Discovered under wallpaper, any ideas?

[Fillie]

Hi

I have just bought a victorian terrace cottage c1890.
I have discovered this while stripping wallpaper in the hall.
Any ideas what it is and the age?
Also what is the yellow wall covering? It's yellow at top and painted black along the bottom from the floor to 2ft.

Thanks in advance if you can advise

 

[Burnerman]

I think that yellow is distemper......others will know for sure.
Powdery to the touch, if I recall.
John

 

[Fillie]

Thanks John,
Don't think it's distemper, it's rock hard and quite shiny. Flecked with blue/black specks. Almost like polished concrete!

 

[Nige F]

I'll bet it's Portaflek used by councils to update public loos - sprayed over everything . Although I found some in a house I once owned .

 

[Burnerman]

Portaflek.....that's the one! In my original home as a bairn. Yellow and flecked......I would doubt very much if it was sprayed though - could it be applied by brush at all?
John

 

[Fillie]

That's the stuff! Not sure I like my hallway looking like a public loo though!

Would a plasterer be able to skim over it do you think?

 

[chappers]

Depends on how solid and well adhered it is. If it's flat you should be able to just paint over it.

 

[Robbie uk]

Defo Portaflek, used a lot in the 80's Has to be sprayed on to any colour base.