Advice - hairline cracking all over walls

cornsack

cornsack

Member
Apologies if this has been asked before, I did have a look but couldn't see it.

Just been to look at a job, 60s house. Hall, stairs and landing (walls only). There's no big movement cracks or anything like that, but rather the walls are covered in light hairline cracking pretty much ALL over

My intuition tells me it's probably had wallpaper removed and been skimmed at some point and the paste/adhesive wasn't properly removed/treated.

Whatever it is I'm thinking if I cover the walls in stabilising solution (the bostik green grit stuff) let it go off properly for at least a day and come back and skim the lot, this should fix the problem.

Any experience with this/any idea what else could cause this?

Picture attached.

Thanks.
 

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That looks weird, doesn't look like like skim in the pic.

I suppose you can either take it back to brick and start again or if they don't want to pre grit and add bonding to first coat , can help with multiple cracks
 
Why not get the big roll of mesh and bed that in with some finish let it go off then pva and skim I actually find skimming over that really nice
 
Had a wall crack up that I skimmed. I then covered in mesh and worked a treat. Works out about £35 a room or less.. See my thread here
 
If its what i think it is,,its not cracked skim,,,,,its paint that has not adhered properly over whats underneath it..shrinks and cracks.grit it usually works fine after scraping any loose paint off.
 
Thanks for your replies, I think all of those methods would work really. Looked at your thread as well @Wayners, looks like useful stuff.

But @Donzo I think you're spot on, my thoughts exactly. I said that to the customer when I was there. Going to go with the stabiliser as far easier than mesh and I've used it before and think it's absolutely great stuff as long as you leave for at least 24 hours.
 
I think it's obvious of its paint crazing or spiders webb wall cracks... The paint shrinks and crazes. Walls will crack within days so think about that. Do one wall first and see how it goes. That's what I did after blue grit... Cracked after a few days so I meshed it all and skimmed .
 
How thick is the mesh? Was planning to leave skirting boards, architraves, etc. on.

I always thought blue grit was purely a bonding agent, whereas as the green stuff has stabiliser in it, works like stabilex or other stabilising solutions but with grit in it as well. The green stuff is great over friable and other problem surfaces like distemper, etc. I have found in the past
 
Mesh is only 1mm-2mm max for what you need pva wall lay on some finish bed mesh in properly then let to go a bit even for a day come back pva and skim away
 
Oh didn't realise it was that thin. Where stocks it? Do you have to bed in with finish or I can stick it to the wall some other way? Going over finish it always goes off fast/needs tonnes of pva. Got a big stairwell wall to do
 
cornsack said:
Oh didn't realise it was that thin. Where stocks it? Do you have to bed in with finish or I can stick it to the wall some other way? Going over finish it always goes off fast/needs tonnes of pva. Got a big stairwell wall to do
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Selco do it and pretty sure ccf do it I actually like skimming over it just lash a load of pva on


In fact want me to do the job for you I can’t be bothered to type anymore ;)
 
I blue grit wall. Went back next day and skimmed with multi. Pull up off roll from floor and place on wall at the top. Cut along the bottom then flatten in. Repeat to cover wall then finish skim with another fresh mix. It's real easy.. For fiddly bits around windows ect I cut before first skim ready to use
 
When will people learn!

Your just over complicating the situation.

Option 1 - knock off plaster board & skim

Option 2 - pva & skim

They pays there money they takes there chance end of!!!!
 
zombie said:
When will people learn!

Your just over complicating the situation.

Option 1 - knock off plaster board & skim

Option 2 - pva & skim

They pays there money they takes there chance end of!!!!
Click to expand...
Board and skim means new skirting and door liners. Knock plaster off means moving out for a few days plus new woodwork.. Not everyone is going to want to do this.. Mesh can be the answer if it's solid. Think houses seem to shatter with the ground movement. I understand what your saying though
 
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