Wall repair

JohannaSv

Hi everyone

Need some advice.

We have just had some old built in wardrobes removed from what hopefully will be our new bedroom in a few weeks time. They were really old and disgusting and had to be removed. When they were taken off it caused some damages to the plaster and quite a lot of the plaster came off in some places.

The problem is that our budget is really tight. Ideally we would like to have all old plaster removed and have the whole room re-plastered but we're not sure we will be able to have that done within our budget. What would you say is the best way to sort this out with quite a small budget? Is it Worth even having a go at trying to just fix the wall DIY style or do we need to get someone professional in to do it? (none of us has ever done plastering Before)

Thanks for any advice you have to offer,

Johanna

Kiran

Providing there is somthing to fill against it is relatively easy to DIY patch with easi-fil type products

keletkezes

I've done it: I'm pretty cack-handed and I managed a reasonable repair with Wilko and B&Q pre-mixed filler on at least 3 sections of plaster finish, the largest probably about a square metre. Just get a good bendy spatula knife tool thingy (someone will give you the correct name!) and it's not really that hard. And sand it down when you're done!

LEJC

A lot will depend on how you plan to decorate the room andreally how much money you want to spend

I doubt very much that the whole room will need a replaster...although you might want to consider at some time either now or in the future a skim by a plasterer...rough guess on the cost of this would be maybe £300
Having the room skimmed would be a good option if ideally all you then want to do is paint the walls

Another option would be just to get a plasterer in to skim the area that you consider damaged...probably not a cheap option in relation to the cost of doing the whole room but probably charged at about half a days work and maybe £100 or so

Third option would be get some ready mixed filler and blend it into the areas that have been damaged...its not as difficult as you think and in reality if you are just going to put a wardrobe infront of the damage its a perfectly good repair option

if you do intend to wallpaper then again dependant on how extensive the damage is you might find that a layer of lining paper underneath the top wallpaper will mask the uneven surface.

diywhynot

cyclonebri1

To be honest I wouldn't bother trying to patch things.

Re board it, and get it skimmed, cost? ;

lets say a 12ft wall at 8ft height, so that's 3 sheets of plasterboard at £8 each, bag of sheet adhesive £8, bag of finish plater, £5, joint tape £5.
£42 or thereabouts
The rest is labour, result will be a better insulated wall than you had before and given a decent plasterer, a perfect finish.

That way you get a repair and some betterment.
I realise you can't plaster, but do the sheeting and it's a couple of hours work for a plaster or his mate. Ask around.

macman

You don't say how big the damaged areas are? Small damage is easily repaired by a DIY'er. Large areas are not, as you'll never get it smooth without practice.

jcb208

Scrape the area as flat as possible removing loose paint plaster and just get a small bag of easifill and mix quite wet applying with either a trowel or caulking board.it will need a couple of fills then rub down.Do not bother with joint cement that is for top coating drywall joints or small imperfections,scratches ,as it is air drying it will take for ever to set the thicker it is

Edwardia

My tip is to use ready mixed filler and for small bits, a round-ended palette knife for spreading icing on cakes, from somewhere like 99p Stores. You get much more control in tight spaces like corners and for small dinks too because the palette knife is flexible and therefore more manageable than the non flexible spreader. You'll need a spreader for bigger areas though.

Leif

As said, Easi-fill, it's cheap and it works. A metal wallpaper scraper works for small holes. For larger holes - 6" say - you can use a metal spirit level as a tool to even it out, or any straight edge that is wider than the hole so it can rest on the plaster either side. Leave it at least one day before sanding.

A problem with skimming is that you lose some of the architrave, skirting and coving edge, which I think looks a bit naff.

diywhynot

jcb208 wrote: »

Do not bother with joint cement that is for top coating drywall joints or small imperfections,scratches ,as it is air drying it will take for ever to set the thicker it is

Have used successfully countless times, just need to know what you are doing.:D