Plastering over the gaps behind the skirting?

[ObliterNate]

Hi all, need some quick advice. After taking the skirting board off, I've been left with 6 inch tall gaps. Which is fine, my plan was just to fill it up from floor to wall (with a 20mm gap of course).

But that's not the major issue, in one of the pictures, under the window a fairly large chunk of plaster just crumbled almost as soon as I removed the skirting, after inspecting the rest of the wall around that area (about 60x60cm square) it doesn't feel as if it's actually attached to the wall land just being held on by the wall paper.

My initial thoughts are to break away all the bad plaster, PVA, bonding plaster coat, the walls are all a little crap so I'd probably skim over the top of everything after that and then paint.

Can I get some pointers/brutally honest feedback.

Cheers guys.

 

[JohnD]

You can add pics to your post by "copy and paste"

There may be damp affecting the plaster. Please photograph the other side of the wall, and the bricks behind the bad patch. Is there a sink, drain, downpipe or airbrick nearby?

 

[ObliterNate]

It's an upstairs window, no downpipe near by or air brick.

 

[JohnD]

Shouldn't be damp, then

Though the bricks do look strangely dark, and one of them may have lime bloom.

Show us the outside, please