How to remove old wall paper?

[artful bodger]

Ok, the old school hard/solid plasterer dropped in today and did room No1.
First he set up a table about 3 1/2 - 4 feet square which was a bit of form-ply on trestle legs.
Then he made a ring of lime putty.
Into the ring of lime putty he mixed up a batch of hard plaster, then he mixed the whole lot together.
He did one wall per batch of plaster. First doing a very light coat, then a slightly heavier coat and when it had set enough to his satisfaction he worked/trowelled up the surface to a finish that was literally "smooth as glass".
The photo, probably does not do the result justice. The finish was perfect. It took him 8 hours which included about 30 minutes for smoko.
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Room number 2 happens tomorrow.

[Enfield Guy]

Beautiful work.

[NCArcher]

No matter what it is, it is always a treat to watch a master craftsman at work.

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

It's always nice to see someone who knows what they're doing.

At a guess I'd say he's used some modern additive to speed drying time because 8 hours to finish?

Considering that 'true' lime plaster (as used in heritage resto work) is applied in 5mm layers with up to a fornight drying time each coat - tested by thumb pressure - he's not doing it 100% old school. I'm not saying that's a bad thing... I'm very, very sure that if the old school plasterers had access to some of our modern additives they most certainly would've used them!

[truckjohn]

I am glad to see this project has gone well. I am always amazed at how a pro can knock out a job quickly that takes me forever of fighting and cussing... Drywall/plaster is one good example... I can *eventually* get it looking decent - but it takes me a couple weeks in the same room of finding and fixing all the little boo-boo's and spots I missed before I finally just quit and move on.....

I am sure Mr. Old Plaster Man told our OP here all a out the procedure for allowing it to slowly dry so it doesn't crack. Even with modern additives - it still takes a while to get all the moisture out so you can paint it. I would let it sit a month it you can.....

[artful bodger]

It's always nice to see someone who knows what they're doing.

At a guess I'd say he's used some modern additive to speed drying time because 8 hours to finish?

Considering that 'true' lime plaster (as used in heritage resto work) is applied in 5mm layers with up to a fornight drying time each coat - tested by thumb pressure - he's not doing it 100% old school. I'm not saying that's a bad thing... I'm very, very sure that if the old school plasterers had access to some of our modern additives they most certainly would've used them!

Hi Skewdam. The 8 hours was referring to how long it took the bloke to do the whole room. The plaster/lime putty mix took about 1 1/2 - 2 hours to set. He did it one wall at a time, mixing up a new batch for each wall. It was not just lime putty by itself, it was mixed with hard plaster that was purchased in powder form.
The retired plasterer really knew his stuff and worked like a Trojan. In fact on the second room he did not even take a break all day because he was worried he would seize up if he stopped. While he was working I asked him if he thought there was anyone else doing this type of work in the state today?.
"You are looking at the only one", he said.
I was so happy to have got the job done so well, by someone who actually knew how to do it that I paid him with an extra tip AND gave him a few of my items of woodwork that I sell through galleries as souvineers.
He told me the walls should be ready to paint in a couple of days which signaled the next moment of panic and frustration.

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

I was thinking more that a 1cm thick coat would take a fortnight just to apply but rereading your posts I'm guessing that you had a relatively flat base wall and he didn't need to render more than 5mm. A thin, wetting/priming coat and then a top coat?

Don't get me wrong, I'm no plasterer. But, working on resto's I've met many people with... interesting skill sets and I can't help but pick their brains and compare what they say to mah book learnin'. It's amazing how much practical info books either leave out or just plain downright get wrong, y'know? (This curiosity is one of the pitfalls of my being a JOAT, I guess. )

While he was working I asked him if he thought there was anyone else doing this type of work in the state today?.
"You are looking at the only one", he said.

That's dismaying. Another skill set that was once fairly common, now becoming a rarity.

Still, it sounds like you have good reason to be happy with the job and I wish you success with the rest of the job!