Plaster work after an electrical chase

P933alilli

Hi, i'm having a rewire and the first step is tomorrow where the lads do the chase near all the switches and sockets. All the walls are wall papered, everything was decorated ten years ago. The electrician has made 6cm wide vertical column strips where the chase needs to cut. The plasterer has been and asked will 2-3" wallpaper be removed on either side of the chase so that he can bond, blend in and feather the plaster. I guess im asking what would be best afterwards. ie, to just paint in the gaps as close as possible to the original colour, completely strip all the wallpaper and paint all the walls or redecorate with different wallpaper?

CliveOfIndia

P933alilli said:

just paint in the gaps as close as possible to the original colour

Do you mean leave the rest of the wall papered, and just paint over the bit that's been stripped off?  That's going to look like a right botch job.

If some of the paper has to be removed to chase in the wires, then you're really going to need to replace all the paper - even if you happen to have some of the original paper left over that you could cut some strips from, you'll still notice it.  Not least because the paper that's been up there for 10 years will have faded slightly in the sunlight.

So remove all the paper, then either re-paper, or paint the bare plaster, whichever your preference is.  If you do want to paint onto the plaster, you may be able to get away with just giving it a good wash and a light sanding, but it's possible you may need it skimming if it's in too bad a state.

P933alilli

CliveOfIndia said:

P933alilli said:

just paint in the gaps as close as possible to the original colour

Do you mean leave the rest of the wall papered, and just paint over the bit that's been stripped off?  That's going to look like a right botch job.

If some of the paper has to be removed to chase in the wires, then you're really going to need to replace all the paper - even if you happen to have some of the original paper left over that you could cut some strips from, you'll still notice it.  Not least because the paper that's been up there for 10 years will have faded slightly in the sunlight.

So remove all the paper, then either re-paper, or paint the bare plaster, whichever your preference is.  If you do want to paint onto the plaster, you may be able to get away with just giving it a good wash and a light sanding, but it's possible you may need it skimming if it's in too bad a state.

Thanks for the reply,the plasterer i'm talking to also says he'll need to do the work over 5-6 evenings to fit me in and also to make sure each room is protected properly while he does the work. I suppose it would be more costly to do it that way rather than get it all done in a couple of days.. Or should it not make much difference? 

Lorian

You do realise he's probably asking you to remove the paper strips before hand? Id want more than 2"-3" removed really.

Also realise if they don't have the very best chaser it makes a lot of dust.

grumpy_codger

What sort of paper is it? Lining paper? Textured and painted? Printed?

Regardless, but at least for the last two I'd make a cut in the middle of the strip, wet it excessively with a sprayer (or use electric steam stripper)  and try to peel it off to the sides without damaging so that I could glue it back after re-plastering.

FreeBear

Lorian said:

You do realise he's probably asking you to remove the paper strips before hand? Id want more than 2"-3" removed really.

300mm either side should be enough. But if the old plaster is blown, good chance a bit more paper will need to be removed.

Chased out a slot for a new run of conduit in my hallway a few years back. Just above the back box, it was a nice neat ~25mm wide. Near the ceiling, big chunks of plaster came away, and I ended up with ~300mm to replaster. The joys of crappy (late) 1920s lime plaster.

Using a combination of a damp sponge float and a decent finishing trowel, patching only took a couple of hours or so. Not having a light switch in the back box made the job a lot easier - Just remember to wrap a bit of sticky tape round the lugs first. Cleaning dried plaster out of the threads is a pain in the butt.

Oh, and if you need to sand the plaster back once the plasterer has left, it is the sign of a bad job. It isn't difficult to get a smooth level finish.

P933alilli

grumpy_codger said:

What sort of paper is it? Lining paper? Textured and painted? Printed?

Regardless, but at least for the last two I'd make a cut in the middle of the strip, wet it excessively with a sprayer (or use electric steam stripper)  and try to peel it off to the sides without damaging so that I could glue it back after re-plastering.

Its indented, patterned paper and painted light cream/white.

bjorn_toby_wilde

Time to bite the bullet and redecorate?

I have the same situation to deal with at my son’s house but with painted lining paper. I suspect that will be hard to make good, but with indented, patterned paper you’d have to be really good to line it up accurately.

P933alilli

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

Time to bite the bullet and redecorate?

I have the same situation to deal with at my son’s house but with painted lining paper. I suspect that will be hard to make good, but with indented, patterned paper you’d have to be really good to line it up accurately.

I havent got any of the original wallpaper left anyway! I may just take all the paper off and paint white walls. Anyway i cant be online shortly as theyre starting at 9am! Thanks!

P933alilli

The lads doing the cutting now have said that the plasterer will take wallpaper from the area either side of the chase area whereas the plasterer said the lads doing the chase would do it! I'm confused now!

FreeBear

Grunts doing the chasing may be able to remove wallpaper, but unless they are conscientious workers, they may see everything as a nail and use a hammer.

A plasterer will just want to come in and do his "thing" with the minimum of prep work. Some will take the time to remove wallpaper (charging you handsomely for it), others will just plaster over what ever is on the wall.

Fortunately, removing wallpaper doesn't require any great skill and can be done with simple tools. A bucket of water and a sponge to soak the paper, and a 4" scraper is all that is needed. May be a small stepladder or stool if you are vertically challenged.