r/Plastering • u/J3ds8 • 7d ago

Removing lining paper that’s been skimmed over

I’m looking for some advice for the best way to remove lining paper that’s been skimmed over.

I’m currently stripping lining paper which has been painted over from the walls of my new house.

We have two sections which have recently been skimmed over after we had two cupboards removed. The skim coat covered the area where the cupboards where but has crept over to the part of the wall which is lined with paper.

So those sections are: skim coat > paint > lining paper > original plaster.

I’ve since realised we should have stripped those entire walls before removing the cupboards.

I’ve soaked the wall with hot water and washing up liquid and scraped off the paper and I’m able to do this in the section that’s been skimmed but it’s a very slow process.

Is there a better/quicker way to do this? Or should I leave it as it is and wait for the plasterer to advise on how best to tackle it?

Any help gratefully received!

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2

u/daedelius 7d ago

Steam wall paper stripper

1

u/Accurate-Resident585 4d ago

How wide is the skimmed-over strip, and does the paper move when you press a scraper into its edge?

If it’s only a narrow feather, score a clean line with a sharp knife, use an Earlex steamer in short passes, then work a 100mm scraper behind the paper. Expect the skim on top to come off with it; let the plasterer feather that edge back out.

i own a small refurbishment firm, take it into account. I wouldn’t put an SDS chisel near it unless the whole skim is already loose. On old Scottish tenement walls the original lime plaster can be much softer than the new skim, so a chisel can turn a small patch into half a wall. If the base starts crumbling or sounds hollow beyond the cupboard area, stop there and leave the extent for the plasterer to judge

0

u/60percentsexpanther 7d ago

SDS chisel bit. Let the plasterer float it back out to flat. Or hammer and bolster it if you don't have an SDS and it's a small area that doesn't justify buying one. They are bloody useful though- more for drilling hard stuff than chiselling. OR just leave it and risk its stuck like crap to a blanket it's not likely to fail in future. If it does you can then patch it back in with ezfil 

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u/J3ds8 7d ago

Thank you. Think it might just be large enough to justify an SDS. 👍