Preparing a wall for plastering

[IJustWoreMyTrenchcoat]

Hello, we have plasterers coming tomorrow to do our babies bedroom. We have stripped off the wallpaper but there are lots of tiny bits that will obviously need to come off. We keep going over it but every time I notice more.

I think we need to wash the walls down to get every little bit. Is warm water with a bit of washing up liquid ok? I'd rather use what we have in the house (general cleaning supplies like liquid gel etc.) than go out because baby isn't well.

Also, bits of old plaster are peeling off, do these also need to come off? Thought we'd done really well but think we need to do a bit more hard work now!

I think flaky bits are the issue whether that be paper or plaster. I'd be wary of wetting it now, I'd go over it with sandpaper then rub over with a damp cloth. Please bear in mind I'm not an expert at all tho!

We've got plasterers in on Friday. I'm planning to wash the walls down with sugar soap to remove the last scraps of wallpaper but our plasterer has quoted us to apply 2 coats of unibond stuff which I think provides a stable base for the plaster to go on.

It must be fairly standard to see walls in that condition - did the plasterer quote before or after you stripped? If after he surely would have said something if you needed to do anymore prep

Anything loose needs to come off.

For the paper and paste, warm water, WUL, a garden sprayer or plant mister, and a broad metal scraper should do it. Keep wiping the slimy paste and paper fragments off the knife on your trousers.

If using unibond or PVA, do not leave it on any surface that you hope one day to paint.

Thanks for the replies. We have been over the walls again trying to get all the bits and removed the flaky plaster. The owner of the building firm mentioned the PVA, I'm just hoping we've done enough.

The plasterer hasn't seen it yet, just the builder organising it all. The electrician, plumbers etc. have all been really good so far so am just hoping it continues!