Stripping wallpaper

julesldn

Hi there,
We have just moved into our new home (1890s build) and were hoping to strip wallpaper off the walls in the bedroom but we're not actually sure if this is wallpaper or not? 

I have lifted one of the corners and found a bare brick wall under the wallpaper with a grey/blue lining paper (see pic attached). Its all quite crumbly but doesn't look like there's plaster between the paper and brick wall is that right? Would you suggest we strip everything off down to the brick layer and then get a plasterer in?

Thanks
Julia

neilmcl

How old is the property?

AskAsk

looks like it has been put directly onto the brick work.  here is some info, which seems to state you can re-wallpaper.

https://findanyanswer.com/can-you-wallpaper-over-a-brick-wall#:~:text=A well soaked pre-pasted,over prior to wall-papering.

julesldn

neilmcl said:

How old is the property?

The property is 130-140 years old. Victorian. 

FreeBear

Looks like it might be some real thick lining paper with several coats of paint over the top. Strip it off, but do think twice about having the walls skimmed with gypsum plaster (the pink stuff like Thistle Multifinish). Solid brick walls should have a pure lime plaster put on to allow them to "breath".

neilmcl

As above, it does look someone has used thick lining paper directly onto the brick wall and given the age of the building you'd be best using a lime plaster to allow the walls to breath otherwise you could be setting yourself for future damp problems with standard gypsum plaster.