Can anybody recommend how to fix this wall without hiring a plasterer?

subjecttocontract

I've had some success with a product called Easy Fill and a long aluminium straight edge. Mix, trowel it onto the wall and pull the straight edge across in a sawing motion. 

FreeBear

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

ThisIsWeird said:

I have absolutely no idea whether powered 'drywall sanders' would make life much easier, as I've never used one - looks tempting, tho'.

Not an expert but did once use the orbital sander on a wall and the dust was horrendous, obviously you get the same amount of dust for the material removed but more of it seems to fall to the floor when sanding by hand whereas the sander threw what it didn't catch in the dust bag around the entire house! 

TiW does like to recommend sanding of plaster with little regard to the mess it makes - IF one is sanding, especially with power tools, a top quality (and well fitted) dust mask is essential. And once finished, the entire house will require a deep clean.

Modern gypsum plaster should never need to be sanded - It is not difficult to get a decent finish straight from the trowel.

Old lime plasters, once you have taken off the thin top coat, are very friable underneath. It is all too easy to gouge out the base layers and make a wall look even worse.

Drywall can be sanded, and tools like pole sanders are a crutch for sloppy application by poorly trained labourers.

The OPs wall will benefit from a light sand to get rid of any nibs & loose paint and provide a key for a skim of Easy Fill or Fill & Finish. Thick lining paper will hide some of the lumps & bumps (maybe look at something like WallRock thermal paper ?). But a stairwell is not the best place to start mastering DIY & plastering.

ThisIsWeird

FreeBear said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

ThisIsWeird said:

I have absolutely no idea whether powered 'drywall sanders' would make life much easier, as I've never used one - looks tempting, tho'.

Not an expert but did once use the orbital sander on a wall and the dust was horrendous, obviously you get the same amount of dust for the material removed but more of it seems to fall to the floor when sanding by hand whereas the sander threw what it didn't catch in the dust bag around the entire house! 

TiW does like to recommend sanding of plaster with little regard to the mess it makes - IF one is sanding, especially with power tools, a top quality (and well fitted) dust mask is essential. And once finished, the entire house will require a deep clean.

Modern gypsum plaster should never need to be sanded - It is not difficult to get a decent finish straight from the trowel.

Old lime plasters, once you have taken off the thin top coat, are very friable underneath. It is all too easy to gouge out the base layers and make a wall look even worse.

Drywall can be sanded, and tools like pole sanders are a crutch for sloppy application by poorly trained labourers.

The OPs wall will benefit from a light sand to get rid of any nibs & loose paint and provide a key for a skim of Easy Fill or Fill & Finish. Thick lining paper will hide some of the lumps & bumps (maybe look at something like WallRock thermal paper ?). But a stairwell is not the best place to start mastering DIY & plastering.

Good point, thanks. I had fully intended to mention the need for a mask, and I'd also consider 'sealing' goggles as the dust can 'smart'.

When sanding by hand, the vast majority of the dust will fall straight to the ground at the foot of the wall, so a well-fitted, and taped, ground sheet should be laid there. I'd also keep doors shut, not only to prevent the dust spreading, but to reduce draughts that could keep the dust in the air, and spread it around.

I have done tons of sanding in my time, and it's not a task I relish - who the heck does. But, a 'deep clean of the entire house'? Never had to do this. Dust sheets will take care of 99% of the issue, and Mr Dyson will do the rest.