Paint lining paper or paint plaster

[Houseplantmad]

The hall walls are currently wallpapered and were replastered around 20 years ago. The current wallpaper will need to come off but should we reline the walls with lining paper then paint or skim and paint them. Which is more durable and practical please?

Personally I prefer lining paper. It looks so much better and plaster tends to crack as it dries out.

I’d use the paintable lining paper, it’s thicker and has a white prepared side.

depends what the walls are like when the paper comes off
If you need to re-skim, just paint the plastered walls
Remember to seal them with PVA first though.

I personally prefer the look of painted plastered walls than lining paper. To me lining paper looks quite dated.

In my experience if walls have been previously papered the paste from the old paper will cause an issue when painting so it's best to use lining paper. If I was painting fresh plaster than you need a must coat to seal it before painting

If you paint new plaster do NOT pva first but paint with mist (diluted paint) coat first.

Do skim and paint. Lasts much longer

If you paint new plaster do NOT pva first but paint with mist (diluted paint) coat first.

^this

PVA is not the best base for painting, the PVA-sealed surface may not take paint well, you're likely to have problems like peeling or cracking. PVA is good for subequent tiling though

If painting don't PVA instead do 1/3 water 2/3 trade white MATT paint. Do not use vinyl or silk as this will skin on the plaster and us not absorbed the same.
After the plaster is sealed do one coat of undiluted paint (again cheap trade MATT) before painting with your chosen colour coat.

Personally in your situation I would lining paper the walls with sonthing like this.
Much less mess than skimming.

www.screwfix.ie/p/erfurt-red-label-double-lining-paper-natural-560mm-x-20m/48424

Another vote for lining paper.
I don't have a visual preference either way but based on what you describe you'll get the best finish from lining paper.

If you have perfect plaster, it doesn't need lining paper.

A room that was replastered could reasonably be expected to be near perfect, though when you mist it and give it a coat of white matt, it will highlight to your eye any remaining defects that you hadn't noticed, so you can fix them before continuing.

I also think that painted plaster is easier to paper and to strip and clean off.

Paint. I would never, ever, put paper on plaster if I was going to paint. It makes it a s#d to get the paper off, for a start, and if you have any work done, like new windows, or a new socket, then you will have to repaper the whole wall or have it look a mess.
It's also faster, and looks better- you won't be looking at annoying lines all over the place, and edges of windows and cornices whon't have annoying 'edges'.

Paste from previous paper needs to be got off, though, as a previous poster said. I do it with warm water, and a sponge with a scratchy layer on it. Sponge (if necessary scour gently) all the paste off, until when the plaster is dry it feels really matt and has no sticky deposits on it if you touch it with damp hands. Then mist coat according to the manufacturer's instructions for the specific paint, and then paint your chosen paint over that. Don't use PVA- that used to be advised, but now it is advised against.
Another bonus of paint is that if the wall is even slightly prone to damp/condensation, getting the paper and paste off means the past won't be harbouring moisture. Especially if you use lime or clay type paint.