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Hello forum,

I am looking for one concensus advice.

I have recently taken ownership of the basement to my flat. I have emptied the basement which was literally wall to ceiling full of building rubble and rubbish, which has meant there was no air circulating for at least 25-30 years. While it has a damp course there is no damp down there but the walls are crumbling a bit due all this.
I have had 3 bolder co,e and quote to repair the walls, and they have given me four different solutions.

Builder 1 - steel brush the walls and use a process called bagging to keep the brick work effect (which I kind of requested as I like the look)
Builder 2 - steel brush the walls, repair cracks, spray the walls with PVA
Builder 3 - steel brush the walls, repair cracks and the tank the whole wall. Or render all the walls.

Questions:
Which the best process?
Difference between bagging and tanking a wall?
Is it worth trying the keep the brick work effect or just render over the whole thing?

I'm not a builder, a mere handyman.

1) bagging. Never heard of it. Ask Builder one what he means.

2) PVA. won't do anything.

3) Tank. Probably the best bet, various tanking solutions out there again ask your builder what solution he proposes.

Bagging is a term for mortar joint finish, ie point all joints and when curing rub up the joints with bagging, which is basically hessian sacking.
If theres no damp, then go for that option.