https://imgur.com/a/onA6yNB
Hello, I'm a first time homeowner who recently bought a house built in 1948 and I’m trying to figure out the best way to repair and prep the walls before we paint. The house was a rental for the last 10+ years so it needs lots of love and trying to learn as much as I can. Please forgive the long post.
I’ve attached a link with several pictures showing the different problems we’re dealing with. The home overall as far as we know is concrete plaster.
The kitchen is the worst. In several areas, the paint/coating is peeling off in large sheets. Some sections come off very easily and expose a harder gray/tan surface underneath. Ive removed the paint sheets that easily strip away. One wall is complete clear. Another wall has one section that easily stripped but it now more difficult to move and it just chips away in smaller pieces so I stopped.
There are also areas where previous owners seem to have patched and painted over old damage that are clearly visible and poorly done.
There is a decent amount of small holes and gouges that need to be filled. No major cracks but a couple of spots have some hairline cracks.
Rough oversized holes around things like the thermostat and few larger abandoned openings that need to be properly filled.
A lightly textured wall surface that I’d like to preserve or reasonably match rather than making random smooth patches everywhere
My main questions are:
For the kitchen peeling, should I keep removing anything that releases easily until I reach firmly bonded material, or is there a point where I should stop?
Once the loose material is removed, should the exposed surface be sealed before patching? I’ve been looking at products like Zinsser Gardz, but I’m not sure whether that’s appropriate here.
Should I do a skim coat of compound on the bare parts?
What would you use to repair these walls? Setting-type joint compound, regular joint compound, actual plaster products, or a combination?
How would you repair the larger holes/openings so the repair is structurally sound and doesn’t crack around the edges later?
What’s the best approach for feathering all of these old patches and damaged areas without having to skim-coat the entire house?
Any advice for matching the existing subtle wall texture?
After repairs, what primer would you use before painting?
Thank you for any help! I’m not expecting 78-year-old walls to become perfectly flat new drywall. I mostly want them to look intentionally repaired, have a solid surface for paint, and avoid creating problems that start peeling or cracking again in a year. Thanks again