Skirting and plaster?!?

[Rabsy]

We are currently in the process of refurbishing a 1960s house. We've been quite please with how the plaster is underneath the wallpaper/anoglypta, and so was trying to avoid having to do a full repeater, however we desperately want to change the skirt and architrave. When we came to remove some of it last night, it seems that the skirting and architrave was fitted before plastering and it seems to be attached to the block underneath, no plasterboard or anything.

Were replacing the skirting with a taller version (5"), would we have to replaster the entire wall, where we want to replace the skirting and architrave? Or are there any better (cheaper) suggestions out there?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

If you are fitting skirting with a higher profile, then if at all possible. I would try to keep the existing wood wedges within the wall, as these can be used as a fixing point if needs be, you would want mark up on the wall where this fixing are. Then I personally would level the wall out where the skirting boards were, using a basecoat plaster, leave a gap of about 15-20mm between plaster and floor though.
There would be no need to skim this area as this would be hidden by skirting.