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The first photo is of the bathroom, were we think water from the shower is coming through to the main bedroom wall which you can see in the second picture. There is a lot of paint and hard plaster bubbling in the main bedroom wall.
I am assuming I need to scrape off the paint, and and plaster that is chipping off, patch the plaster and then repaint. Thoughts?
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @erbakic. It's terrific to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about repairing a plaster wall.
Before you start work it's important to know there's a risk of asbestos exposure from homes built or renovated before 1990. Determine if asbestos is present by having your home assessed and taking necessary precautions to protect yourself and others. Access resources from the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency for guidance on safe practices. Prioritise safety by educating yourself and seeking professional assistance when needed.
The first thing to address is the source of the leak before attempting any repairs, as any water intrusion will cause the same issue to reoccur. Once the leak has been resolved, you're on the right track with your approach to repairing the damaged wall.
Start by scraping back the compromised paint and plaster to expose any areas where the water has caused bubbling or peeling. Be sure to remove all damaged material until you reach a solid surface. If there are deep gouges or cracks left behind, fill these with a patching compound, making sure to smooth it out as much as possible. Once any deeper areas have been filled, apply a skim coat of plaster over the entire affected area with topping compound. This will help even out the surface and provide a uniform base for painting.
After the plaster has fully dried, sand the area lightly to achieve a smooth finish, ensuring there are no visible edges or unevenness. Then, apply a suitable primer, particularly one designed for porous surfaces. Once primed, you can repaint the area to match the rest of the wall.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
