[saggdevil]

HELP!! I'm removing 96 yrs worth of painted wallpaper and I have found under the around the window (frame) where wall meets woodwork the plaster has gaps all around it. Some of it is very dark or black and around the bottom of this area black dust fell down. Is this something serious or just 96 yrs worth of dust that has accumulated. Do I repair this the same way I would do all other wall imperfections with mud and sanding?? If some of this wallpaper was in better shape I'd just leave it, but large cracks have appeared from being so brittle with all the paint on it. What a mess! What a shame people covered such beautiful smooth plaster walls. Guess I'm just one of these people that love to see the beauty of a real craftsman from yesteryear. Drywall just doesn't compare to a beautiful plaster wall one the paint goes up.

 

[chrisn]

Do I repair this the same way I would do all other wall imperfections with mud and sanding??


Yes:yes:

Guess I'm just one of these people that love to see the beauty of a real craftsman from yesteryear

You are not alone:no:

Is this something serious or just 96 yrs worth of dust that has accumulated.

Yes

 

[saggdevil]

Yes to the something serious or yes to the accumulated dust. It looks just like the black dust/soot in the attic.

 

[neolitic]

Yes it's normal, nothing
to be frightened about.

Setting compound, i.e.
DuraBond or EZSand would
be a better choice than
drywall compound.

 

[NAV]

the black could be dust or possibly bacterial activity (black mold).

for your large and small cracks in the plaster it helps if you scrape them out a little. that will give your plaster room to bond.

for large patches that are down to the lath or structolite it helps to prime with an oil stain blocking primer before you attempt to patch.

always remember - its easier to apply a 3rd or 4th coat of mud than sand off pancakes. put your mud on thin.

 

[chrisn]

or just 96 yrs worth of dust that has accumulated. :thumbsup: