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Plastering & Rendering

Victorian tenement plastering

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.51 PM

Hello! We are trying to prepare the walls of our Victorian tenement flat for painting. We've taken off 70s/80s textured wallpaper, but underneath there is a thin layer of hard brown/rust-colour on top of the plaster. It's very hard wearing and smooth, but we're unsure whether it's an even older wallpaper or if it's paint, or a type of plaster. It's probs 1mm thick. In some places it looks like paper, but doesn't come off like paper and is completely undamaged from steaming the rest of the wallpaper off. We think there might be some lead paint on the walls but haven't been able to work out from the home kit which layer it is in. Any ideas what this is, if it's the lead layer, whether we need to try to remove it, and how we best go from here to prep it for painting (e.g. skim coat or lining paper?). Thanks!

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5 Answers

Anonymous user

Its most likely wall paper backing without seeing pictures, however if the house was renovated prior to 1979 I think there could be lead paint on the walls do not sand or mess with them until you get it checked nasty on the lungs .

Answered9 July 2020

Anonymous user

This is a shellac that was put on top of the paper many years ago. The best way to cover it is to paint on bondit which is a glue with small grit through it and have it skimmed and that should do it.

Answered9 July 2020

Stacey & Thomas Plastering

Rating: 5 out of 5

Plymouth

Hi I’ve came across this recently which I thought It may be rag rolling paint. However I sealed the surface and plastered over it and it took fine ready for decoration I hope this helps.

Answered9 July 2020

Gary Quinn

Rating: 5 out of 5

Glasgow

If this is in Glasgow, I'd say it's original wall coating. If it's thick, it may be an original paper stuck with horse glue. In which case you'll never get it all off and it would take plaster ok. Otherwise it could be shellac or an original paint , in which case there could be lead in it. Prepare it with two coats of PVA solution (5:1 then 24 hrs later 5:1). Or use Bond-it or Blue Grit as a sealer and adhesive.It's not going to blow or peel. Plasterer could also use mesh embedded in the skim coat as some walls may be lath some brick. If it's not coming off with steam, it's not coming off with skim. Like the other tradesman said. Don't mess with it if lead based. If you're super anxious you can get it all off by a builder with appropriate PPE measures and disposal along with reboarding or traditional plaster. Depends on budgets and whether there's any conservation orders on the building.

Answered22 July 2020

Hamilton Contracts

Rating: 5 out of 5

Kidderminster

If it's Victorian it's probably lime finish...look for a tradesmen who works with lime...don't use gypsum of any kind on lime walls.....

Answered21 May 2021