Too much suction robs the new plaster of moisture needed to mature properly, resulting in shrinkage and a weak surface. Cover the floor with a drop cloth, because lime plaster will stain.Ĭlean the wall thoroughly with soap and water, then roll on a plaster bonder, which not only bonds the fresh plaster to the old surface, but also controls how much moisture the substrate pulls from the fresh plaster. You’ll be trowelling a 1⁄16″- to 1⁄8″-thick layer of new plaster onto the wall, so set yourself up with a temporary bench with plenty of room for tools. Next, prepare the wall for the new plaster skim coat. For really damaged areas, apply screws about 4″ apart. Areas that have pulled away from the backer wall must be re-anchored with drywall screws set through 1″ square cardboard washers (these help keep the screws from going too deep you want to snug up to the plaster, not punch through it). Once you’re satisfied that there’s no active movement, it’s time to address major cracks. If the cracks have been there a long time, they’re often the result of slow settling and can be repaired without structural intervention. Inspect the supports in the basement and attic areas, looking for fissures in the foundation. Determine whether the settling is active by traversing a crack with tape and checking for signs of movement after several months. A horizontal crack can indicate lateral movement, a sign of structural problems that need addressing. Old houses usually settle slowly over the years, causing stress that results in those familiar diagonal fissures over door and window openings. Getting Started Repairing Plaster Wallsįirst, inspect the walls for any obvious issues that could have caused the cracks, like sagging beams or spreading walls. Woodwork reveals are preserved, trim work isn’t disturbed, and it’s even possible to add your own color to the new plaster and combine repairs and finishing into one operation. A much less damaging, cost-effective approach is to re-anchor the plaster with special screws and apply a nylon mesh fabric embedded in a thin coat of new plaster. Many people paint or paper over such cracks to make them disappear, but these half-measures don’t eliminate the fissures, which will eventually reappear.Ĭontractors tend to suggest various radical approaches as a solution-even completely removing the plaster and lathe, and replacing it with gypsum drywall. California’s Bidwell Mansion is clad in tinted plaster, a finished appearance that can be combined with repairs.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |