Questions about plastering around skirting boards

sophie19

We have recently had the skirting boards replaced in two bedrooms. The old skirting boards were a mess and when these were removed, parts of the plaster came away with them, as expected - we were left with holes all the way around both rooms. The old skirting boards were slightly taller than the new skirting boards so once the new skirting boards were fitted, we were still left with substantial holes in the walls all the way around the top of the skirting boards.

Our tradesperson returned in order to patch these up and we are concerned that it still looks a mess, even thought we were told it would be ready for painting.

He has only used bonding coat - can we even paint on top of this or does it need to be skimmed? Furthermore, the plaster has dripped all over the skirting boards and plug sockets, and there are still some holes and areas with expandable foam visible. Should we just be covering this with polyfiller?

Our tradesperson was also looking around the house for things to stuff the holes with before adding the plaster. I believe he ended up using cardboard, paper and empty plaster bags. Is this acceptable/safe?

Thank you in advance for any guidance.

JimmyChanga

No, you need a finish coat over bonding. You can use a standard polyfilla.

Sounds like a bodge job. Should have removed old skirting and cut back old plaster at least another inch to remove any bowing. Then replastered and fixed new skirting.

Can you post a picture?

Ganga

sophie19 wrote: »

We have recently had the skirting boards replaced in two bedrooms. The old skirting boards were a mess and when these were removed, parts of the plaster came away with them, as expected - we were left with holes all the way around both rooms. The old skirting boards were slightly taller than the new skirting boards so once the new skirting boards were fitted, we were still left with substantial holes in the walls all the way around the top of the skirting boards.

Our tradesperson returned in order to patch these up and we are concerned that it still looks a mess, even thought we were told it would be ready for painting.

He has only used bonding coat - can we even paint on top of this or does it need to be skimmed? Furthermore, the plaster has dripped all over the skirting boards and plug sockets, and there are still some holes and areas with expandable foam visible. Should we just be covering this with polyfiller?

Our tradesperson was also looking around the house for things to stuff the holes with before adding the plaster. I believe he ended up using cardboard, paper and empty plaster bags. Is this acceptable/safe?

Thank you in advance for any guidance.

Where did the cowboy leave his horse?:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Aylesbury_Duck

sophie19 wrote: »

We have recently had the skirting boards replaced in two bedrooms. The old skirting boards were a mess and when these were removed, parts of the plaster came away with them, as expected - we were left with holes all the way around both rooms. The old skirting boards were slightly taller than the new skirting boards so once the new skirting boards were fitted, we were still left with substantial holes in the walls all the way around the top of the skirting boards.

Our tradesperson returned in order to patch these up and we are concerned that it still looks a mess, even thought we were told it would be ready for painting.

He has only used bonding coat - can we even paint on top of this or does it need to be skimmed? Furthermore, the plaster has dripped all over the skirting boards and plug sockets, and there are still some holes and areas with expandable foam visible. Should we just be covering this with polyfiller?

Our tradesperson was also looking around the house for things to stuff the holes with before adding the plaster. I believe he ended up using cardboard, paper and empty plaster bags. Is this acceptable/safe?

Thank you in advance for any guidance.

I think you know the answer to that. Honestly, he's not a "tradesperson" if he's done that. It won't be unsafe but it is unacceptable and it's also likely to fall apart not long after he's ridden into the sunset.

If you're not a confident DIYer, get someone in who knows what they're doing.

sophie19

Thanks so much (to everyone who has posted!). I mean obviously we knew they shouldn't be scavenging around the house for things to put in the walls :rotfl: , but we were unsure if cardboard/paper was acceptable to use as extra filler. Thanks for confirming our suspicions. Fortunately we have only part paid them at this stage so it's not the end of the world.

We've had a really difficult time finding someone reputable to quote for the work so we may just give it a go ourselves now. Would you suggest that we take it all off and start again? If so, what should we be using to fill the massive holes that have been filled with cardboard/paper etc.?

Or should we just cover the bonding with Polyfilla, sand down, and apply a mist coat?

FreeBear

Bonding plaster can be applied in quite thick layers - Typically, 10mm to 15mm thick. I have built up some quite deep holes (25mm or more), but it takes a couple of layers to be effective without it cracking.

If you want a proper job done, the the skirtingboard needs to come off and the plastering redone.

sevenhills

sophie19 wrote: »

Our tradesperson was also looking around the house for things to stuff the holes with before adding the plaster. I believe he ended up using cardboard, paper and empty plaster bags.

Its better to have your own newspaper to stuff in the holes, a good professional is always prepared.

joeypesci

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

If you're not a confident DIYer, get someone in who knows what they're doing.

Always find those comments ironic as that's what she got the"trades person" in for. But that one turned out to be a cowboy.

JimmyChanga

Would you suggest that we take it all off and start again?

Depends on how bad it is. Only you can judge that. Given his plastering efforts I'm surprised that it does look reasonable, unless he does know carpentry but nothing else.

sgun

sophie19 wrote: »

Our tradesperson was also looking around the house for things to stuff the holes with before adding the plaster. I believe he ended up using cardboard, paper and empty plaster bags. Is this acceptable/safe?

I usually use tin foil, you can really stuff it in and it doesn't sag when you plaster over it. I expect the new owners of my old house are just discovering this now. TBH its not even really acceptable to bodge your own house this much!

Aylesbury_Duck

joeypesci wrote: »

Always find those comments ironic as that's what she got the"trades person" in for. But that one turned out to be a cowboy.

What's ironic about it? Some people get trades in because they have neither the time nor the inclination to do the job themselves. I'm a fairly competent DIYer but have used professionals for things to do things I could do. I'd also suggest that cutting/mitring, treating, securing and painting skirting is a very different job to having the DIY skills to do a bit of filling, sanding and painting.