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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Painting, Decorating & Tiling Questions >> plastering / skimming kitchen wall https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1201025073 Message started by juco on Jan 22^nd, 2008, 6:04pm

Title: plastering / skimming kitchen wall
Post by juco on Jan 22^nd, 2008, 6:04pm

(picture below)
I am considering trying this myself but only ever done small patches in not so obvious places before now.
It is basically a kitchen I have ripped out and the walls now need sorting.
There appears to be 4 layers on the wall (except where it came off)
1. Tiles which I have taken off.
2. The tile adhesive in patches.
3. the old skim, in patches.
4 the actual wall, which feels like a softer gritty concrete. (no plasterboard)
You can see from the picture its a bit of a mess but considering trying to do this myself. The left wall and the wall at the far end I am not too concerned about as this will have iether tiles or units so can cover any small mistakes on my part.

Questions.....
What are the stages I would use to build up this wall again and what products would I use ?

Title: Re: plastering / skimming kitchen wall
Post by jimcam on Jan 22^nd, 2008, 7:15pm

OK, here's what I would do...

1. Get as much tile adhesive off as you can using a scraper and maybe some warm water to soften the adhesive.

2. Brush the deepest layer concrete to get rid of any loose bits.

3. Apply diluted PVA to all areas that aren't already OK to be painted. Firstly, one coat of 5 parts water:1 part PVA to seal the surfaces and then, just before you want to start plastering, another coats of 3 parts water:1 part PVA. A big old paintbrush will do the job.

4. Bring all the biggest dents and holes level to the surface with a layer of bonding plaster. You can use a straight piece of wood to help you level the plaster. The odd 1 or 2 mm bump or dip can be sorted out with the skim. You don't have to skim the parts that will be tiled over but get them as flat as you can.

5. The next day you can skim over the areas that are going to be visible and painted. Don't take any short cuts with a single coat of skim - do a proper two-coat skim.

Products: I always use Thistle (bonding plaster and multi-finish plaster). They should be under £5 a bag in Wickes. One bag of bonding will do the job and one or possibly two of multi-finish (I can't tell from the picture). Any PVA should be OK - normally sold in 5 litre plastic bottles.

Title: Re: plastering / skimming kitchen wall
Post by JerryD on Jan 22^nd, 2008, 7:17pm

1) Remove all the old adhesive (wallpaper steamer is good for this if it's stubborn).
2) Dub out all the low areas with Hardwall Plaster until everything is reasonably flush.
3) When the Hardwall is dry enough (2 hours +/-) pva the whole room with a 50/50 mix.
4) Skim coat the whole room after pva has become tacky using Multifinish Plaster.

If you prefer, item (3) you can pva just one wall instead of the whole room (whole room would be for proficient plasterer) and finish that before pva'ing the others.

Plastering is NOT easy and unless you aren't too fussed what this will all look like, get a plasterer in. Labour for a room like that would be about £250.

Title: Re: plastering / skimming kitchen wall
Post by juco on Jan 23^rd, 2008, 8:49am

Thanks for the replies guys.
I am going to do the 2 walls that will be tiled or hidden by units then tackle one of the main ones, if ok then good if not then I will get a plasterer to finish the job.

Question on the finishing skim.....

Once I mix the finishing `skim` how long do I have to apply to the wall before it would be unuseable, bearing in mind I will be slower at applying it than a skilled plasterer.

thanks

Title: Re: plastering / skimming kitchen wall
Post by JerryD on Jan 23^rd, 2008, 5:11pm

Depending on ambient temperature about 2 hours and after that it's all too late! Use clean water for the mixing as dirty water accelerates the set (often handy when plastering a small area and it's mid afternoon.....).

Two coats don't forget (one straight after the other).

By dirty water I mean water that has been used to wash tools, mixer paddle etc so it's dirty from plaster.

Title: Re: plastering / skimming kitchen wall
Post by woodsmith on Jan 23^rd, 2008, 6:28pm

juco don't think that if a wall is to be tiled it doesn't need to be perfectly flat and smooth, its vital to have a perfect wall if you want the tiles to lay flat.

Title: Re: plastering / skimming kitchen wall
Post by jimcam on Jan 23^rd, 2008, 8:55pm

True. If you use cement-based tile adhesive, you can flatten out the surface to be tiled with a bit of that. Saves waiting ages for the skim to dry out in that area.

Title: Re: plastering / skimming kitchen wall
Post by juco on Jan 23^rd, 2008, 10:03pm

Quote:

juco don't think that if a wall is to be tiled it doesn't need to be perfectly flat and smooth

Woodsmith.

I realise that due to previous tiling. I was just referring to any little nicks, air bubbles etc that although generally level maybe not be perfect visually. I have tiled 3 bathrooms this year both floors and walls and had satisfactory results in all of them.
Thanks though for raising the point as there are probably other issues I may not be aware of.

regards
juco

Title: Re: plastering / skimming kitchen wall
Post by juco on Jan 24^th, 2008, 9:17am

Another question:-
The top part of the walls have been painted in gloss paint, should this be scored before applying PVA or just apply PVA anyway?

thanks

Title: Re: plastering / skimming kitchen wall
Post by Badger on Jan 24^th, 2008, 10:45am

i would score it first. then pva and skim

Title: Re: plastering / skimming kitchen wall
Post by juco on Jan 25^th, 2008, 9:24am

The questions continue......

In the pic below the aereas between the red lines are .5 inch higher than the rest of the wall (someone has roughly plastered with concrete this) Is it better to `chip` this off or raise the wall at either side with hardwall plaster before skimming, bearing in mind I will be working across differing surfaces (old skim,gloss paint etc)
I need to get this wall reasonably straight as a worktop will be butting against it. Thanks

Title: Re: plastering / skimming kitchen wall
Post by scotspark on Jan 25^th, 2008, 4:57pm

why not just dot dab the walls with gyproc much easier than plastering.

Plastering is one of the most difficult skills in the building trade in my opinion.

Title: Re: plastering / skimming kitchen wall
Post by woodsmith on Jan 25^th, 2008, 5:28pm

I agree with Scotspark much easier this way and if you are going to tile you won't even need to skim the board, as you can tile straight on top of plasterboard

Title: Re: plastering / skimming kitchen wall
Post by juco on Jan 25^th, 2008, 9:14pm

I agree with you both re plasterboard however I do need to get some practice with plastering/skimming so what better time to start.
The house in question will be for rental and no rush to get it ready, at least I wont have to look at my mistakes every day :-)

Title: Re: plastering / skimming kitchen wall
Post by juco on Jan 31^st, 2008, 9:28pm

Referring to jerryDs post...

Quote:

Two coats don't forget (one straight after the other).

Ok have I got this correctly...

skim the wall with one coat and then before it sets apply the other 2nd coat.
OR
Allow first coat to set before applying the 2nd?

thanks

Title: Re: plastering / skimming kitchen wall
Post by JerryD on Feb 2^nd, 2008, 8:13am

Skim the wall with one coat and then before it sets apply the 2nd coat.

Title: Re: plastering / skimming kitchen wall
Post by juco on Feb 24^th, 2008, 10:56pm

Well into this project now and a fair result. Had to fill in a few bits here and there but overall its looks not too bad. I am happy with the result.

Skimming is not an easy one! But I got there in the end.

Thanks to all for the replies and the help.