Hi everyone, I have been looking for solution to my problem everywhere but found nothing. I hope somone on here can help me. I decided to decorate my new flat and started removing wallpapers. There was blue paper which come off easily but in the process i found a very thick cardboard like paper underneath. It has been placed on top of the plaster. And when i try to remove the wallpaper with a steamer it just peels part of this cardboard and makes it look uneven. Its layers of papers which makes a very thick cardboard. Plaster underneath seems very smooth and now i am very confused. Do i remove that cardboard like stuff and paint over the plaster. Or do i have to keep this paper? I first thought it might be some sort of insulation but i have my doubts about it. Does anyone have any idea? I am very desperate for help. Thank you.
I suspect it may be un-plastered plasterboard which is a layer of plaster in a sandwich of cardboard, you may have damaged the top layer of board. Hard to say from the pictures.
I am using streamer to strip the papers. I deffinetly damaged something thinking it was a wallpaper. I have another section where i peeled the thick cardboard and theres a smooth plaster underneath. But i dont have the photo. On the pictures above the dark areas are the section where the csrdboard started peeling of because of hot steam and digging with the scraper. Do you guys think that carboard like stuff could be the drywall? Is that neccessary to keep it. Maybe it is for some sort of insulation? Thank you for the responds
That's what I suspect, Plasterboard is known as Drywall in the US as I understand it.If you dig into the plaster and find another layer of cardboard about 10mm under the surface chances are it is the other side of the plasterboard (drywall). That should confirm it, best solution in that case is to get the plasterboard skimmed.
I am too scare to dig in to the plaster as i will be the one fixing it. So as you confirmed, i am assuming its best to keep the plasterboard and just fix it with a coat of primer and then skim it? Its alot of job as the section i peeled is quite large. I realized there are thin and narrow metal bars on the corners and if i am to remove the drywall i am scared the whol plaster will collapse. The thing is, plaster underneath is so clean and smooth i was too excited to just remove all the plasterboard and have nice clean walls.
Is this neccessary? Its block of flats built in 1963. Was asbestos still in use then? Now i am even more cncerned!
Asbestos has been used in the building trade up until the 1990's. the only way to be sure is to have a sample tested.
I have just bought a property. Could it contain asbestos? Asbestos may be part of any commercial or domestic building which was built or refurbished before the year 2000. Asbestos can typically still be found in any of the following: asbestos cement products (pipes, flues, roofs etc) lagging (on pipes and boilers etc) water tanks and toilet cisterns asbestos insulating board (AIB – which closely resembles typical plasterboard) loose asbestos in ceiling and wall cavities sprayed coatings on ceilings, walls and beams / columns textured decorative coatings (commonly referred to as Artex) floor tiles textiles and composites from HSE Mr. HandyAndy - Really
Oh! So i could have already been exposed to asbestos today? I am scared to even go back into my own flat now. I didnt damage the plaster underneath tho. But if its in the drywall which i just stripped together with the wallpaper im in deep trouble. Its a council flat. I would assume council would have advised me on the asbestos, wouldnt they?
Councils were notorious for using asbestos in their homes. I have some in my thermoplastic tiles in the lounge (ex council). Also I had it in my garage, cost me thousands to have it removed. Whenever any work is done on councils houses in my area, they send in an asbestos specialist they don't want to take any risks with claims further down the line.
Short-term asbestos work it is recommended (advised) to be less than one hour per week. Mr. HandyAndy - Really
Anyone that has read my posts in the past will know I am OCD when it comes to asbestos, and while it was common in 1960's in council houses I have never seen an entire room boarded in it! It is in some of the hard tiles (marley) on floors, used to panel out heating cupboards, to flue gas appliances and quite often for access panels over pipework and in doors and thin infill panels under or over windows also in textured ceilings. I would be very surprised if what you have disturbed is asbestos, if you want to get it tested it is quite easy, but even if it is you have dealt with it wet so any risk would be minimal. If I were you I would get a plasterer in to quote for skimming it he will be able to spot if it is just plasterboard as could most builders. There is always the very remotest of possibilities that almost any material used in the 60's might contain asbestos but as an asbestos aware guy it did not strike me as anything other than plasterboard.
If it is asbestos, you may have limited your exposure as the wall were damp, thereby reducing reducing fibers into the air.
I am under the impression that it isn't asbestos, just years of layers of wallpaper. In a block of flats the walls are more likely to be solid construction.
Thank you for your helpful responds. That has given be a bit of relief (wetting the papers before removing papers) However i will take your advice tebreak and get a quote for skimming as i am still a bit overwhelmed. I will also give a call to the council and enquire information as the bulding is 7 floors and i am sure they must have had some information regards to asbestos levels within the last 60 years considerin it has about 40 flats in the building.
Hi guys I have taken photos of the section this morning which i was mentioning earlier. Does this look loke plasterboard? Pink section is the plaster i assume.
The pink surface does indeed look like plaster in the pics, I wonder if the board is some form of soundproofing due to it being a flat.
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