Skim or lining wallpaper?

[buckstar]

We moved into our house a year ago and have since noticed that the previous owners appear to have plastered the walls themselves. This has resulted in quite a few divots and lumps and bumps.

What is the best thing to do here? I'm tempted to get it all skimmed but worried about the price (town in SW). DH wants to line with wallpaper but I feel that the bad lumps will show through and we won't get a nice finish.

Does anyone have any advice?

My decorator put lining paper on the walls of the entire house (period property) before we moved in, and painted over it. It looks great in my opinion. The lumpy walls don't notice and you can just keep painting over it with emulsion when you want to redecorate. Skimming would be extremely expensive.

Skimming will give a better finish IMO, if you're planning on staying just save up and do a room at a time.

If you're staying for the long term then skim. Lining paper will cover small dents and nicks but not lumps and bumps sticking out.

If you have the walls skimmed bear in mind that for the best finish the skirtings, etc should be removed (door architraves are usually okay ime) and then you'll have the additional cost of fitting new woodwork.

We have put lining paper up in the past and painted over it. It works but if you want a really lovely finish I'd have the walls plastered, it looks far better and you can tell the difference.

Thank you everyone, that's really helpful. What kind of price range are we looking at for skimming?

How longs a piece of string? Depend on size of room, height of walls, and condition of walls. Not to mention where in the country you are. I would suggest getting a few quotes and see what they come back with.

Walls are lumpy and bumpy, in a town in the SW, typical 1950s semi.

I just want to have an idea if it's 1000s or 100s we're talking.

As people have said - depends. We paid £500 for lounge - did all the prep ourselves (removing old wall paper), plasterer did walls and ceiling (although had chimney breast and bay window so slightly more work). I'd say £400 to £600 per room depending on prep / ceilings etc?

I've had a normal sized room done for £300 - but did all prep first.

We had a smaller sitting room done for £350. Why not get some free quotes in? Then you can make a decision. I think papering is just kicking the can further down the road. You will need to ask re finish of skirting boards etc. Ours didn't need taking off though.

£400 sounds about middle of the road for what you've described.

If the walls have been inexpertly plastered can you sand down the lumps? That's what we did when we did some plastering ourselves to save costs. Won't be perfect but will be better. Lining paper tip-leave a small gap between sheets (few mm) then fill with polyfilla and lightly sand. More faff but great finish as you don't see the paper joins.

You'd have to weigh up how much having the whole room papered would cost including materials and offet that against a perfect skimmed finish. Longer term it may be worth it.