Wall preparation

[Emotionalrollercoaster]

Hi,

I've recently bought a 1929 semi-detached house. It's well loved and I've been renting it prior to that for 8 years.

In the pursuit of making it my own, I've taken off the hideous anaglypta wallpaper in the kitchen.

The walls are fairly solid but there are small defects in the walls, plus holes in the plaster behind ALL the sockets (photos attached - the light switch surround hides a multitude of sins)

I'm just wondering what is the best option to fill the holes behind the sockets, and whether I have any chance of getting the walls to a paintable surface, or if I should just use lining paper?

If I were to get the walls skim coated, can it be gypsum plaster or is there something better?

Thanks so much, I'm a first time buyer and new to this

 

[paulc]

Snap. Have a late 1920s semi here too suffering from a degree of neglect over the last few years. Underlying structure is still sound though..
Looks like you already have gypsum plaster in places, particularly around the boiler(?) switch. Side note: If that pipe is for hot water, put some pipe lagging round it so that the mains cable isn't in direct contact.
Also looks to be a bit of cement there too - Possibly old tile adhesive - Hardly worth going out to buy a 25Kg bag of plaster, so I'd use something like Gyproc Easifill to build the surface up. Then apply a thin coat of Knauf Fill & Finish. The advantage of the Knauf stuff is it can be wet sponge sanded once dry, so even if your plastering skills are poor, you can still get a decent finish. The same compound can be used to fill the dings & holes in other walls - Give the wall a light misting of water, slap the compound on, and then scrape it off as if you were buttering a slice of toast. Leave to dry, and then wet sponge sand.

Note: Although the links provided go to Wickes, the stuff is cheaper elsewhere. Shop around and you can get 20Kg tubs of Knauf for around £30.

 

[Emotionalrollercoaster]

Snap. Have a late 1920s semi here too suffering from a degree of neglect over the last few years. Underlying structure is still sound though..
Looks like you already have gypsum plaster in places, particularly around the boiler(?) switch. Side note: If that pipe is for hot water, put some pipe lagging round it so that the mains cable isn't in direct contact.
Also looks to be a bit of cement there too - Possibly old tile adhesive - Hardly worth going out to buy a 25Kg bag of plaster, so I'd use something like Gyproc Easifill to build the surface up. Then apply a thin coat of Knauf Fill & Finish. The advantage of the Knauf stuff is it can be wet sponge sanded once dry, so even if your plastering skills are poor, you can still get a decent finish. The same compound can be used to fill the dings & holes in other walls - Give the wall a light misting of water, slap the compound on, and then scrape it off as if you were buttering a slice of toast. Leave to dry, and then wet sponge sand.

Note: Although the links provided go to Wickes, the stuff is cheaper elsewhere. Shop around and you can get 20Kg tubs of Knauf for around £30.

That's really useful, thank you!

I love my house but it's a mishmash of styles and different aged bodges! Have you managed to get to a paintable surface with just filling and sanding? I've never wallpapered before so was hoping to avoid it but the combination of plasters is making me mildly anxious about what it will look like painted.

Yep, it's the boiler switch - I don't think that pipe has hot water but will check. I'll switch the power off and just have a look behind the socket to see how deep it goes and then will get those things you've suggested to fill.

 

[Emotionalrollercoaster]

Snap. Have a late 1920s semi here too suffering from a degree of neglect over the last few years. Underlying structure is still sound though..
Looks like you already have gypsum plaster in places, particularly around the boiler(?) switch. Side note: If that pipe is for hot water, put some pipe lagging round it so that the mains cable isn't in direct contact.
Also looks to be a bit of cement there too - Possibly old tile adhesive - Hardly worth going out to buy a 25Kg bag of plaster, so I'd use something like Gyproc Easifill to build the surface up. Then apply a thin coat of Knauf Fill & Finish. The advantage of the Knauf stuff is it can be wet sponge sanded once dry, so even if your plastering skills are poor, you can still get a decent finish. The same compound can be used to fill the dings & holes in other walls - Give the wall a light misting of water, slap the compound on, and then scrape it off as if you were buttering a slice of toast. Leave to dry, and then wet sponge sand.

Note: Although the links provided go to Wickes, the stuff is cheaper elsewhere. Shop around and you can get 20Kg tubs of Knauf for around £30.

That's really useful, thank you!

I love my house but it's a mishmash of styles and different aged bodges! Have you managed to get to a paintable surface with just filling and sanding? I've never wallpapered before so was hoping to avoid it but the combination of plasters is making me mildly anxious about what it will look like painted

Yep, it's the boiler switch - I don't think that pipe has hot water but will check. I'll switch the power off and just have a look behind the socket to see how deep it goes and then will get those things you've suggested to fill.

Snap. Have a late 1920s semi here too suffering from a degree of neglect over the last few years. Underlying structure is still sound though..
Looks like you already have gypsum plaster in places, particularly around the boiler(?) switch. Side note: If that pipe is for hot water, put some pipe lagging round it so that the mains cable isn't in direct contact.
Also looks to be a bit of cement there too - Possibly old tile adhesive - Hardly worth going out to buy a 25Kg bag of plaster, so I'd use something like Gyproc Easifill to build the surface up. Then apply a thin coat of Knauf Fill & Finish. The advantage of the Knauf stuff is it can be wet sponge sanded once dry, so even if your plastering skills are poor, you can still get a decent finish. The same compound can be used to fill the dings & holes in other walls - Give the wall a light misting of water, slap the compound on, and then scrape it off as if you were buttering a slice of toast. Leave to dry, and then wet sponge sand.

Note: Although the links provided go to Wickes, the stuff is cheaper elsewhere. Shop around and you can get 20Kg tubs of Knauf for around £30.

P.S - primer or no primer if painting?

 

[Lacan07]

That's really useful, thank you!

I love my house but it's a mishmash of styles and different aged bodges! Have you managed to get to a paintable surface with just filling and sanding? I've never wallpapered before so was hoping to avoid it but the combination of plasters is making me mildly anxious about what it will look like painted.

I've never tried it but one thing you could think about is to sand the walls with a large electric sander. Plaster isn't difficult to sand flat but you'd just have to be careful you don't shake the plaster away from the walls, lath & plaster would be worst for this.

 

[paulc]

I love my house but it's a mishmash of styles and different aged bodges! Have you managed to get to a paintable surface with just filling and sanding? I've never wallpapered before so was hoping to avoid it but the combination of plasters is making me mildly anxious about what it will look like painted

P.S - primer or no primer if painting?

Primer just needs to be watered down paint. Although, if you have any stains, I can recommend Zinsser Stain Block as a primer.
Put lining paper up at Niece's Victorian terrace. Plaster was a bit rough in places, but the lining paper covered the worst of it. A thin smear of filler on the joins, and now it is papered, it looks good.

I've never tried it but one thing you could think about is to sand the walls with a large electric sander. Plaster isn't difficult to sand flat but you'd just have to be careful you don't shake the plaster away from the walls, lath & plaster would be worst for this.

Sanding of any plaster is messy. Gypsum is just nasty stuff. On lime, once you've taken off the thin top layer, it is all too easy to gouge out the course gritty layer underneath. If you must sand, just a light rub down with a sanding block.

 

[Emotionalrollercoaster]

Thanks everyone - got my supplies today. Avoiding the power sander as I think at least some is lath and plaster so don't want to cause myself more trouble!

The walls are different colours so think fill, sand, prime with the stain block and then keep my fingers crossed that it looks OK then if it's awful will learn to wallpaper and put the lining paper up!

 

[Emotionalrollercoaster]

Snap. Have a late 1920s semi here too suffering from a degree of neglect over the last few years. Underlying structure is still sound though..
Looks like you already have gypsum plaster in places, particularly around the boiler(?) switch. Side note: If that pipe is for hot water, put some pipe lagging round it so that the mains cable isn't in direct contact.
Also looks to be a bit of cement there too - Possibly old tile adhesive - Hardly worth going out to buy a 25Kg bag of plaster, so I'd use something like Gyproc Easifill to build the surface up. Then apply a thin coat of Knauf Fill & Finish. The advantage of the Knauf stuff is it can be wet sponge sanded once dry, so even if your plastering skills are poor, you can still get a decent finish. The same compound can be used to fill the dings & holes in other walls - Give the wall a light misting of water, slap the compound on, and then scrape it off as if you were buttering a slice of toast. Leave to dry, and then wet sponge sand.

Note: Although the links provided go to Wickes, the stuff is cheaper elsewhere. Shop around and you can get 20Kg tubs of Knauf for around £30.

Sorry for all the questions! Just started to brush out all the loose plaster and the hole goes right behind the (unrecessed) box for the fused spur to the boiler.

Is it safe to fill behind it or do I need something else? Or is this an "absolutely don't DIY, find a professional" situation?

I was wondering about PVA then expanding foam since filling behind it might be a tricky job! Then following this up with the fill and finish.

 

[paulc]

Sorry for all the questions! Just started to brush out all the loose plaster and the hole goes right behind the (unrecessed) box for the fused spur to the boiler.

Is it safe to fill behind it or do I need something else? Or is this an "absolutely don't DIY, find a professional" situation?

I was wondering about PVA then expanding foam since filling behind it might be a tricky job! Then following this up with the fill and finish.

Unless you are using a foam gun, it is all too easy to squirt too much foam in to the void and then end up with a bigger mess to deal with. If you are not confident dealing with electrics, leave the box on the wall and just get as much filler as you can in the void - This is one spot where finger trowels come in useful.