What's behind my wallpaper? Urgent help

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › What's behind my wallpaper? Urgent help

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MadEngineer

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#2383133 30-Dec-2019 21:17

I suggest you rip that sheet off and replace it with gib. You'll get a much better finish but also the opportunity to inspect the inside of the wall and insulate - even though it's only a small section. Alternatively clean it up as best you can then apply a layer of paint-able wall paper (I think there's a special and cheap type for this exact purpose - ask your store). For your door frame sand it back till that painted edge in your photo is clean and re-paint.

Edit - for the gap (second photo) put gib along it.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

unrlx

46 posts

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#2383135 30-Dec-2019 21:22

MadEngineer:

I suggest you rip that sheet off and replace it with gib. You'll get a much better finish but also the opportunity to inspect the inside of the wall and insulate - even though it's only a small section. Alternatively clean it up as best you can then apply a layer of paint-able wall paper (I think there's a special and cheap type for this exact purpose - ask your store). For your door frame sand it back till that painted edge in your photo is clean and re-paint.

Edit - for the gap (second photo) put gib along it.

Thanks for the reply. Is that sheet not plaster on gib?

I'll definitely look at the paint-able wallpaper as I don't plan to take any gib off the walls.

For putting gib in the gap, will it not be flat when it reaches the top of the door? Where it should align with the gib on top of the door, if I put gib it would create an elevated "bump" so won't be flat.

MadEngineer

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#2383136 30-Dec-2019 21:30

It's a bit hard to tell from those photos ... looking again it does look a bit like ordinary gib that's had a hole repair? What's on the other side of the wall - not a bathroom or any plumbing I hope.

Is the wood that runs around the outside of that frame not flat? If a proper reno was being done that framing would be gone also.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

unrlx

46 posts

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#2383141 30-Dec-2019 21:44

Na there's not plumbing.

on the other side of the door is normal gib

unrlx

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#2405069 22-Jan-2020 23:42

Hi guys,

I'm back.

So I've pretty much removed all the wallpaper and what's left is the wall where the electrical box is.

Now what I've just discovered is that there were three "bumps" on the wallpaper and when I removed the top one, there was electrical wiring behind it and the wires are protected by a thick clothe like wrapping.

I would say the cause of the bump was because of years of that those electrical wiring "pushing" against the plaster hence the bulge.

What I'm wondering is if it is ok for me to use a hole patch and plaster it up to cover the three holes (I'm suspecting the other 2 bulges are from the electrical tape as well as it runs down the house)

Something like this:

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/poly-wall-repair-kit-4pc_p01710160

Attached images of what the bulge look like and the first hole.

Any advise will be appreciated!!

sparkz25

750 posts

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#2405142 23-Jan-2020 09:07

unrlx:

So I've pretty much removed all the wallpaper and what's left is the wall where the electrical box is.

Now what I've just discovered is that there were three "bumps" on the wallpaper and when I removed the top one, there was electrical wiring behind it and the wires are protected by a thick clothe like wrapping.

I would say the cause of the bump was because of years of that those electrical wiring "pushing" against the plaster hence the bulge.

What I'm wondering is if it is ok for me to use a hole patch and plaster it up to cover the three holes (I'm suspecting the other 2 bulges are from the electrical tape as well as it runs down the house)

If there is cloth around the cable I would be more inclined to inspect to see what has happened or has been done to that cable. the only cloth that I can think of is the old VIR cables that were in wood casing which should be replaced!

That image with the bigger hole looks like that cloth or whatever it is was used as a filler to help keep the plaster in place until it set.

Bung

6480 posts

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#2405188 23-Jan-2020 11:00

Someone has probably run a new wire by making small holes above any horizontal timber (nogs/dwangs) so they could bore the holes.

Tradepub

Free professional, reference and technical white papers (affiliate link).

unrlx

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#2405196 23-Jan-2020 11:46

sparkz25:

If there is cloth around the cable I would be more inclined to inspect to see what has happened or has been done to that cable. the only cloth that I can think of is the old VIR cables that were in wood casing which should be replaced!

That image with the bigger hole looks like that cloth or whatever it is was used as a filler to help keep the plaster in place until it set.

Do I need to get a sparky in to have a look? There is nothing behind it or beside it, basically just wires as far as I can see

Bung: Someone has probably run a new wire by making small holes above any horizontal timber (nogs/dwangs) so they could bore the holes.

Would it be fine to plaster it? I googled on this (I know, not professional advise) and seems like there is no issue with plaster around wiring.

I looked to see if it was flush (wiring is not protruding out of the drywall) and it is flush.

neb

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#2405251 23-Jan-2020 13:27

Bung: Someone has probably run a new wire by making small holes above any horizontal timber (nogs/dwangs) so they could bore the holes.

Ah, yes, that's a likely explanation, I've seen woodpecker holes going up walls before where the owners did exactly that.

unrlx

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#2405286 23-Jan-2020 14:25

Did they just plaster over it to cover the hole?

Bung

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#2405287 23-Jan-2020 14:28

unrlx:
Would it be fine to plaster it? I googled on this (I know, not professional advise) and seems like there is no issue with plaster around wiring.

I looked to see if it was flush (wiring is not protruding out of the drywall) and it is flush.

The electrical wiring should be free to move in a hole through the middle of the timber. If someone has just chiseled a slot in the edge behind the gib that is setting a trap for someone who wants to tack up a picture hook. The wiring would be trapped too close to the surface.

unrlx

46 posts

Geek

#2405299 23-Jan-2020 15:03

Bung:

The electrical wiring should be free to move in a hole through the middle of the timber. If someone has just chiseled a slot in the edge behind the gib that is setting a trap for someone who wants to tack up a picture hook. The wiring would be trapped too close to the surface.

Definitely, luckily this is a wall around a small corner below the electrical box where the sun don't shine. If I didn't do my wallpapers it might've killed me if I nailed anything in to it lol.

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