stevers]

It's just an upstairs loo, so another approach would be to do the minimum and await developments. That would be strip the paper completely, make good with a bit of Polyfilla, then paint with something breathable like clay paint, F&B estate emulsion or contract matt emulsion to make it presentable - that might do the trick for minimal outlay.

That's what we did with our upstairs bathroom, and it too was a disaster area to look at. I like wainscotting and that's a really good option to cover up the sins of the lower 3' or so.

 

[Mr_Green]

You read my mind..

 

[malcolm]

Lining paper hides a lot of sins. Not great in a shower room but very useful in all the other rooms if you want to patch with filler rather than skim the walls. I would assume the existing plaster isn't breathable but that's not so much bother upstairs if the exterior of the wall is breathable.

 

[Lacan07]

Hello again,

So I stripped back some paper to see what was below in the upstairs loo.

An absolute horror show.

I think the slight leak has been fixed, gutter was full of dirt.

Now I’m guessing this is gypsum over lime, exterior is Bath stone.

A lot of the plaster has blown and cracked.

What the heck do I do next?

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If its an upstairs room a cheaper option would be to strip it all back and then make good any holes with Gyproc Easifill, which is so easy to use with a few basic skills. Then you can paint or use a lining paper if you still think the surface isn't good enough. But to be honest with a Easifill, a bit of effort, and an electric sander you can get any wall paintable.

 

[Mr_Green]

Thanks all. Re: Gyproc Easifill - is it being non breathable a potential issue?

 

[Stevers]

Gyproc Easifill is gypsum based so breathable, but anything gypsum based is vulnerable to damp and salts. You already have what looks like pink gypsum plaster in the corners. Have you been able to work out if the grey 'plaster' is original or not, and if it's cement, cement/lime or lime based?

 

[Mr_Green]

Not sure how I'll do this tbh, going to get the rest of the paper off tonight.

 

[Stevers]

In my experience it comes down to how hard it is. Rings like a bell when struck = cement. Easily scratched = lime. Something in between is weak cement or cement +lime. Others test with vinegar, that is supposed to bubble up when applied to lime renders.

I find it odd that a cement render has been repaired with gypsum plaster, and that makes me wonder if the grey stuff is original to the house and not cement. If it is necessary to remove gypsum from the equation, that might give the easier option of just replacing the pink stuff. As you're upstairs you shouldn't be subject to salts, or damp with the roof fixed, so less of a concern to do this. Hence making good what's there, and seeing what happens next.

 

[Lacan07]

Thanks all. Re: Gyproc Easifill - is it being non breathable a potential issue?

Not so much of an issue if the room is upstairs and the roof, guttering, etc is in good order, so no leaks. many people compromise by having lime walls on the ground floor and gypsum on the upper floors. The only thing to consider then is condensation.

 

[Mr_Green]

Gotcha, thanks all. I like this site, very helpful, will be back frequently at this rate!