Has anyone skimmed a wall themselves (plaster)?

[PizzaDays]

Not quite sure which topic to put this in.

I have some plasterboard walls in a back (utility type) room that has some old fashioned wallpaper on (unfortunately the pattern is raised). I've been taking it off carefully (trying not to damage the plasterboard underneath), but the result is not really satisfactory. I would like a finish that’s as smooth as possible, so I think I have these options:

1. Wallpaper onto the remaining finish, then paint. I think that will leave me with a rough surface and messy finish.

1. Get the plasterboard replaced. I think that this will be expensive

1. Remove what I can, then have a go at skimming the walls myself… could be a disaster…

1. Get a professional in (too expensive)

I wondered if anyone else had any experience.

Thank you

Plasterboard is relatively cheap but you'll have joins.
Skimming is a job for a plasterer, IMO

You could use lining paper or a smoothing product

I once plastered a couple of holes in a crumbling lath and plaster wall in an Victorian terrace. I was young and had no spare money and no idea how to find a reliable plasterer (this was many years ago before anything like Checkatrade existed). I bought some DIY plaster and basic tools and had a go myself.

Dear lord, what a bodge. It was truly terrible. So I papered over it with anaglypta and pretended not to notice it.

Depending on how badly they're damaged, you could try and fill the patches with 'gyprock easifill 60' which comes in a bag of powder which you mix with water to your desired amount. Get a Hawk, taping knife and maybe a trowel.
Have a look on YouTube, I recently saw Roger Bisby teaching a novice to skim a wall, but he did have all the tools.
Jeff Thornham(?) from 'Total home Renovision' (?again) Is very good on YouTube at explaing how to tackle things yourself. He's Canadian.

My son has. He plasterboarded one wall then tried to plaster on top and not great - we ended up having to help him put lining paper then wallpaper on to make it look okay! It's def a skilled job...