I am doubting advice!

DearDIYers · Post by **DearDIYers** » Sat Oct 02, 2021 8:07 am

Hi Everyone

We have just moved into a typical 1930 extended semi and we are struggling to find a plasterer. Two have looked and advised that it's a skim job but last night, another came and he did a lot of tapping on the walls and shaking his head. He told my husband that the plaster had blown and that it all needed to be taken off and redone. We would have to have a skip etc as he is not insured to take the rubbish but he would have ot done it 2 weeks.

We have also put up a false wall to separate the lounge from the hall as it was opened up. He told my husband that the plasterboard should have gone from floor to ceiling and was making out that the build wasn't good, saying "not sure what to do with this".

We are only amateur DIYers and never had to have a plasterer before so we just don't know what to believe. We had another plasterer come and for 1 ceiling (had spots in dining room), walls and ceiling in lounge, stairs and stud wall, 2 bedrooms including ceiling and 1 ceiling in a back bedroom he quoted 3200.00 and 3 weeks of work. This is in Yorkshire. I don't know if this sounds right but we have only had the 1 quote as 7 plasterers have not turned up to look.

I will try and post pictures of the walls and stud wall...

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Sat Oct 02, 2021 8:36 am

In my opinion, it does not matter what orientation the boards are the reason that they are usually vertical is to make fewer joins, meet on studs, and minimise joint scrimming. As long as it is firm and does not move or bow if you lean on it the plaster coat will not crack. As for hollow sounds when tapping the solid walls this does not always indicate loose plaster as it depends on the resonance of the substrate. It is unlikey all to be shot and there might be patches that were blown with a wallpaper steamer but I doubt all of it.

Difficult to say from pictures but it does smack of the job being talked up. Although it is difficult, try to get another guy in to look and do not put the suggestion in their head from the other bloke.

DWD

DearDIYers · Post by **DearDIYers** » Sat Oct 02, 2021 10:36 am

Thank you for your opinion. We have had 2 other plasterers, both said it just needs skimming. When this plasterer looked at the stud wall, he actually said that the plasterboard should cover the whole wall, floor to ceiling and not just the frame if that makes sense. He implied that it had been done wrong.

We are just finding this all very stressful and we lack confidence. It's taken us 10 plasterers to get 1 quote as they are not turning up or not getting in touch. Thanks again

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Sat Oct 02, 2021 11:01 am

Don't get stressed most things can be sorted with a bit of thought. Okay, a bit of off-cut boarding around the door frame to get it all level, door architrave covers the frame as a finish. As for boarding floor to ceiling, I must have done it wrong then as I have filled doorways etc just like that and skimmed over it perfectly, and I am not a plasterer.

Skimming will do it I feel, but a lot of the walls look as though with a bit of sanding they can be painted successfully. Just identify the zones that are poor for skim. On unfinished plaster always use a spit coat of paint first, diluted paint, to seal and bond to the plaster for the next coat(s).

You look like you have done a lot of work already and it is natural to hit the despondency point when you hit a problem. Chin up, you can get it sorted, have a good look at Youtube videos on plastering this will get you started.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey0Xj9Xe2xg

DWD

DearDIYers · Post by **DearDIYers** » Sun Oct 03, 2021 12:13 pm

Massive thank you for your advice and encouragement.

etaf · Post by **etaf** » Sun Oct 03, 2021 3:12 pm

JUST A DIYEr
But - i have had 3 bedrooms wall and ceiling skimmed recently ( covering all the textured ceiling, which we also had all tested for asbestos - negative ) - each room done in 1 very long day - no idea how old the plaster was - certainly nothing done after 1997 when my mother-in-law purchased the 1930 bungalow
And a kitchen ceiling replaced and replastered , again done in a very long day - as they have to wait 2-3hours between coats - so in this case it was 7.30am till 8.30 PM when they left.

Not there so dont know , but 2 weeks seems a while. If the other 2 plasterers have come recommended , then i would personally go with one of them -

DearDIYers · Post by **DearDIYers** » Mon Oct 04, 2021 7:07 pm

Thanks for your post. Problem is, the other plasterer said it would take him 3 weeks to complete!. So far we have had 2 quotes (1 was a little more expensive and he is the one that says it will take him 3 weeks). The other was £700 less so I got onto him to say we would like him to do it. Problem is he has gone completely off the radar. 7 of them just didn't turn up and now not answering my calls. I have another coming next week to quote but he can't start until December! Wish I have left the gory wall paper on now

etaf · Post by **etaf** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 9:20 am

I believe its the same problem with trades all over now
i've been having that trouble for quite a while now , even before covid with all the trades, they don't turn up to quote, or turn up and do not quote or the lead time is very very long , like 6 months !!!!!
To be honest now if someone said they could do a 2-3 week and start next week, unless they had a big job cancelled , i would not trust their work.

I need some work done on a wall, and called 3 brickies , 1 looked at the job, suggested loads of things and I never saw again nor returning my calls. The 2nd one we saw hes work recently and was recommended by 2 neighbours , so our preferred builder, He was very enthusiastic , a few texts , He came and saw the job again lots of different ideas, phone to say he was waiting for TP to come back with prices and availability of bricks that may match our old ones - now disappeared off the planet .....

Good luck with the work

Peloquin-UK · Post by **Peloquin-UK** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 4:09 pm

3 weeks? How many rooms need doing?