Repairing Corner Cracks In Plaster Walls

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.

Repairing corner cracks in plaster walls. Ripping out chunks of plaster often becomes a seemingly endless process with one chunk leading to another chunk. You do not have to tape and finish the corners. It forms an elastic film that stretches and contracts along with the crack. Plaster walls in older homes are often plagued by cracks and other defects such as pitting and uneven texture.

The corner of a scraper or filling knife is ideal for removing any loose plaster and for opening up and deepening the crack. There are really only two solutions for unpainted textured walls that crack up the corner. Some like a small hairline crack usually aren t a big deal. To solve this problem apply self adhesive fiberglass mesh drywall tape over the crack for reinforcement.

It works best on hairline cracks but it s worth a try on wider cracks too. Small cracks in plaster should first be widened so that filler can be pushed right in and has something to key on to. For those pesky recurring cracks we prescribe good bye cracks. Plaster applied to wood lath is held in place by the keys that form when it squishes through the lath.

An overview photo by david carmack. The key to any fix is to reunite the plaster with the strips of wood lath underneath. Here tom silva shows how to repair plaster walls to make them look as good as new. If cracks are simply filled with spackling or joint compound they have a tendency to telegraph back through.

Expert advice and detailed instructions on repairing the most common plaster wall and ceiling problems including cracks holes and sagging. A quick and easy way to fix cracks in plaster wall corners. You can try to find a matching caulk that will cover the cracks as well as possible or. Some cracks keep coming back no matter how well you repair them.

Otherwise the cracks come back no matter how many times you patch over them. Plaster walls by contrast are constructed of two layers. With plaster your best bet is to preserve the existing plaster and to fix it rather than tearing it out. There are a couple of reasons why cracks can form in plaster walls.

He asks us in an e mail. Try to undercut the crack with the corner of the scraper to give a better key for the.