How to fix uneven and peeling heritage walls?

[miraperry]

Hi all, hope you can help.  I bought a heritage terrace last year.  Previous owner told us The walls were not preped before  painting, now peeling, drumming and lots of uneven surface.  Need cost effective way to improve.  I was thinking of using granosite,  sponging or other trendy effects. I dont know what i need to do to.prep. the ceilings are even worse. The plaster work us yuk. 

 

even worse.  

 

[EricL]

Hello @miraperry, 

Just a friendly reminder before you attempt any type of repair to have your walls tested for the asbestos. If the test is positive, you'll need the services of an asbestos removal specialist. If the test is negative, you can proceed with your repair plans. 

Thank you for sharing your question about your heritage terrace property. I see three possible options for your wall and ceiling. Because you've mentioned that the paintwork is peeling, I don't recommend painting over the existing faulty paint. 

• First option is to sand and level the wall and ceiling surface. This can be done as a D.I.Y job and can go faster if you invest in a sanding tool such as a Ryobi 300W Random Orbital Sander ROS300-S or an Ozito 800W Belt Sander BSR-7000. This would be the most labour intensive but the most cost-effective solution as you'll be doing it yourself.
  
  
• Second option, hire a professional plasterer. The wall and ceiling surface will need to be prepped by sanding the surface and removing the old paint. A bonding agent will then need to be applied to the surface for the plaster to anchor onto. A bit of D.I.Y will still need to be applied but there is no need to sand the surface flat, the painted surface just needs to be removed.
  
  
• Third option is to cover the existing wall with a decorative panel or a cover sheet to hide the imperfection of the surface.

The second and third option will require the services of a professional and only the first one will be free of tradespeople.

Let me call on our experienced members @Nailbag, @Dave-1 and @AlanM52 for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[Nailbag]

Hi @miraperry 

I can't think of anything thats going to be cost-effective. Covering the surface with anything like "trendy effects" products is only going to result in that product breaking away with the original surface unless the original is removed back to a stable surface.

The existing surface can't event be directly fixed with plasterboard if it's deteriorating, which would have been my first preference, but again not cheap. But I think that in the end, this finish would provide the best and most stable long term. It might mean attach=king each room as finances allow.

Nailbag

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @miraperry 

When you say "Heritage terrace" is it heritage listed is my first thought?

Because of the age of the building and potentially other home renovations that have gone on to cause the issues you have I am heading towards a professional plasterer to bring it back to its best. You have invested in a terrace house and its worth keeping in that same vein.

I actually had to look up "drumming" as I hadnt heard the term before but it made perfect sense once it was described

Dave

[miraperry]

Thankyou.  Will probable use a professional. The reason i was asking was because i saw a utube clip that suggested 2 coates of Penetrative primer for unstable substraight. Thought maybe can do ourselves.  The guy made it look easy.. 

[miraperry]

Thankyou

[Dave-1]

Good morning @miraperry 

"Youtube guy makes it look easy" If only I had their skill level plus their editing ability lol What I would love to see is videos of first timers actually trying to step through some of the "how to's" Ive considered ,making videos but generally think it would take me 3 times of the amount of time a job would normally take to get all the shots, close ups and explanations. Plus it probarlly be a boring video at that point

Dave

[miraperry]

🤣🤣