How to finish exposed alcove wall bottom?

[parakeet]

In my house, previous owned renovated without plastering the bottom of walls inside alcove cabinets.

It would have been just like these cowboys to just put skirting board over the unfilled bottom - but they didn't even do that.

Brickwork is exposed.

How should I go about making this good? What products, tools and techniques?

(I'm a newbie to plastering).

 

[thomp1983]

It's pretty normal to not plaster all the way to the bottom of walls, if it's touching the ground you can get issues with damp

Skirting round the bottom can be fitted using expanding foam easy enough

 

[parakeet]

It's pretty normal to not plaster all the way to the bottom of walls, if it's touching the ground you can get issues with damp

I already have issues with damp in and near that alcove/breast (and elsewhere) - https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/discolouration-damp-on-chimney-breast-alcove.600014/ This morning, I removed from this alcove cabinet two board games that were full of furry stuff.

Skirting round the bottom can be fitted using expanding foam easy enough

So, you mean you wouldn't in-fill with plaster/whatever but, rather, you'd use expanding foam, maybe skim it off flat and add the skirting over that? Like, maybe glue it onto the dry foam, rather than nail it?

 

[thomp1983]

No I'd use the below, few decent squirts into hole, give it a few minutes then hold skirting in place for another few minutes or wedge with something heavy

Soudal Genius Gun Plasterboard Adhesive Foam

Soudal Plasterboard Adhesive Foam is a fast curing replacement for traditional mortar adhesives. Use it to fill cavities and for bonding plasterboard to walls. You'll find that this foam is suitable for use on all common materials such as concrete, stone, plaster and wood.The adhesive comes...

www.toolstation.com

 

[conny]

Decide on a style and height of skirting board and cut it to length/shape. Make sure it fits together inside the cupboard before doing anything else. Once you are happy it will fit then use the foam thomp 1983 has suggested and in the manner he has suggested. You don't need to completely cover the brickwork with it, (the skirting board will do that), just put a blob at each end of the brickwork and one in the middle.
Do one wall at a time and hold the skirting in place, (making sure it is correctly positioned), until it has gripped then do the next one.
If you have scribed the sides to fit the rear profile, or cut the corners at 45 degrees, you will need to fit the rear piece first so you can 'pivot/swing the side pieces into place.

 

[parakeet]

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[lostinthelight]

Maybe fix battens with strips of damp course on the back if damp, flush with wall surface to screw or nail the skirting to.