Plastering & Painting, Old house , Hall and Stairs?

[debs]

Hi,

I'm trying to redecorate my Hall Stairs and Landing (HSL) Various
generations that have lived in my house (>100 years old) have
attempted to decorate but have never completed the job. (a 3 storey
house, once they get to the top I think the enthusiasm disappears).
So I decided to attack the walls that have never been looked at in
years (the top floor). I steam stripped the old paper and removed
what was left of the dado rail. So now I'm left with a wall with lots
of holes, huge patches of badly repaired plaster work (previous
occupants) and a rough plaster finish elsewhere. The plaster work is
very old, some kind of grey undercoat with a top yellow finish.

What I'd really like in the house are painted walls not papered, but I
need to get the walls repaired first. I can patch the holes but I am
concerned about the durability of a painted finish on this type of
wall. It got to be child proof against dirty hands

So do I;
(1) patch the walls get the best finish I can and then paint them (top
coat of matt varnish to get some durability, would this work)

(2) Put lining paper on the wall then paint

(3) Get someone to re-plaster the lot. (Not economically possible)

Advice please

Debs

[Tony Kershaw]

"debs" <debbi...@lycos.co.uk> wrote in message
news:d287aa59.02020...@posting.google.com...

Hi

In the ideal world it would be nice to replaster them. But realistically you
should be able to patch them up to a smooth finish and then use lining paper
before painting.

I know what you mean about 'child proof against dirty hands' but you can get
semi-washable paints. We used these in our little girls room, seems pretty
resistant to usual kids mess and you can wipe it down with a damp cloth.

I'm sure if you post some specifics about the walls, ie. size and depth of
holes, you'll get some further advice.

Tony

[Chris French]

In message <a3drub$1h0$1...@helle.btinternet.com>, Tony Kershaw
<TonyKershaw@?.Com.invalid> writes

>
>"debs" <debbi...@lycos.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:d287aa59.02020...@posting.google.com...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I'm trying to redecorate my Hall Stairs and Landing (HSL) Various
>> generations that have lived in my house (>100 years old) have
>> attempted to decorate but have never completed the job. (a 3 storey
>> house

>> So do I;

>> (1) patch the walls get the best finish I can and then paint them (top
>> coat of matt varnish to get some durability, would this work)
>>
>> (2) Put lining paper on the wall then paint
>>
>> (3) Get someone to re-plaster the lot. (Not economically possible)

>Hi
>
>In the ideal world it would be nice to replaster them. But realistically you
>should be able to patch them up to a smooth finish and then use lining paper
>before painting.
>

Yes, this is a good compromise, even over good walls it is better to use
a good quality lining paper before painting.

>I know what you mean about 'child proof against dirty hands' but you can get
>semi-washable paints.

Vinyl silk paints are pretty tough and washable.
>

Plastering doesn't have to be a dreadfully expensive business.

A chap (whose work I've seen looked good to me) has quoted us around GBP
400 to patch and skim all the walls and ceilings in the hall and landing
in our 30's semi (only 2 floors admittedly)

THey ahve been down with a dreadful sort of lumpy plaster/artexy type
stuff oPh to ahve a smooth wall......
--
Chris French, Leeds

[The Natural Philosopher]

First of all, get rid of any crumbly bits

Then paint wall with dilute PVA to stabilise what is left.

Then using bonding plaster, fill the worst of the holes. Use a float to
scrape it approximately level.

Now comes the hard bit. You have to skim it. If you can't hire a
plasterer for a day or so (about Ł150 tops) then get some Polyskim, and
set to, it will take several goes to get right, but be patient.

The finish will be a *lot* better than lining paper.

Getting someone to do it would be the best tho.

And since you are likley to spend more than Ł100 on piant and materials
anyway, why not spend the extra Ł150 on the one bit that you can't do
well, that needs to be done well?

> Advice please
>
> Debs

[The Natural Philosopher]

Tony Kershaw wrote:

>
> I know what you mean about 'child proof against dirty hands' but you can get
> semi-washable paints. We used these in our little girls room, seems pretty
> resistant to usual kids mess and you can wipe it down with a damp cloth.
>

I never had kids, but the cats used to leave bloodstains and mud on the
walls when wrestling smal (and not so small) furry things to death... a
wipe down with a dmap rag, and a lick of fresh paint sorted em every
time.