There are a couple of reasons why cracks can form in plaster walls.
Fix cracks in plaster walls.
Some like a small hairline crack usually aren t a big deal.
In the case of larger cracks with plaster falling out remove the damaged plaster to reveal the binding course.
How to fix cracked walls permanently.
The process is different for plaster than for drywall.
How to fix those cracking crumbling plaster walls there are two kinds of cracks in old lath and plaster walls.
Use a five way tool or other scraping device image 1.
Rake out thin cracks and fill with a good filler.
Otherwise the cracks come back no matter how many times you patch over them.
To repair small cracks in plaster you ll need patching compound medium and fine grit sandpaper a sanding block a putty knife a masonry chisel a paintbrush a rag and a screwdriver.
Understanding how plaster walls are constructed will help you fix your cracked plaster wall.
Here tom silva shows how to repair plaster walls to make them look as good as new.
For finishing you ll need primer and paint.
An overview photo by david carmack.
He asks us in an e mail.
Both can be repaired but one is a much more serious problem.
Some cracks and bulges in plaster may be superficial or localised.
If you have ever repaired drywall you may know that it is often easier to replace entire portions with new pieces of drywall it s possible to remove just the section that needs fixing and a few.
No matter what the cause you can repair the plaster cracks by using drywall tape and joint compound.
The key to any fix is to reunite the plaster with the strips of wood lath underneath.
However if the plaster separates from the lath or the structure of the wall it s called blown plaster and it requires a more extensive repair.
Generally caused by the natural settling of a house over time you can repair.
The first step in repairing cracks is cleaning them out.
Investigate bulges or anything larger than a hairline crack.
Whether found in drywall plaster or concrete a crack in a wall is an eyesore.
Knock old plaster through keys in the lath to establish a better binding course for the new plaster to adhere to image 2.
Repairing cracks and bulges in plaster.
Repairing small cracks in plaster is easy compared to plastering a whole room.
