Plasterboard already plastered (under paper) or peeling off the backing?

[ComfortandHappiness]

Any way of telling?

I'm trying to peel off some very old-fashioned (textured) paper… very carefully…

I don’t want to have to replace the plasterboard walls…

I was expecting to have to very carefully separate old paper from the plasterboard (I have done it in another room), but this looks like the plasterboard was skimmed and then papered over.

Is there any was of telling the difference (wanting other people's experiences)? It looks textured, like someone has skimmed the joints. I don’t want to take too much off and regret it.

Is it taped and jointed like this?

www.manomano.co.uk/advice/how-to-tape-and-joint-plasterboard-9270

Ot is the whole surface skimmed with plaster?

Maybe share some photo's. In most houses in the UK the plaster has been skimmed but the problem with older houses is where you take the paper off and either some of the skim coat comes off with the paper or the plaster is blown underneath. If someone has papered directly onto plasterboard then you are going to struggle to remove the paper.

I think so. The paper comes off more easily over these sections, but not elsewhere.

I think I have found an area of plasterboard, so don’t think it has been skimmed all over (which is what I was hoping).

The plan was for us to get it skimmed, then to paint that. I can’t afford to get the plasterboard replaced, so will have to make the best job of it.

I will try to get some photos (trying different sections of the wall at a time).

You can paint over taped and jointed walls. That's what we have done in our new extension.

That would be a fantastic solution if I can get the paper off carefully. It’s going to cost a fortune to skim out otherwise. Does it make a decent finish (it’s the front room).

I want it to be smooth and decent. Then I just need to paint over in future to change the colour.