Interior features and finishes

Plasterboard walls (painted or wallpapered), softboard ceilings, and timber joinery were features of 1970s houses.

Interior wall finishes may be unsuitable for painting, and linings may have cracked or deteriorated.

Original details

Internal walls and ceilings

Plasterboard, softboard and hardboard were typical linings though other materials including TG&V timber were also used. Read more.
See floors for floor finishes.

Joinery

Houses of the 1970s had extensive timber joinery including built-in cupboards in the kitchen and hallways. Read more.

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Common problems and remedies

Problems with internal walls and ceilings

Problems may include walls that are unsuitable for paint finish, and linings that have cracked due to building movement. Read more.

Matching new mouldings to existing

Where skirtings and other mouldings need replacement, a match will need to be found with original profiles and dimensions. Read more.

Borer, rot and mould

Borer and mould may have affected joinery and internal linings. See borer, rot and mould for information on how to deal with these problems.