Advise needed!

[u/readingreddit09]

Just bought a new house which has 4 layers of wallpaper all over the place. Previous owners were here around 30 years so it’s in need of some updating.

Trying to take all the wallpaper down (with a steamer) so we can paint but I’ve come across this plaster underneath.

As you can see, there are a few cracks but also this hole which leads so some kind of wood underneath. Is this normal?

The main question is how should I go about repairing this. Is it possible to fills the holes and the cracks, prime and then paint over?

[u/Particular_Hotel_319]

The wood is the old fashioned way of plastering before plaster board was invented. Totally normal in older houses. Looks like it's most of the original plaster and it's blown. Best thing you can do is any loose plaster pull it down it's no good any more. After that I'd beaten up the area ready for platerboarding. Be prepared for that entire wall to come away though if it's blown.

Once you've got plasterboard up just skim it and it's all good for paint. Depending on how comfortable you are with DIY skimming is worth a go yourself, lots of tutorials but really comes down to practice and patience. If not get a plasterer in and get some quotes ranging from Doing the entire work to just skimming. If they are a good plasterer they'll be happy to give you advice.

[u/Minimalistz → u/Particular_Hotel_319]

Exactly this,

I had the exact same issue, but pretty much all the walls were blown apart from areas where they installed new windows.

Prepare for the amount of rubble as a result for taking it off

One room after the madness lol

[u/Particular_Hotel_319 → u/Particular_Hotel_319]

FYI this was what a blocked up fireplace looked like in my daughter's room after we took 3 layers of wall paper off, all the plaster around it needed to go. So patched it up with plasterboard and skimmed it. Wallpaper always hides a multitude of sins

[u/Fearless_Rush_1361 → u/Particular_Hotel_319]

That plaster has a few issues but it's totally repairable. Removal is not cot effective or historically accurate way of approaching repairs in a old house.

[u/Accurate-Crab-2067]

Need a renovation I suggest.

[u/AbbreviationsIcy2041]

Looks blown and hollow to me take it back to brick and wrapin plasterboard then skim

[u/Fearless_Rush_1361]

It's not nessesary to remove the plaster. Just fix it. Use like materials. soft natural lime and sand for larger holes. Stabilize the cracks by drilling 1/4" holes alternating up the cracks squit denatured alcohol and water in there to clean it and inject a construction adhesive like locktite heavy duty. I really like pl400 but opt for the loktite here as it drys quicker. you will spend much less in money and time patching. look closely, you can see the animal hair binder in the base coat, that's why all those little crumbles are still there. Just do some more research, don't take my word, read enough to form your own judgment. Remember, the more original surface you have in your house the more it adds value to the property.