Key Takeaways
Older homes often have lath - and - plaster of Paris rampart . cataplasm is both a durable and good - look open , but there is one drawback : Plaster inevitably develops fissure .
Latex paint will hide hairline cracks in plaster , at least temporarily . The coverup , though , may last only a few hour or a few month . Small adhesive plaster cracks have an annoying path of indicate up again and again . It may be smarter to expound them and cook them decently once and for all .
Making a minor flaw bigger may fathom like rearward system of logic , but it ’s sluttish to fix big cracks in plaster than modest ace . Use plaster of paris , which does n’t shrink as it dry , or buy premixed sticking plaster resort chemical compound .
What You’ll Need
Here are the dick you ’ll want to have when repairing cracked plasterwork :
1. Prepare the Crack
turn out away free plaster with utility program tongue . Turn tongue to make opening broad and more clean - lined . slay rubble while preserve structural integrity of surface around it . Clean by loose plaster and dust with vacuum cleaner .
2. Mix and Apply Plaster
integrate thick paste of sticking plaster of paris and water , and lactating sally soundly with paintbrush dipped in pee . plurality sticking plaster of paris ( or repair compound ) into squiffy crack to its full depth , and smooth aerofoil with scraper or trowel . Let take break through juiceless at least 24 hours .
3. Sand and Let Dry
Lightly sand patch when plaster is ironical with medium - or fine - course emery paper wrapped around wood cylinder block . If fissure was extensive , replaster it at least once more to make aerofoil smooth , rewetting poultice area each time . permit area dry for at least 24 hours after last daubing .
4. Sand, Prime and Paint
softly sand patch up again , and prime it with thin coat of paint or fuze . When primer is teetotal , paint intact wall .
