Plaster crumbling behind radiator HELP!

[dizzysparkle]

Hi,

Forgive me if this is posted in the wrong area.

We have an oldish house (1885), and in the nursery the radiator was coming off the wall - the top screw in the bracket was surrounded by a hole and was coming forwards.

We've removed the radiator from the wall and taken the brackets off, and found that the plaster is crumbling to powder around those holes. There is also a patch between the bracket positions which feels soft and sounds hollow. On inspection a gentle tap has caused it to crumble away and expose the brick behind.

We are expecting our baby in a little over a month and need to get this sorted asap. How would we go about fixing the wall? Someone recommended coating the area in PVA and then cementing it - or should we remove all the crumbled plaster and then replaster the area?

Any help really appreciated!

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[londonpuma]

strip back all loose plaster to the brick,a coat of bonding,a light skim,when dry paint and rehang the radaitor.
external wall, sand/cement instead of bonding

 

[peaps2]

Remove the old lime plaster and redo with lime plaster. Don't use PVA or bonding or you will cause problems.

 

[JohnD]

that looks like a lime plaster, it is quite correct in an old house.

For your radiator, you must drill and plug into the bricks, plaster has no strength. Lime plaster is usually quite thick, and the original installer might not have known what he was doing. Use a 2" screw or longer, and drive the plug right into the brick.

It would be preferable to repair with lime plaster, not a modern gypsum. You might find lime easier to use, as it does not set so fast.