Plaster walls are a wonderful addition to any home and they come with several benefits. While the initial installation of a plaster wall does require the experienced hand of a contractor, repairs and maintenance can be performed easily at home by the homeowner. If major repairs are needed, such as repairing a large hole or a leak, it’s best to consult a contractor, but minor cracks can be repaired easily enough.
We’re going to guide you through how to repair cracks to the plaster on your walls. If you have any issues or are unsure of how to handle this, contact us and we’ll help you get your walls fixed in no time.
Assessing the Damage
A key part of any repair is seeing if the damage is deeper than it appears. Sometimes cracks are indicative of a larger problem, so it’s best to make sure there are no other issues before moving forward with repairs. Look around the crack to check for water damage, sagging, or other issues. Cracks are typically a result of settling, but it’s best to make sure there are no significant threats to the integrity of the wall.
Once you’ve assessed the damage, either consult a contractor or begin to acquire materials for a repair. You will need the following: water, plaster compound, bucket, trowel, float, sandpaper, and joint tape.
Prepping the Crack
Before repairs begin you need to prepare the crack. Depending on the location and size of the crack you may need to widen it slightly to ensure the plaster compound has enough surface area to bond to. Make sure there’s no debris inside the crack and check that the crack doesn’t extend further than initially expected. Scrape out any loose plaster and move on to mixing your plaster.
Mixing the Plaster
Mixing the plaster compound is a crucial step as the plaster will immediately begin an irreversible chemical reaction once exposed to water. So before you begin to mix the plaster make sure everything else is set up and ready to go. Prepare your crack and have your tools on standby before you begin mixing.
To mix the plaster compound, follow the instructions on the packaging. Make sure to mix thoroughly, as this will be impossible to remove once applied to the wall. Don’t mix too much, since you’re only repairing a crack and not covering an entire wall. Once the plaster is mixed and ready to apply, you’re going to need to move quickly.
Repairing the Crack
Once the plaster is mixed apply it to the wall with the trowel. Make sure it gets into the crack and is smoothed out. Apply your joint tape over the wet plaster and covering the crack. Apply another thin layer of plaster over the tape and smooth everything out. Use the float to make sure there are no uneven spots.
Let this plaster dry then sand it smooth. Apply another layer of plaster and feather it out from the tape and the crack. Let this dry and sand it smooth. Continue the process until the tape is no longer visible, but make sure that you don’t apply the layers too thick and keep smoothing and sanding.
Once this process is complete, your crack is repaired! The joint tape will help with hiding the crack and holding it together in the future, but if the crack is a result of settling there might be issues in the future. You can paint the wall and the process is officially done.
If you’re struggling with repairing a crack or simply can’t figure out how to do it properly, please contact Twin City Blueboard and Plastering. We can repair the crack and help you figure out if there is anything you can do to prevent more occurring in the future.