Plaster Wall Crack Repair . Also, there are a few places- -about two feet square- -where the plaster feels loose. Any suggestions on how to repair these problems? Now as I stare at the cracks in the walls and ceiling in my home office (if you've never lived with one, writers will do nearly anything to avoid writing!) I realize I've got more work to do. I'll deal with your question in two parts. I did a demonstration of historic lime horse hair plaster at my church using a 4. After three coats of lime plaster, scratch, brown, and finish, the 4 Today let's tackle those cracks. First, you should know that plaster cracks are a normal occurrence, and you'll probably have to patch a few of them each time you repaint your walls and ceilings. The cracks occur because plaster is fairly brittle while buildings- -despite their seeming permanence- -tend to move around quite a bit. Chances are that some of the cracks in your walls run out at odd angles from the corners of windows and doors. These are caused by the fact that your house (like most if not all houses) has settled over the years. Other wall and ceiling cracks probably run in more- or- less straight lines- -almost as if someone had planned them that way. These cracks are usually caused by seasonal changes in humidity, which creates stress points in the plaster as the framing lumber in your walls expands or contracts as it takes on (or gives up) moisture from the air. ![]() Given that cracks will reappear sometime down the road, your goal with this job is to delay that day for as long as possible. To do so, you'll first need to tape the cracks before repairing them. Otherwise they'll reappear within a few months, or sometimes even a few days. To complete this job, you'll need four- inch, six- inch and 1. You'll also need a drywall pan or a plaster's hawk to hold the . Then tape the cracks using self- adhering fiberglass mesh tape, which you can find at any hardware store or lumberyard. Next, apply three or four layers of joint compound (using a wider knife each time) to cover the tape and disguise the repair. Finally, sand out any imperfections and uneven spots so that your repairs blend invisibly into the existing plaster. Why use self- adhering tape? ![]() Because it's easier to apply and more flexible and long- lasting than paper tape, which needs to embedded in a layer of joint compound to stick. Which type of joint compound should you use? This question is from Wet and Set Patented Wall and Ceiling Patch (Roll). I've successfully used everything ranging from dry powders to the goo that comes in standard, ready- mix 5- gallon containers. The advantage of ready mix compounds is that they're easy, cheap and don't have to be mixed. The advantage of the powdered joint compounds that you must mix with water is that they dry more quickly, form a harder finish, and bond better to the old plaster. But these days, I use neither. Instead I use the newer . Unlike their predecessors, these new- generation compounds don't shrink as they dry. And while they don't form as hard of an outer layer as dry powders, they do offer another distinct selling point: once you've applied three layers of compound over your tape you can. ![]()
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