How to get a new smooth look in old houses ?

Biggie

Hi Just about to move into a 1930's house.

The painted walls and ceiling are quite smooth but not smooth enough for us as we want it to feel like a new house.

I think it currently has lining paper on both ceiling and walls. So I have a few questions ?

1) To get the new look do we get the walls skimmed ?.
2) Do we need to remove the lining paper first or can we get them skimmed over.
3) If we remove lining paper do we need to use a steamer if so what kind. Do we purchase a domestic one from DIY store or do we hire an industrial one.

thanks in advance.

agent_orange_2

Hi Biggie, In answer to the questions

Plasterer wouldn't want to skim over lining paper. When the lining paper became wet, the skim coat would come away from the wall.

You can probably remove lining paper by using a wet sponge to dampen it and then it should come off. A domestic steamer would be ok, if you need one.

You can then look at the condition of the walls under the lining paper, the fact that it has been used would suggest that the walls are not in a great condition.
Then you can make the decision if they need skimming.

best of luck

andrew-b

If you want an old house to feel like a new house why not buy a new house instead?! Actually not a bad idea as it's so much easier!

If you have the walls reskimmed then the lining paper has to come off. A domestic wallpaper steamer will be more than adequate - but don't hold it on one spot for too long else the existing plaster will fall off. But lining paper generally comes off pretty easy if you sponge it down with hot soapy water. To have the walls skimmed you'll need to take off the radiators too. It'll be messy with plaster dust everywhere. Then your going to have to wait ages for the plaster to dry out..you cant just slap paint on a day later. Then there's the cost...which may be as much as £500 a room at a rough guess.
The cheap alternative is to just to spot fill the walls and then re-line with lining paper. We did this in both the kitchen and spare room and although not a perfect finish it's pretty near damnit and saved us a fortune.

Andy

Dunstan_2

How easily the lining paper comes off may depend on what kind of paint has been used on the paper. We took off all the lining paper in our house - in one room it came off easily with a damp sponge in about an hour. In another room, they must have painted the room with a different kind of paint, or used a different kind of glue or something, but it was A LOT of work to get it off!!

Hoploz

We've managed to get quite a good finish patching with normal polyfilla (the fine-surface one is easier to sand) but also in one room we used Smooth Over which gives a smooth finish but is basically an all-over coat of polyfilla. I think Wickes do their own equivalent (as it was quite expensive) It is certainly good enough to paint, we have done so.
Mind you we are waiting to see whether the cracks (possible subsidence) will re-appear or not. Roll on the dry weather

Doozergirl

If the plaster is original to the house, please don't be surprised if the plaster falls away with the wallpaper

lynseyb29

I have the same problem in my kitchen and have been advised that the best way and cheapest to deal with the problem is;

paper the walls in lining paper but hang them accross instead of length ways, as you would usually do,

leave a gap between the joins,

fills in joins with filler,

give a coat of cheap paint and then sand down joints,

re-do until you have a look similar to freshly platered walls!

We havent actually tried this method but are planning to as soon as the kitchen has been fitted!

floyd

1930's house owner here :T

We had the same issue when we moved in. Every room needed attention as all the corners like the edge of the chimney breast were formed using wooden dowel instead of the modern metal forming joints so they were curved with bits crumbling off,
In one room we tried the filling/papering method but it just didn't cut it.
Have ended up getting every single room re-skimmed and re-jointed which takes time (4 years in we are half way rhrough). Be prepared for alot of dust as we had all skirting boards and picture rails removed which invariably takes some of the old plaster with it so some areas will need patching with bonding coat first.
It does look better in the long run though if you are planning on staying there for a while

WaveyDave_2

In the middle of my 1930s semi renovation. We had wallpaper on top of the lining paper, so it took a while to get it off. As advised, a normal steamer will do it (I picked mine up for £15 in Aldi). Your plasterer will need to check that the plaster is sound underneath.

As Doozergirl said, you might find that chunks of plaster will come off with the paper, this isn't a problem as your plasterer should be able to fill with plaster and then skim over. Skimmed plaster doesn't take too long to dry, probably 2 weeks or so. You will need to seal the walls before painting, this can be done using a mistcoat of emulsion watered down. I've bought Dulux Trade supermatt to do it. Then apply your normal paint on top.

Are your ceilings ok? We had 2 of ours dropped because the lath and plaster was sagging. The rest we've had overboarded and skimmed.

Good luck!

Biggie

hi Guys,

Thanks for all the helpful advice.

I think based on the info best course of action is to remove lining paper and then see the condition of the walls.


BTW the celing has also been lined. And both celing and walls have been painted,

Mutton_Geoff

My plasterer told me half his work comes from people who have "blown" their plaster off with the DIY strippers. Be very careful using it, although tbh, I would simply wet and scrape any old paper off. If it's been painted over, use one of those rollers with blades to score through the paper before giving it 2-3 coats of water. Done properly, with patience, the paper will just slide off the wall.

Loose plaster still needs removing but at least you will be sure you haven't compounded the problem with those steam wallpaper plaster removers.