I'm bodging/tarting up my house to make it a little more attractive to potential buyers. One bedroom needs some serious work and though the house will probably sell to a developer I don't want to put off private buyers who might pay out a bit more. I stripped the wallpaper and there's an area of blown plaster in an alcove next to chimney breast approx 1 sq.m at the top of the alcove. The plaster is very old and probably lime stuff (1850's). I can't plaster but might make a fist of it if I try hard enough. What would you tradesmen advise as my best approach? Plaster the patch, Plaster the whole alcove, Batten and plasterboard it. It measures 3ft wide x just under 8ft to the skirting board which I'd like to leave as removing/refitting just a whole load more work. To be clear - I just want it to look ok to flog the house, not looking to make a pukka long lasting job of it. I think I probably know the answer is plaster the whole alcove, but then I'd have to do the skim and, well, I'm not confident I'd make a good job of that on top of what would probably be a rather poor base coat. Balls - I could have done without this! Ta very muchly.
Another thought - I'm cash poor. There's another whole plasterboard wall that could also be skimmed (I was going to paper it due to crap skills). If anyone locally wanted to do a labour swap I could do some van work in exchange?
woodchip wallpaper over it my understanding is you will have to chop out the old stuff and re-plaster the whole alcove Mind you someone who know what they are talking about will be along as to me plastering is magic
One thing I could manage would be a built in cupboard with a back. Too much effort and materials though...
cut off some of the plaster at the bottom until you get some sound stuff and render over the top wall. Dont worry about it not being level as as its an alcove you could then board over the whole lot with some plaster board and paint directly ontop of that.
You need: PVA Thistle hardwall (backing coat) One coat plaster Plastering trowel Make a hawk out of 18" 18mm ply and a bit of batten (or buy/borrow one. Mix PVA with water 60/40 in favour of PVA, brush on two good coats - this will seal and reduce suction of wall so shouldn't crack as it dries Mix up Hardwall as on the bag and bang it on wall with cheapo trowel from b and q. Dont worry about getting it level. Put one coat on all over brick and then go back and make up level to wall below - use a batten or something to level off roughly. Allow to dry overnight. Mix up your one coat - trowel on (one coat as the name suggests) Smooth over with clean wet trowel Leave to dry until firmish Smooth over with wet trowel and feather into existing wall finish below - brush on water if it drags. If rough when dry, i guess you have a DA sander you can knock it back a bit. If you over board then whole alcove you will have to pop off the skirting and refix after. You should be able to get an acceptable result doing it as above. Cheers Matt
Marmite - I knew I'd have to do it properly I was after a bodge... Just like van bodywork, there isn't one really is there? I guess if I've got to buy whole bags of everything might as well do the whole alcove? Thanks Matt and all for contributing.
dot n dab a plasterboard over the whole wall,or batten and board it , then fill and paint where needed.. as they would in a shop refit
why dont you get a sheet of 3mm ply cut, silicone it on and walpaper over it? bodgetastic super quick
