How To Fix Cracks In Plaster Walls Before Painting

Many older homes may still have some walls and ceilings made of plaster and lath instead of the now standard drywall or wallboard.

How to fix cracks in plaster walls before painting.

Treat minor cracks in plaster similar to a drywall crack with joint compound. Alternatively you can use repair mesh to cover imperfections in drywall. Use a putty knife to apply at least 3 coats of joint compound. It wants to come down in big thick pieces.

It can however require a bit more extra time and skill than patching a hole in drywall. Cut a piece of mesh tape the appropriate size to fit and place it over the patched area. Be sure to wear a mask when sanding to protect against dust inhalation. Keep reading to learn how.

Wait 10 minutes for the milk thin conditioner to soak into the plaster and wood. One or two squeezes should be enough. Fill the holes and large cracks in the plaster with plaster patching compound using a putty knife. The ceiling plaster is another problem.

Spray the edges of the crack too and clean up drips with a wet sponge. Start by cutting a v shaped notch about 1 4 to 1 8 inch 0 64 to 0 32 cm along the crack to help hold the compound in place. Repairing holes and cracks in lath and plaster usually involves packing the area with steel wool or newspaper before filling. However if the plaster is pulling away from the lath you first need to shore up the wall with a two step process.

Once the surface is completely dry smooth it out with fine grade sandpaper. The best way to fix the crack is to patch it with joint compound. One way to quickly fix cracked plaster walls involves basic drywall tools and materials that you can buy at any home improvement store. If you have holes or cracks in your plaster walls or ceilings repairing them isn t difficult.