Sealing walls

[ban-all-sheds]

I'm doing some odd-bit-at-a-time prep work in my kitchen which involves removing tiling in various places, squaring off a brick archway etc.

What can I do to keep down the dust from exposed bits of wall with crumbling plaster etc until the work starts in earnest? Dilute PVA?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

You can use PVA to seal dusty walls, 1 part PVA to 5 parts water should do the trick.
I would gave the wall a good clean down first and remove as much dust and dirt as possible.
What are going to finish the surfaces with when your work starts?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The walls will be, in various places:

1) replastered.

2) battened and boarded (so no surface worries)

3) dot'n'dab boarded.

I may end up having to remove a lot of the old plaster, if this weekend's experience is anything to go by. I took off some tiles, and a lot of the finish coat came with. The browning underneath was so soft that the brush from a regular domestic dustpan and brush could take it right back to the brickwork.

But at the moment it's still a working kitchen, and while I'm a big brave motorcycle rider, Mrs Sheds and #1 son are unaccountably squeamish about all the pots and pans etc being covered in fine layers of dust.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

I would remove all dry and decaying plaster, if it's time to do it and "you are going to make a mess" take the opportunity to get it all done, in one hit.
Applying PVA to the walls to seal from dust should not be problem, when re-plastering, it will make the wall suction rates lower and the bonding agent in PVA will allow a bonding basecoat to be used and Dry wall adhesive can be used on low-medium and high suction walls, so should be no issues when it comes to plastering the walls/Dot'n'Dab.