What's caused this?

[Fordy81]

I think it's previous layers of paint that have bubbled as the wall isn't papered and I don't know what else it could be.

It's an outside wall and has appeared since painting.

How do I remedy it? Scrape it? Sand it?

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[misterhelpful]

It's just the paper joint tape covering the plasterboard joins that has come loose.

You will need to cut it away and either replace it by bedding new tape into a thin skim of filler (easifill is used for this kind of thing) and then a skim on top or you could just remove it and fill the surface as it is, without replacing the tape. The problem with not replacing the tape is that the very corner may be prone to constant cracking if there is too much movement in the wall, although caulking the corner may solve that issue.

 

[Fordy81]

It's just the paper joint tape covering the plasterboard joins that has come loose.

You will need to cut it away and either replace it by bedding new tape into a thin skim of filler (easifill is used for this kind of thing) and then a skim on top or you could just remove it and fill the surface as it is, without replacing the tape. The problem with not replacing the tape is that the very corner may be prone to constant cracking if there is too much movement in the wall, although caulking the corner may solve that issue.

Thanks mister.

I actually have some easifill. If I replaced the tape, is it just a case of skimming over and feathering into the walls or do I need to do all the wall's surface?

Thinking I might go the caulk option as it's only a spare room.

 

[misterhelpful]

Paper tapes are usually bedded into filler (unless self adhesive) and then just skimmed lightly over the top to level the joint out, so you definitely don't have to worry about doing the whole wall. You can fill it without replacing the tape but, as I mentioned, don't be surprised if a crack appears in the very corner. However, when you remove the tape, you can sometimes find a wide gap where the plasterboards have been poorly fitted and, in that case, you will probably need to replace the tape. Unfortunately, that is often the cause of the tape coming loose.