Plaster problems

escapee

Hi Room

This is my first post to this great site, I hope some one can advise me on my query please.

We have just changed the wallpaper in our living room from a very thick blown vinyl to a thinner nicer looking vinyl anyway now you can see quite large bulges in the plaster under the paper and its driving me mad, its even more noticable at night when the light is on casting shadows, instead of the major upheavel and cost to have the living room replastered, would it be possible for me to purchase something like a belt sander and smooth out the rather large bumps in the plaster without risking damage to the plaster further? The bulges are not small minor blebs but quite large bulges one almost a foot square, also can anyone give ideas as to what could have caused this?

Many thanks to all who reply in advance

escapee

trafalgar_2

The cause is probably a bad plasterer repairing a hole :-/

It is unlikely that you will get a good flat finish unless you are a professional at sanding................it ain't as easy as it looks

mistral_2

Get hold of a long straight edge and see what the rest of the wall is like , it could just be a bad plasterer has messed it up .
If that is the case then sand out the high spots and use a thicker paper .

If it is that bad it may pay to have the wall skimmed flat by a good plasterer .


Best Of luck I have sanded many a wall flat !!!

Get a mask and seal the doors the dust will get everywhere

escapee

Thanks to the replies so far (so quick too!)

Mistral what sander would you recommend?, i thought a belt sander over an orbital one (belt sanders also have an extraction bag attached!) do you think a belt sander is too industrial? i know when i have used orbital ones on wood before it feels as if you are getting nowhere, how easy is it to sand plaster?

Again Many many thanks to all

escapee

5150

Is your house quite old? Bulges in the wall could be due to age\ the house 'Settling' nothing to worry about but if thats the case you may find it better in the long run to knock some of the plaster off and re-do it. It's not that difficult to repair plaster. Instead of finishing plaster try using ready mixed joint cement which is easier to work with. (use for the finishing stage only).

If you are going to sand it I think an orbital sander would be better, make it as powerful as you can afford.
Before buying one though I'd get some coarse paper and try and sand a bit off by hand, plaster isn't that difficult to sand (but it is an incredibly dusty job). This will give you idea as to wether sanding it will do any good or not.

Good luck!

escapee

Hi 5150

Yes the house is over 60 years old, was built around the 1940s so i would guess you are right about it settling as i have lived here 20 odd years and cannot remember the walls being quite so bad! I have a black and decker orbital sander which is quite old, i will give that a try first if no success then i will look for something slightly powerfuller (in the orbital type range). You dont know how much you have put my mind at ease mate, its had me worried for quite a while thinking it would need the plaster removing and a complete replastering job, which is not only messy but expensive too.

Many Many thanks to all who have contributed, just hope i can help you all back someday.

escapee