Dreaded wood chip!

arlywarly

We've moved into a property that was converted into a home in the 80's. The conversion was done entirely by the previous owners, so we are finding some "interesting" things. Every single internal wall has wood chip put directly onto plasterboard (we came to the conclusion that they couldn't do plastering themselves, so as they wouldn't pay a plasterer they chose wood chip). We hate wood chip. In our bedroom it seems to be polystyrene backed wood chip. We've tried the usual ways of removing it, but they can't have used standard emulsion as it's like plastic. It's an absolute nightmare. We've been told not to plaster over it but are at a loss now. Any suggestions? Any? Please!

Mr.Generous

you just have to score it and soak it, its actually easier to remove after it has dried again once you have soaked it. Don't re wet it, scrape it off dry. The backing sounds like polystyrene veneer to insulate the room, never tried to remove this myself.

Doozergirl

If it's directly onto plasterboard and you have to plaster anyway, perhaps it's worth the time saved to remove the plasterboard and have it replaced?

Davesnave

I hope you aren't in my old house.

Back in the 80s, we had two kittens who loved the thick anaglypta (fashionable then!) wallpaper for sharpening their claws.

Faced with ripped paper and no time to replace, as the walls weren't too good anyway, I came up with the idea of painting the lower part of the wall with glassfibre resin. This sounds crazy, but it wasn't very notceable once painted, and it did the trick.

I've often wondered how whoever decided to strip the wallpaper got on. I visited a couple of years after we sold and it was still there then, much to my relief. It was the first thing I checked! :rotfl:

paddy's_mum

Davesnave wrote: »

I hope you aren't in my old house.

Ah. Finally the truth emerges. It was your house those poor people who were taken away in an ambulance by men in white coats had been working on!

PS. I worked for several years in customer services for a major manufacturer of decorating products and some of the stories we heard would curl your hair. One woman used a steamer on a brand new velour sofa (thereby wrecking it) despite the instructions clearly saying don't, and was sobbing down the phone that her husband was due home in half an hour....:(

phil24_7

Doozergirl wrote: »

If it's directly onto plasterboard and you have to plaster anyway, perhaps it's worth the time saved to remove the plasterboard and have it replaced?

I did this on my lath and plaster walls in the bedroom. Even with all the mess it was worth it!

stator

Or just put new plasterboard over the top

Sm17hyc

A heavy grade of lining paper can be the cheapest way to cover this up, even if you have to do it more than once.

Owner of pdproductreviews.co.uk/forum

arlywarly

Thanks for all your suggestions. We're going to hang fire, as we may be changing the windows in the next year or so (there are 3 windows in the wood chipped areas in this room) so will consider our options until then.

goodwithsaving

I think I might be the odd one out.....I quite like wood chip! :-)