Plaster finish in old 1700's cottage, what would you do?

[jet_noise]

You say damp is one of the issues. Do you know how it's getting in? How's the the outside of the house, what's the ground/floor levels like?
I'm of the following the contours school. Definitely agree with finding a plasterer who's done it before or is willing to learn.

You say the plaster is currently concrete based. Just how hard is it? My last place had one wall done in stuff so hard we had to leave it. The wall would have been damaged (limestone rubble+lime mortar) if we had continued.

Good luck with your refurb,

regards,
Jet

[Herbs]

jet_noise said:

You say damp is one of the issues. Do you know how it's getting in? How's the the outside of the house, what's the ground/floor levels like?
I'm of the following the contours school. Definitely agree with finding a plasterer who's done it before or is willing to learn.

You say the plaster is currently concrete based. Just how hard is it? My last place had one wall done in stuff so hard we had to leave it. The wall would have been damaged (limestone rubble+lime mortar) if we had continued.

Good luck with your refurb,

regards,
Jet

If its a solid wall then it is probably just coming from underneath - mine had no foundations to speak of - the concrete render on the outside stops the water exiting so works it way up the wall.

I had to take mine back to bare mud throughout - including one wall where it was 2 inches thick and had to get a industrial breaker in to remove it - squeaky bum time!

[sidekickdmr]

jet_noise said:

You say damp is one of the issues. Do you know how it's getting in? How's the the outside of the house, what's the ground/floor levels like?
I'm of the following the contours school. Definitely agree with finding a plasterer who's done it before or is willing to learn.

You say the plaster is currently concrete based. Just how hard is it? My last place had one wall done in stuff so hard we had to leave it. The wall would have been damaged (limestone rubble+lime mortar) if we had continued.

Good luck with your refurb,

regards,
Jet

We haven’t got a damp "problem" as such, no wet patches or mould on walls etc, its just a overall slightly damp cottage, if we leave it for a few days with the heating and de-humidifier off the sofa/bedding is damp.

Its not a leaking pipe, or bad flashing, just a old thick walled cottage, and the way to make this better is breathable plaster and paint apparently, as well as a proper heating system and ventilation.

As for the plaster, I've no idea how hard it is, but at least we have proper stone walls, so should hold up well to a bit of hacking away.

[227bhp]

Get a cheap plasterer in and take him to the pub before he starts, job done.

You can substitute 'Plasterer' with two 16yr olds or a computer operator for the same effect, it may be cheaper.

[tokyo_mb]

We've gone for characterful - broadly flat, but soft curves at window reveals and other corners rather than sharp edges. Much more sympathetic to an old property.

We're also converts to Earthborn clay paints - seem to give good coverage (can be diluted somewhat before application to give a smoother finish). Certainly a lot better than the badly applied (and therefore dusty) limewash that the previous owner left us with.

[Peanut Gallery]

I have voted lumpy as it would seem to suit, if you are having a hard time finding a plasterer to give you that lumpy look, I could come down and do my best to get it dead flat. Then again, you only want it slightly lumpy and you don't want the plaster in a pile on the floor.

I say this, but you also mention that behind your sofa is too lumpy for your liking, would having a small air gap, then a thin stud wall finished with insulated plasterboard work? - Yes, you would loose a lot in the way of period features / feel, but it would be warm, smooth, dry, allow the wall to breath?

(I am NOT a builder of any sort, just curious and hoping to be in your situation one day with an older property that needs some TLC!)

[sidekickdmr]

I’ve decided that I don’t want "lumpy" like the current wall but I don’t want straight, so im going with wavey/wonky, following the shapes of the old walls but a smooth finish, with rounded and wavey corners etc.

I’m sure this is a happy medium that I can achieve!

[jet_noise]

sidekickdmr said:

We haven’t got a damp "problem" as such, no wet patches or mould on walls etc, its just a overall slightly damp cottage, if we leave it for a few days with the heating and de-humidifier off the sofa/bedding is damp.

Its not a leaking pipe, or bad flashing, just a old thick walled cottage, and the way to make this better is breathable plaster and paint apparently, as well as a proper heating system and ventilation.

As for the plaster, I've no idea how hard it is, but at least we have proper stone walls, so should hold up well to a bit of hacking away.

Ah, sounds just like my old place. It had fitted wardrobes when we moved in. Not a good idea in an old place. As you say ventilation will help. When built (of course) it would all have been open fires and badly fitting sash windows. Lots of air movement there.

[Jaguar steve]

My choice'd be stick with wavy and uneven if you can. The modern extensions on our 17C hovel have been plastered to ironing board flat perfection and razor sharp corners which just looks wrong to me.

I'm planning to strip the party wall back to brick to install some sound insulation between us and our dhead neighbours at sometime. I'll definitely be plastering that myself as know from previous efforts I can get exactly the lumpy and uneven finish I want without even trying.

[4Q]

I think dead flat walls against the unevenness of the other features can look really good and still be in keeping, there's a french build thread on here (I think by neilsfirst) where he's done exactly that and I think it looks great.