Old House Authority Ask the Authority A crack opener is used to scrape out the loose plaster at the center of a crack and flare out the edges. Q The plaster in my house is riddled with cracks. Dungeon Siege 1 Patch Ita Software. Is it worth the trouble to repair it, or would it be wiser to go ahead and replace it A Removing plaster and lath is a straightforward process, but its unbelievably messy. Depending on where you live, disposing of the debris can also be extremely costly. And if youre an old house lover, you need to be aware that the drywall you install as a replacement will never match the solid, if imperfect, character of old plaster. So, if its just cracks youre seeing, rather than large chunks of crumbling plaster, Id recommend patching them. Plaster washers and screws reattach loose plaster to framing. To fashion a strong bond between the old plaster and the patching compound, its important to widen the crack and flare out the edges photo. Plaster is brutal on sharp tools, so I use two different cutting implements for this process. First I use a standard utility knife, to separate the paint and the top layer of plaster. The blade dulls quickly, but a few passes across a pocket sized whetstone restores enough of an edge to keep working. After the initial incision, I reach for a small hand tool called a crack opener www. For small jobs, a bottle opener or a painters 5 in 1 are equally effective, but the crack opener is made from high carbon steel which holds a sharp edge much longer. All the following prices include setting up, buying the plaster, covering carpets etc, getting the materials and tools up to the room and cleaning up properly when. Plaster ceiling repair issues are oftentimes covered up by wellmeaning but misinformed homeowners or contractors. In this. A spade bit is used to countersink plaster washers. As long as the crack survives the scrape out without crumbling into chunks, it can be filled and taped much the same as if it were a drywall joint. Before breaking out the mud, however, its important to verify that the plaster is firmly attached to the lath the horizontal wooden strips which attach the plaster to the studs otherwise, future cracking is inevitable. I apply pressure with my hands at various locations along either side of the crack. If the wall feels the least bit spongy, Ill use plaster washers and screws to secure the lath and plaster tightly to the framing. Plaster washers www. After locating the centers of the framing members, I drill 33. Setting compound Durabond 9. Although plaster washers are designed to flatten as the screw is driven home, they nevertheless, remain slightly proud of the wall surface. For most situations, you can achieve a nearly invisible patch by feathering out the repair a few inches wider than you would for a drywall seam. If the repair is in a highly visible location, I prefer to start with a flush surface, so Ill countersink the washers using a. This procedure takes a bit of practice, however, because you need to bore through the paint layers but stop the bit as soon as it carves a circle in the finish coat of plaster if you drill into the brown coat, the plaster wont be strong enough to withstand the pressure from the washer, and youll have to start another hole. After wiping away the excess joint compound, the crack is covered with fiberglass mesh tape, which is soon covered with a second layer of compound. When all of the washers have been fastened, I vacuum the crack to remove any debris, then lightly mist the surface with water to prevent the dry plaster and lath from drawing moisture out of the patching compound before its had time to cure. I use a setting type joint compound like Durabond 9. I can apply in about an hour. After packing the joint with compound, I cover the seam with fiberglass mesh tape, and follow up with a second layer of compound. New York importer, distributor and fabricator of natural stone products and ceramic tiles. The advantage of using Durabond over a traditional plaster is that it sets up as hard as plaster but dries quickly, so if Im in a hurry I can apply a second coat the same day. Durabond is almost unsandable, though, so I make sure to wipe the edges and overlaps clean. I use all purpose, ready mix joint compound for the succeeding coats, and I apply these exactly the same as if I were finishing drywall. Tom OBrien is a veteran restoration carpenter who writes frequently about construction practices and old houses. How to Fix Cracks in Plaster Walls. Many people believe that plaster wall repair is an oxymoron. They feel that plaster walls cannot be repaired. It is true that plaster walls can be difficult to repair especially if they are too far gone. Like rust on a car, you need to strike at the first sign of problems. Fortunately, you do not need a special plaster repair kit. All you need are simple drywall tools that you can easily and cheaply obtain at a home improvement store. Why Plaster Is Harder to Fix. With drywall, it is often more expedient to rip out entire sections and replace with large sheets. As difficult a material as it is, drywall does offer some advantages over plaster when it comes to repairs. It is possible to remove only the section that needs fixing plus a few inches beyond, without the entire wall collapsing. The other advantage is that drywall has no backing. Once you cut through drywall, there is nothing behind it except for studs and insulation. It all removes in one layer. By contrast, plaster walls are made of two layers  the outer plaster and the inner wooden lath. With plaster, your best bet is to preserve whatever is there and fix it, rather than tearing it out. The moment you start tearing out chunks of plaster, it becomes a never ending process. One chunk leads to another, and before you know it, you are hauling plaster and lath to your backyard for disposal. The Process. 1.  Score the Crack. Using a putty knife, a 5 in 1 tool, or a dull utility knife, score the hairline crack to open its edges. This may seem counter intuitive, but you need to increase the area for the repair compound to stick to. Brush off any loose crumbs. Spread Joint Compound. With a wide taping knife of the type used for drywall, smooth a thin layer of joint compound over the cracked section. Taping. Press paper tape or fiberglass tape into the wet area, along the length of the crack. This is ordinary drywall tape. You do not need to purchase any special plaster repair tape. Curing, Feathering. Let fully dry. Feather joint compound over taped area so that the compound extends two or three inches past the taped area. Second Curing. Let the joint compound dry. Lightly sand it down with fine sandpaper to get rid of any bumps or ridges. Do not sand so hard that you dig into the tape. Second Feathering. Feather a second layer of joint compound, this time extending the edges even farther to about six to eight inches. Let dry. Sand. 7. Finish Coat. Finally, your third coat of joint compound takes the edges out to twelve inches. Since this is your last chance to get the sanding right, be careful to make it smooth.