Problem Builders

FreeBear

stuart45 said: A lot of Tackers, especially in the USA  fix the boards horizontally. Said to be stronger as the board is fixed to more studs, and the long edge is stronger. Some still prefer a vertical fix.

When I boarded some stud walls, the sheets were fixed horizontally. Due to the pitch of the studs, I only had the short edges to trim rather than cutting the long edge.

CalumFinnerty

Thanks, JC.

The old wallpaper had been stripped away to reveal a bare wall. It was 1920s plaster.

The plaster was applied directly to this.

In a dramatic twist, the plasterer has told the builder that the ripples are caused by the wallpaper he plastered over and it is caused by water absorption from this wallpaper.

However, the walls had been stripped of all wallpaper. It was a bare wall.

breaking_free

Words fail...
Plasterers do not plaster directly over wallpaper! They remove the paper first. The guy is both a liar (because his wall did NOT have wallpaper on it) and a plonker (for suggesting that he actually would plaster over wallpaper).

twopenny

Looks like he will be loosing further work with this builder. 
He should have known before he started so is trying to back peddle. 
You seem to have found a good company of builders.
Interesting scenario. I've learned a lot

Jeepers_Creepers

CalumFinnerty said:

Thanks, JC.

The old wallpaper had been stripped away to reveal a bare wall. It was 1920s plaster.

The plaster was applied directly to this.

In a dramatic twist, the plasterer has told the builder that the ripples are caused by the wallpaper he plastered over and it is caused by water absorption from this wallpaper.

However, the walls had been stripped of all wallpaper. It was a bare wall.

I'm at a loss, then, Calum.

This is the original plaster wall, which had the paper removed, and given a fresh plaster skim. And it's developed these mysterious horizontal ridges. Haven't a clue, sorry.

I'd love to know what would happen if the ridge was sanded down; would a gap/crack appear? Or, perhaps the 'wallpaper' was removed, but a lining paper or backing layer left behind? If so, I wouldn't fancy the chances of that skim remaining up there without at least forming hairline cracks over time. And worse if it becomes damp.

All I can suggest, in the absence of answers, is let them get on and fix it. But make sure you have this incident 'recorded' somehow so that in the unfortunate event future issues arise, you can prove that it was down to the original preparation.

And then forget about it. Chances are it'll be fine.

CalumFinnerty

Thanks, everyone.

On balance, I wished we'd kept the old bathroom from 1977 and the walls and floor in their original condition.

The bath was solid steel and the toilet and basin were excellent quality.

The walls and ceiling dated from the early 1920s and when covered with wallpaper and thick pile carpet made it warm and homely.

The new bathroom is expensive Villeroy & Boch, Hansgroe, etc. gleaming white vitreous china.

The walls white with expensive tiles.

It looks and feels like a sterile morgue. None of the expensive replacements are as good quality as the original ones.

No more builders or construction work. The quality of modern work and materials doesn't seem as good as in the past.

stuart45

The days of lads leaving school at 15 and doing a 5 year apprenticeship are long gone now. 

travis-powers

stuart45 said:

The days of lads leaving school at 15 and doing a 5 year apprenticeship are long gone now. 

Got to say all the young chippies give me a hard time because they know it all but when it all goes wrong they come running to me.
On the rear occasion I get to work with an old boy I listen because I may learn something!

Monsternextdoor

CalumFinnerty said:

Thanks, everyone.

On balance, I wished we'd kept the old bathroom from 1977 and the walls and floor in their original condition.

The property Im buying has the original 1950's cast iron deep bath, I don't want to take it out because its solid and deep. 

Everyone is saying that I am mad for looking at getting it re enameled but I honestly know they dont make them like that anymore ! 

NSG666

Monsternextdoor said:

CalumFinnerty said:

Thanks, everyone.

On balance, I wished we'd kept the old bathroom from 1977 and the walls and floor in their original condition.

The property Im buying has the original 1950's cast iron deep bath, I don't want to take it out because its solid and deep. 

Everyone is saying that I am mad for looking at getting it re enameled but I honestly know they dont make them like that anymore ! 

If you've ever had to move one you'll be glad they don't. They can look fantastic but I don't know how they managed to carry them - even the pieces were heavy when I used to smash them up to move them.