Plastering

[x-kirsty-x]

Does anyone know any rough prices for plastering?

We need the kids bedroom and the stairs/hallway doing but no-one can give us a price unless they come out so I just wanted some vague idea of what we'd expect to pay

 

[x-kirsty-x]

Doesnt matter, just had somebody out and they offered to do both rooms for £450 which is reasonable I suppose but still alot of money.

We havent got that sort of money at the minute and the house looks a mess, Im so upset now

OH keeps saying 'Dont worry we'll sort it out'. FFS Id love to know how!!

Sorry, Im just talking to myself here

I wish OH had f*kin thought about things before he started ripping the paper off, now we're stuck with bare walls until we either get some money or he has a brilliant idea

 

[cassi]

Can i ask how bad the walls are? Could you post some pics? My df might have some ideas for you...He is quite good with that sort of thing.

Cas xx

 

[whyslifesobig]

if they just need skimming I would suggest buying a few bags and making OH learn on the jobs.

 

[gingerpig]

We've done a little bit of filling ourselves with polyfilla, it's really not too bad once you get into it. If you can, getting a sander on the walls first is handy, that way you get rid of all the loose ends, and you get a nice smooth result. Then you can fill any patches left, sand over when dry, and it doesn't look too bad. We're happy doing that and then painting over it, but for a super neat job you could always get OH to paper the walls before painting them. Took us about a day or so to do the smoothing, once OH had removed the paper. It is really dusty so you need dust masks and good ventilation, it ended being too much for me, as I was second tri, but it is do-able.

edit: just read you need your stairs/hallway doing, I guess you might need scaffolding up for that? Might have to be a professional job then.

 

[x-kirsty-x]

The plan originally was to fill any holes/cracks in and sand it all down and paint it, OH and his dad were gonna do it but once all the paper was off we realised the walls are quite bad and even the bloke who gave me a quote said they're in bad condition and would probably need doing properly.

He said really we should knock the walls out and start from scratch Huh, he must think Im made of money!!

He also said that even if they do it for us we'd have to be careful cos the walls arent solid, but I suppose at least if we get it done professionally it'll be a decent job and I know it'll look alright.

I'll take some pics in a minute

 

[cassi]

They might not be as bad as you think, but i cant judge untill i see pics though..obviously he has to say they are bad and should be done proffesional to get a sale...we always plaster and sound our own walls and make sure we paint them with 2 layers or so of base coat before painting them,..

 

[whyslifesobig]

the guy you got a quote from will say that though won't he he wants your money.
I sometimes think that men try it on with women when it comes to things like repairs and cars etc
to be honest I would fill the cracks and put up backing paper to paint over. it's only about £2 a role and gives a really good finish

 

[cassi]

Its not a great idea to use backing paper as if there is every any dampness it will hold more unlike base coat which is much easier and createds a lovely finish aswell and wont peel......all the rooms in this house except 1 are painted over a base coat and you can really tell the difference..

 

[x-kirsty-x]

I took some photos but you cant really see what I mean about the condition of them. Im so embarassed, I cant believe I have to live with walls like this

At the minute Im thinking it'll be a whole lot easier to wallpaper. Its just 2 or 3 years down the line when we wanna decorate we'll have to scrape it all off and start again whereas with plastered walls you can just paint it

 

[cassi]

Tbh it looks like those walls have been damp before and its eaten away at them....I would give them a good sand and wash, the holes dont look TOO bad tbh fill in the holes, sand the plaster down, give them another salt scrub then basecoat them, (about 3 times over). Hopefully this will add some protection to them...Then see how they look and wether you want to just paper them or paint them..but i would DEFINATLY not just paper over them because they are just going to keep getting worse and worse and then you WILL have to get the walls rebuilt completely...each layer of base coat should be left for at least 14 hours (and the last layer 24 hours)..I think they are just about salvageable at the moment but they wont be if left...but thats not to say I dont think its something that can be D.I.Y. It will be hard work and will take about a week see if you can get some help in...family? friends?

 

[x-kirsty-x]

Tbh it looks like those walls have been damp before and its eaten away at them....I would give them a good sand and wash, the holes dont look TOO bad tbh fill in the holes, sand the plaster down, give them another salt scrub then basecoat them, (about 3 times over). Hopefully this will add some protection to them...Then see how they look and wether you want to just paper them or paint them..but i would DEFINATLY not just paper over them because they are just going to keep getting worse and worse and then you WILL have to get the walls rebuilt completely...each layer of base coat should be left for at least 14 hours (and the last layer 24 hours)..I think they are just about salvageable at the moment but they wont be if left...but thats not to say I dont think its something that can be D.I.Y. It will be hard work and will take about a week see if you can get some help in...family? friends?

Its a council house so do you think that they'll be liable to do any work? Surely if the walls are in this state due to dampness they have to do something? Thanks for your help, you know alot more than me lol! OH and his dad are gonna have a proper look tonight and see what'll be the best option

 

[cassi]

If its a council house then they should be liable for the state of the walls .. they obviously just covered everything up prior to people moving in and havnt had the house surveyed properly...I would write a letter of complaint and get them to get someone out to re'do them..no point salvaging them if the council are lliable to just redo them!!

 

[x-kirsty-x]

I just rang and the inspectors coming out on Monday. They told me that if the walls arent too bad its my responsibility to sort them out so its obvious they'll just say theres nothing they can do

This house is falling to bits, I wish I could move. All I wanted was for it to be nice for when the baby comes but I cant even do that