DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Hello,

We have stripped the wallpaper out of our bedroom with the hope of being able to tidy up the plaster and then paint. It's all OK except for a column at the external corner and two rectangular patches in the middle of the external walls, which are covered with a very thin silvery foil held on with a sticky black substance. We haven't been able to get this off completely yet, but are also wondering whether it has any purpose we should know about?

Cheers,
Si

Sounds like it was a means of covering and preventing further spread of damp. The only other reason for foil is to reflect heat from behind a radiator. This may be completely off the wall, especially if your bedroom is on a first floor but take a look for signs of damage in the corresponding areas outside. Cracked render, badly pointed brick or stone, leaking gutters.