Patching up after dado rail removal
We recently employed a plasterer to remove a dado rail and coving and to patch up so we could redecorate.
He told us the dado rail came off OK so the patching was relatively easy.
He advised that although it didn't look great as fresh plaster, it would be ok with an undercoat, then a couple of coats of paint. We attempted to sand it down with an electric sanders as we were concerned about the finish.
Sadly it doesn't. Where the dado was, is now a 12 inch wide border around the room of raised uneven plaster that is very noticeable even when painted as per his instructions.
Question is - were we hoping for too much or should a good plasterer be able to patch up to leave a good finish? I feel our options now are to cover in wallpaper or have the whole room skimmed. Or is it salvageable?
Advice from 14 local tradespeople
Hi I think given the job at hand can be a tricky one, he should have been able to blend it all together. There is a way and a technique to achieve this. However it has dried. You cant really sand plaster (sanding will just not take enough off). The best thing you can do is buy a tool called a "surform plane". This will allow you to take off small layers at a time until you are satisfied. Although the area will not be smooth anymore. Then you'll have to smooth it all off with a sanding pad. I think a bit of elbow grease and determination and you should sort it!
Hello,you have 3 options here
1. Use a decent filler/ build up in 2 stages and sand back
2. Pva the area of where dado rail was and feather in with plaster/although I’d advised a time served plasterer to do this
3.skim the whole wall
If you send pictures, I'm more than happy to advise. This scenario does seem very strange.
the plasterer should apply the plaster so that the wall is even without visible thickening
Maybe it can a good plasterer should of done a better job in the first place by feathering out better
If is didn't look great, and you expect better, I suppose the plaster should pay more attention and more time to get a better finish, my advice is to have the whole room skimmed, or just to patch up if is possible and reasonable.
It should be flat wether your filling or patch plastering.
You can pva and skim this are to be smooth and flat
I’d say it it sound like it’s been put on too thick and not blended out in a gradual decree in thickness this creating a mound, I always try and talk people into skimming the full area if it’s in there budget as it’s always a guaranteed perfect finish or I take the skim from the skirting line to above the damaged area then there is only one consistent blend line all round rather than 2, I’d try and scrape it off and get someone a bit more conciensous to do it again for you, maybe call the original guy as it may have just been a bad day at the office and he may correct it for you
Do it your self with some one fill scrap excess edge before you put on the sand off and paint
It might be salvageable but patch work isn’t easy on old walls. A good plaster should be about to give a good finish. I know I could.
Call a profession plasterer as then they may be able to blend over the mistake depending on the severity of it and not have to have your whole room plastered again
It should be possible to feather (blend) it in
I have done a few patch up jobs.
I always advise the customer to have the whole walls plastered instead of patching.
Patching jobs are never 100 percent perfect and always noticeable after painting.
