Skim coat but using what

[Dave1010]

Hi all,

I've been stripping off multiple layers of painted textures wallpaper in a 1902 terraced house. The plaster underneath has taken a beating with chips/gouges about 3-5mm deep and is already uneven in places from what looks like old attempts at filling. It is a pale grey colour and I wonder if it's lime.

I want to restore a flat surface to paint on but after lots of reading I am still unsure what materials to use here. The walls are internal walls.

I've read that something like gyproc easifill 60 could be used as a skim coat for entire walls. But then others say no and suggest using thistle multifinish plaster. I've no experience plastering but keen to DIY this for the experience to be honest.

Some of the walls are in a bathroom and have previously been painted with a satin finish. I've read sanding as best as possible the priming with blue grit may work?. Again I don't know what plaster/filler etc would be best to skim the walls with to get them flat ahead of repainting.

Any advice on the right materials to use would be very much appreciated, thankyou

There's some other walls where the plaster is blown and it's showing exposed brick ..I'm 100% getting a spread in for that

[Dave1010]

Any advice much appreciated

[dewaltdisney]

A house of this age may well have lathe and plaster partition walls. I always think that you are better off pulling the L&P off the walls and ceilings and boarding over with new plasterboard and skimming. A horrible messy job but once done you are future-proofed. The solid walls can be either hacked back and replastered or dry-lined. This is probably not what you wanted to hear but repairing old plaster will always leave you open to future issues as it invariably is so fragile.

DWD

[Bob225]

If it's brick, it will be lime base plaster with a grey thistle bonding - if its just small areas spray the grey with water and use a decent filler like Toupret, not tried the premixed yet, but the powder works wonders

if it has blown (hollow sound) back to the brick, bond and top coat or splat and squidge (dot and dab), plasterboard, tape and join or skim