My walls aren't perfect am I being unreasonable?

[Naaarina93]

Walls throughout my house have flaws they're not completely flat and even and show cracks espesically in the living room even if I paint the walls it's still obvious. I've bought a sander and tried to sand them as much as I can to make the imperfections look less visible but I'm tired and the results aren't too satisfying not to mention the dust that comes off it making the smoke alarms go off every time. I'm single mum with a 14 month old baby, and a housing association tenant am I entitled to repair to make the walls flat or is such imperfections not supposed to bother me so much? I just feel flat walls are the minimum and basic expectation of a house. And because of the sheer amount of sanding I have to do I have stopped working towards making my house more of a home for me and baby and I don't even have flooring laid down in the living room despite living in this property for a year now, I just keep thinking what's the point if the walls are so hideous and I can't seem to get over it :(

A while ago I have complained about this problem and the housing officer came to my house looked at the problem and told me basically that I shouldn't expect perfect walls, then I explained to him that flat walls is just all I want. He didn't seem convinced and made me feel like I'm asking for too much. Am I? He told me to cover it with wallpaper if I'm not happy but I don't like wallpaper.

I can't keep sanding the walls because of the amount of time it takes and the dust could affect my health and my baby's, I can't afford to plaster my walls either since I'm full time mum. What shall I do? And what can I expect from my housing association in repair in terms of fixing my walls if anything? I really want to know thank you so much!

Unfortunately I don't think they do need to fix the walls if it's purely just cosmetic issues. When we lived in a council house the walls were bumpy & had some cracks and they refused to fix them as it was just cosmetic. We had to get the walls plastered but understand that's not an option for you. I think wallpaper might be your best option. I know you say you don't like it but it would make the house more homely. You would also notice a bit difference if you got livingroom flooring and I really think if you can afford to you need to, despite the wall issue. It would make the place so much warmer for you and the baby.

How old is the property? Are the walls currently painted?

You can improve walls by hanging lining paper and painting over it.

What sort of cracks? Could you use filler on them and then paint? If there is nothing structurally wrong then they probably won't do anything to them

Decorator's caulk is was you need!

I live in a really old house and my walls are all full of lumps, bumps, blown plaster etc. Matt paint is a a surprising solution, anything else highlights it, matt seems to hide it and it's a lovely elegant finish.

But no, I don't think they need to flatten the walls.

Of course you aren’t entitled to perfect walls. If you want perfect walls pay to get them skimmed yourself.

It’s very rare an older house has perfect walls but it doesn’t stop them making perfect homes. The walls in my house are a bit battered but the plaster is 90 years old so it is what it is.

I couldn't attached pictures but it's basically cracks and lumps, also thank you all for comments and the suggestions, I just wish I got a new house and didn't have to worry about the walls :(

Reasonable expectations; safe, waterproof, free from damp and mould yes. Pristine flat walls, not so much.

Cheap wallpaper/lining paper painted over. If you can't afford this, contact CAB about local charities who may be able to help.

I think if you've been worrying about this for a year op and not making your home habitable and a home, it's time to stop really. Pain them with a matt paint and try to not focus on it anymore. It sounds like it's become a bit obsessional for you 💐

Op, how do you feel other than the thing about the walls? Do you get out, have friends or family near? Any support?

Hi @Naaarina93
Habe you been used to living in a house with perfect walls before you moved here? I ask bc really isn't something most people would get worked up about. Lack of flooring is a more pressing issue.

With all respect OP, there are people who can’t get access to HA accommodation and you think that imperfect walls are below minimum standard and you should have got a new house?

What support network do you have? Do you suffer with anxiety or depression, that you are getting so worried about imperfect walls?

@Bluntness100 thanks for asking that, yes I'm used to flat walls I wouldn't call them perfect because it's just normal where I come from to have them flat you know what I mean? It would be weird to not have them that way. But now reading all the nice and supportive comments (not the patronising one) have made me think that this is what to expect from a home in Britain and that's fine I'm still very happy with my home and will stop obsessing about it I will get the walls plastered as soon as I can afford it im starting a new job next week and I'm happy to maintain my house to match my expectations and do the repairs myself. I obviously didn't mean to come across as demanding or unreasonable, different cultures that is all and I accept that happily :) I just wanted to know if everyone is entitled to such repair or not. Thanks for being sweet and thoughtful to ask that question.

I didn't see a need for @OnceUponATimeInAmerica to be so patronising however in her comment, I never said I SHOULD get a new house.. and just because there are people that less fortunate than me to have a HA house (and I'm sorry for them) doesn't mean I shouldn't strive to have the best, most accommdating and nicest home for me and my baby to grow up in, I'm not taking anything from anybody and I hope everyone gets the house of their dream.
No need to put people down and make it seem like I'm suffering from a mental disorders just because I may have different expectations than you not higher or lower just different and a different understanding of "minimum expectations" because we probably didn't have the same life or grow up in the same environment...

Sorry I was supposed to quote @Dickybow321 in my previous post instead @Bluntness100 :)

Lining paper and paint. Get your flooring sorted and spend your money on nice pictures/furniture vs the walls. Skimming them will not come cheap and seems a waste unless you plan to buy the property.

If it's a two bedroom house that needs all areas skimmed it'll cost approx £350-500 for a small bedroom (more dependant on where you live). You could be looking at spending 5k+ just to get 'flat walls', add in new skirting boards, door frames as they'll have to come off. And if you move you'll have paid out all that money for nothing.

I am with others - matt finish paint will show up imperfections very much less - once you have done that in a colour you like and then made the rest cosier , e.g. flooring , furniture , nice photographs , pictures, blinds , curtains etc - it will be fine. Don't ( my advice only ) look at something in isolation. If the walls are holding the house up and are dry then I would honestly not worry too much if the alternative is you having to sand them yourself. Get a forgiving matt colour and then just put your things in . I've got a bit in my hallway ( and I had paid for this to be done) which is a little less than perfect. It used to annoy me - now I think of it as "character As others - just find a nice matt paint and get your stuff in and start living in the house. Very very best to you

Seriously? Some houses have walls like glass (like, you know ..when they have been freshly skimmed/plastered) some don’t, because maybe the house is hundreds of years old? Or something? It isn’t cultural, what a ridiculous thing to imply. Also all that dust you are creating is terrible for your baby’s lungs.

OP, I didn’t put you down. I questioned whether there are other issues going on. It is not normal to spend a year starting from when your baby must have been about 2 months old, sanding walls trying to get them to look freshly plastered. Suffering with mental health problems in the first year after a baby is not uncommon, and can manifest as obsessive behaviour. I was not the only one who questioned your support.

As for the new house, it was you who said ‘I wish I got a new house’. I suspect my comment was lost in translation given your subsequent comment on cultural differences.

I know you say you don’t like wallpaper, but lining paper can be pretty much invisible when put up correctly and then you paint over it in the colour you want. It just gives you a smooth surface that hides imperfections.

I am with others - matt finish paint will show up imperfections very much less

Yup, it's surprising how big a difference it makes. As said previously my house is old and all walls are a bit of a state, and even eggshell simply highlights the imperfections. It's the way the light bounces off it.

The first time I put a coat of matt on a wall my husband and I were both surprised at how much smoother they looked. It makes the undulations hard to see.

We also had a very experienced decorator in at one point and he proactively commented the same, it has to be matt paint.

I watched a decorator filling in the cracks on my walls. He made the cracks much wider with a chisel and then put in filler. Once this had dried he sanded and the cracks have disappeared ( not so the ones I did myself with just filler)
So could you try this on a couple of cracks in a spare few minutes and see if it makes any difference?

I have a couple of dodgy walls and my decorator lined them with quality lining paper hung horizontally then filled the joints and painted it. You absolutely cannot tell at all that it isn't a plain plastered wall.

TBF, he is a professional and used really thick lining paper. I 100% appreciate you are probably on a budget, but is something like this a possibility?

OP "I shouldn't strive to have the best, most accommdating and nicest home for me and my baby to grow up in"

OP , If this is your aim rather than flattest wall on the planet prize , if it were me , I would get thick matt paint - put up some pictures, as long as the walls are dry and a nice colour they will be fine, and just concentrate on making it a cosy space for you and you baby . I do understand your concern but , just one experience , my son would never have noticed that the walls weren't perfect. Comfy place for cuddling / comfy bed / nice lamps , pictures , blinds / curtains ( low lighting covers a multitude of sins ) baby won't notice - as and when you may be able to get the walls lined with paper or plastered - all well and good. Please don't put baby's life on hold for the sake of having perfectly flat walls. I seriously hope this is not patronising. I just think that you clearly have high standards and that is good. Just maybe swing your attention to something other than the walls once you have just given them a decent coat of matt paint . I am elderly and have live in many houses and the one thing I can say is that when a room is empty and you are only looking at one thing ( e.g. walls / woodwork ) easy to say " oh this little bit is not perfect " - but if it essentially OK , once furniture , etc all in you really don't notice. I think it is rare in any house to have everything perfect.

If you did have a brand new house with new plaster I bet you would see cracks in it over the next year or so when it settled. So unless really awful I would just not worry too much

Anyway I don't know your circumstances but I do wish you well OP and your DC.

Practical note - as a pp has said builders caulk ( the sort that comes in a massive tube and you need a little metal gun thing to extrude it ) will deal with most cracks between e.g. ceiling and walls , down the bits where walls adjoin and also between walls and skirting . Other than that just some filler and one of those scaring things for obvious holes in walls and then job done. Matt paint and just make it your home. I do not blame you for wanting it to be lovely , but equally , your baby will only be young once. 80 / 20 rule. You can always redecorate later. What is the saying " do not let the perfect get in the way of the good" Again , best wishes - I am sure you can make your house look lovely even if there are a few teeny bumps etc

Basilisk