What to Do When Plaster Falls Off the Wall

Loose or blown plaster is a common issue in older homes, especially when things like timber cladding or wallpaper are removed. If you’ve recently taken something off your wall and large sections of plaster have come off with it — don’t panic. You’re not alone, and it’s something we deal with regularly.

Why Does Plaster Come Off the Wall?

There are a few reasons plaster can become loose or “blown”:

• Age and general wear and tear

• Poor adhesion to the original wall surface

• Moisture or damp behind the plaster

• Vibration or movement in the wall or building

• Fixings (like battens or cladding) pulling it away over time

Once the bond between the plaster and the wall is gone, it’s only a matter of time before it starts to fall away — and when it does, it can leave you staring at bare brickwork.

A Real-Life Example: From Cladding to Chaos

We recently finished a job where the customer removed some old timber cladding, and unfortunately, most of the plaster came off with it. The wall was stripped right back to the brick, leaving a rough, uneven surface that needed proper attention.

To sort it, we boarded over the affected areas and gave everything a clean, smooth skim. Because the wall was solid with no cavity, we made sure to use the correct breathable materials to avoid any future damp issues — something that’s essential when working with older or solid-wall properties.

The result? A fresh, clean finish and one very happy customer.

How We Can Help

If you’ve had plaster fall off your wall, or you’re noticing hollow sounds when you tap your walls (a sign of blown

plaster), it’s best to get it checked sooner rather than later. Leaving it can lead to more plaster coming loose — and more mess.

We can:

• Assess whether the plaster can be patched or needs to be removed

• Re-board and skim walls for a modern, long-lasting finish

• Use materials suitable for solid walls to prevent damp problems

• Leave your space tidy and ready to paint

So if your walls are looking worse for wear after some DIY, or you’re worried about loose plaster, give us a shout. We’ll get things sorted properly — and leave your walls looking spot on.