Plyboard and panelling

[Silencewouldbegolden]

To cut a long story short I have an internal brick wall that doesn’t match the aesthetic of the rest of the house.

I wanted to plaster it but it’s been impossible to find anyone. The only person who’s got back to me said it would be his day rate £500 but it was like pulling teeth to get this much out of him and I get the impression the job is too small for most people to bother getting out of bed for.

Most of the house is panelled in some way. It’s a period house so to stay in keeping with that, I’m thinking of ply boarding the wall (assume this would be better than MDF?) and using strips of wood to panel in rectangles to 1) cover joins of the boards but 2) to add the character into this space. I’d obviously add the mouldings to the whole room.

Does this sound like the right way forward? Does anyone have any other ideas?

Without seeing it, knowing the era or much about it at all, my alternative thought would be to lime-wash the wall, or paint it with a breathable paint.

If you want to post photos happy to comment further.

It’s 1930s so that wouldn’t look right either.

Mdf is smoother and cheaper and will be easier than plywood to paint. But covering a whole wall with it is going to be quite a lot of work and tbh is a bit of a bodge job compared with plaster. I think it will be difficult to get a really good finish. Unless you keep the panelling forever, you're just kicking the can down the road.

I would be inclined to either keep trying plasterers or bite the bullet and pay the £500. Or whitewash it as a pp said.

I have tongue and groove ready made MDF panelling in one room. I think you can buy it in other styles, ready made. It was glued on over tiles, quick and simple to fit (for the joiner who was doing the work 😉). You'd need to find the right adhesive to stick to bricks @Silencewouldbegolden .

I'm a fan of MDF for painting over, knots don't show through because there aren't any.

I would pay the £500 for the plasterer if it will give you the result you want. If you start a DIY project and are unhappy with the results you may end up trying more and things.