Hi. I’d appreciate ideas on how to solve a wall surface problem…
The house was built “balloon style†in 1920.
The walls are a rough concrete type material with a plaster finish coat.
This has a dark olive finish – very shiny.
Perhaps this was the first coat of paint, with a high lead content?
On top of that is 89 years of paint – plus a layer of wallpaper.
On the first wall, removing the wallpaper took off large areas of the paint down to this olive layer.
More paint came off easily with a scraper – as if it were held on by static electricity and wishes.
What’s left was apparently glued down.
There are a number of large cracks (presumably caused by years of settling)
and the paint that’s left is primarily next to the cracks where it’s obvious repairs were made in the past.
Needless to say, it’s now a mess.
To fix this with mesh tape and compound (especially considering my limited skills at this) would take a long time.
And the cracks would eventually resurface.
My first thought was to put up the thinnest sheetrock…
the window molding is pretty deep, the outlets are all in the wood trim at the bottom, just a few straight joints here and there.
My next thought was a throw up a thin roll of cork, like for a bulletin board.
This would lay flat and hide all faults. However I don’t think it would paint very well – too many holes.
I could wall paper the cork, but I’d rather just paint than wallpaper.
So I’m wondering if anybody has had a similar problem and what they did to solve it.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
Replies
These appear to be plaster walls. First you must address any drywall that has pulled away from the lath. This is probably by the cracks. There are methods to glue it back to the lath. Then the correct thing to do would be skim coat the walls. But you can also drywall over but its best to remove all the trim in the room and put it back when done.
You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
You can resecure loose plaster to wood lath with lath screws and then put on 1/4" drywall. Removing trim would be best but it sounds like you have a plan to butt to the trim. I've done this. It will work if you cut dw tight or flat tape to trim or use j-channel.
You should think about the lead and asbestos you may have floating around the house now.
Yes, certainly plaster walls.I don't see any lath, just a black void.
I think this might have been expanded metal with the concrete as the base for the plaster.I don't see any simple solution to fix it
- which is why I'm looking at methods to cover it over.Yes, I'd just butt it to the trim.
It's an outer wall w/ a fireplace, symmetrical: 2' wall, 2' window, 2.5' wall, the fireplace, 2.5' wall, 2' window, 2' wall
I think it would be relatively easy.The walls are pretty hard, would rather crumble than take a screw.
Can I put up the sheetrock with adhesive only?What about the cork idea?
You can use a wall liner (aka liner paper). It is a heavy duty wallpaper like material made to cover up questionable walls. It ment to be painted over. In the old days they used canvas for this.I am not sure if these are different or not, but there is other products made for this purpose. I think that they are called Nu-Wall or Renu-wall or similar.Sorry, but I don't have any more details.But you might try asking at full line paint/decorating stores where they sell wallpaper along with paint and patching materials. I am think of places like Sherwin William and Benny Moore paint store..
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
>>You can use a wall liner (aka liner paper). It is a heavy duty wallpaper like material made to cover up questionable walls. Glidden used to have a product called Glidwall (or something like that) which is bedded into a thick coat of paint and then painted more.I thought it had been discontinued, but someone told me it's still available.When I used it in the 80's, it did create a distinct "woven" texture, but was a very effective fix for plater walls with too many 'hairline-ish' cracks tofix.
"Ask not what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive... then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
Howard Thurmanhttp://rjw-progressive.blogspot.com/
:)
ITS D-MIX TIME!
Get out the coffee cups lol!
I'm a newb on this forum...
what's d-mix?
1. go to Dunkin Donuts and buy a coffee.
2. drink the coffee (edit: save the cup)
3. buy some drywall mud.
4. buy some plaster of paris.
4a. buy some pva primer.
5. search this forum for correct proportions of mix.
6. skim coat the walls.
You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
Edited 5/20/2009 11:17 am by Marv
Edited 5/21/2009 8:37 am by Marv
120332.10 in reply to 120332.6
1. go to Dunkin Donuts and buy a coffee.
If I remember correctly it works better with Starbucks coffee.
Marv...don't get me started LOL. I still laugh when I think about all those D mix threads. There must be a hundred of them and I still don't know the recipe!
New??!! You've got three posts already. That qualifies you as a regular.
Welcome!
D Mix is a sloppy concoction that you roll on, then hit with a trowel to get a nice glassy finish. I find the discussion humorous because there are many, many thread that discuss this and the recipe always seems to be very vague.
The recipe:
some Pva primer
Some drywall mud.
Some plaster of paris.
Mix it up. Roll it on. Trowel it as soon as it starts to dry.
"some Pva primerSome drywall mud.Some plaster of paris. "how much is "some"?1/3 1/3 1/3?how much working time do I have before it sets?How long before I can paint it?
You are asking the wrong guy! I've read dozens of those threads and I don't have a clue. All I know is that you can't use decaf coffee!
Consider heading over to the Old House Journal forum -- they have a lot of expertise with this sort of question.
FWIW, as a home inspector and old house admirer, I dislike "fixes" with sheet rock. Strictly a personal view.
I can tell very quickly when old plaster walls have been covered with sheet rock.
Plaster typically has a very subtle "long wave waviness" that sheetrock doesn't.
Most people probably don't notice, of course, but I think it diminishes the effect of older houses.
And, there are times, of course, when sheet rock is the best solution.
"Ask not what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive... then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
Howard Thurman
http://rjw-progressive.blogspot.com/
There is a material called "wall liner" that is a sort of heavy wallpaper. It goes on horizontally to cover cracks and imperfections in the wall, and then you can paint over it.
Thanks for all advice.
The D mix sounds like I'd just make a mess.
With or without coffee.
I think the wall liner stuff is what I'm looking for.
I guess I'd still need to fix the cracks
- but how bad a surface can I get away with?
How well does the wall liner hide
- how smooth does the wall have to be?