What is behind my finish coat?

[StevenUK]

Hi all,

First post, be gentle!

Just a regular DIYer, picked up a love for plastering doing the odd small wall and ceiling in my house.

Latest project is the bathroom. Ripping old tiles off, naturally the the privious owner didn't tank the walls and moisture got behind and has blown the finish coat...so it is coming away with the old tiles. Gonna have to rip it all off at least one wall.

My question is, can anyone offer advice as to what is behind the finish coat?

I thought it was bonding, but now think I might be sand and cement, bonus for backing board or straight tiling if it is!

It's pretty solid, can't push a screwdriver in it. It just marks the surface a little. Took a chunk off and tried to crush it by hand. Got a few small edges off it but it seems pretty solid.

Pics below...

Thoughts anyone?

Thanks!

 

[kgreigh]

Welcome Steven,looks like s&c to me bud

 

[Olican]

Welcome along bud, hard to tell from those pics. If it's your own property and you have doubts then hack it off and do it right. Sand and cement if the substrate is suitable or ask our tiling mod @Jurek for more advice

 

[smoother09]

Yep defo looks like s&c from the pics

 

[StevenUK]

Cheers for taking a look and the responses. Much appreciated!

Ex council house built in the mid 60's, if that info helps narrow down what it might be.

Am I correct in thinking it can only really be bonding, browning, s&c, or some sort of lime based plaster or cement?

Lime fizzes in water, yeah? So I can rule that one out with a little experiment.

Bonding and browning are quite crumbly, no? So if I can't crush it with say the back of a screwdriver, it's not them?

Thanks again!

 

[johniosaif]

It's fn sand and cement ,,,

 

[Ronnie]

I bought something just the same as pics 1&4 in Marrakech. Definitely wasn't s and c, I already tried that.

 

[radford]

Is it crystal meth?

 

[Danny]

Looks like sand and cement to me

 

[hstoke]

It's fn sand and cement ,,,

Lol straight to the point

 

[leebo02]

s & c, if it was bonding or browning your screwdriver would do more than just mark the surface

 

[Danny]

Sand and cement is dusty than bonding

 

[puddove]

I bought something just the same as pics 1&4 in Marrakech. Definitely wasn't s and c, I already tried that.

camel shite??

 

[S a plastering]

its wattle an daub