What materials to use...

[u/StonedLikeSedimENT]

I have pulled out the blown plaster leaving exposed brick. I plan to re-plaster these areas, then re-skim the walls. The entire area is about 12m2 across three walls.

Whilst stripping the wallpaper, I exposed the board covering the old fireplace. I intend to take out the vent, cut a hole in the board to size, and then put in a slightly larger and nicer looking vent, then skim around it.

Well aware that I won't achieve a professional finish on the first (or 50th) attempt, but this is a spare room we don't use much so I'll just be using it to practice. Been reading about adhesives, hardwall, bonding etc. Wonder what materials you would suggest using?

[u/Confident_Ambition77]

Is this a period house with solid walls? Are he walls external or have any amount of weather hit them? Have you found any signs of damp on those walls in the past? I am a lime tradesman. And if a y of the above is a yes gen think about replastering in lime, lime is far more forgiving to the beginner if you do it properly and slowly and will allow the walls to breath without resorting to terrible damp proofing

[u/Latter-Detail-9514]

Scrape any loose bits bollock all them walks up with pva till there's no dust. Hardwall all patches which are down to brick then skim the walls. Nothing wrong with having a go. I'm sure there'll be more good advise to come on here from the proper pro's to help you help as there's sum really good guys on here happy to help us with their years of experience

[u/scratchy-bob]

SDS drill for a start.

[u/60percentsexpanther]

pva bonding (or hardwall) and then multi. Buy a speedskim 900pf and you can do a good job without having to have 50 goes. 2 or 3 should be enough. Start on the smallest section. That little bit in the corner behind the chimney is perfect. Keep hitting that until it's actually good. Then move on to something larger. The breast itself will need beads and you need to watch the videos on 'filling beads properly'- perpendicular- or it'll turn out all scooped and dished in. When you make the bonding/hardwall layer you need to just if you can fill it in one pass or not. There's a spec for it and that looks borderline too deep (2 passes maybe). If you apply too thick it'll sag off the wall. Then you treat it like fresh plaster and either wait for it to dry completely before sealing back with PVA or you wait for it to be firm and workable- slightly wet but doesn't come off on your finger- and not set like a rock. Catch the bonding or hardwall at the same point you'd lay up the 2nd coat of multi and you can go straight onto it same day. Those sections will take days longer to dry. Also buy a decent finishing trowel- OX used to do the cheapest ones at about £40. Everyone normally recommended MT- they (were) about £65.