Big Wally's Plaster Magic repair kit uses a two-part adhesive to glue the lath and plaster back together, so a spackle is all it takes to make the repair disappear. Rory Brennan, a Vermont-based plaster restoration expert, developed this homeowner-friendly system after years of using drums of similar adhesives on large-scale plaster-repair. With a wide taping knife (of the type used for drywall), smooth a thin layer of joint compound over the cracked section. 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. It retains its flexibility as it dries, without shrinking. This allows the repair to move as the wall moves, leaving a seamless repair that will not reopen like other fillers or putties. KRACK KOTE can be used on drywall, plaster, stucco, wood, concrete, and cement block. It cleans up easily with soap and water. The kit contains. Drywall repair is a common DIY project around the home. It’s helpful to know how to patch drywall if you’re remodeling. This guide explains how to do so with just a few tools and materials.
Repairing small cracks in plaster is easy compared to plastering a whole room. To repair small cracks in plaster, you’ll need patching compound, medium- and fine-grit sandpaper, a sanding block, a putty knife, a masonry chisel, a paintbrush, a rag, and a screwdriver. For finishing, you’ll need primer and paint.
Remember:Plaster repair is much more difficult than fixing drywall. Unless the repair is small, don’t attempt any plasterwork unless you’re trained or experienced. It’s easier to replace a wall or ceiling panel with drywall.
1Use the chisel to widen and undercut the crack.
By making the back of the crack wider than the front surface (undercutting), you create an opening that the plaster can grip.
2Scrape out all loose plaster with the tip of the putty knife, and wipe away the dust with the rag.
You don’t want any loose particles ending up in the plaster patch.
3Thoroughly dampen the full length of the crack with a wet paintbrush.
Dampen inside the crack, as well. The damp surface will help the plaster adhere well.
4With the putty knife, apply a thin coat of plaster patching compound over the crack.
Be sure to feather the edges. Plaster patching compounds can vary, so follow the manufacturer’s directions for use.
5Let the patch dry completely (usually overnight), and smooth the patch with sandpaper wrapped around a sanding block.
Begin with medium-grit (80-grit) sandpaper to smooth out the bigger bumps. Then, switch to a fine (120-grit) sandpaper to get a fine, smooth finish.
6Paint the patch with primer.
Don’t skip this step or you’ll end up with a permanently goofy-looking, non-matching area.
7Apply touch up paint to the patch in your wall color.
This is why you saved that half a gallon of leftover wall paint.
A new product that reattaches plaster without leaving behind difficult-to-disguise bumps
Using a 3/8-inch masonry bit, drill through the plaster on both sides of the crack. Stop drilling when you hit the wood lath.
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Like death and taxes, there's a certain inevitability about the cracks that happen in plaster walls and ceilings. When a plaster wall or ceiling breaks loose from its wood lath, it has a simple way of letting you know: it cracks. That's why simply filling a crack with spackle joint compound is pointless; it just comes back. The only sure fix is to reunite plaster with its lath. For years, homeowners have done just that by screwing plaster washers into the lath and covering the cracks with mesh tape. But the washers and tape stick out from the wall and the process of covered them with layers of joint compound requires a fair amount of skill and patience.
Now there's a new product that reattaches plaster without leaving behind difficult-to-disguise bumps. Big Wally's Plaster Magic repair kit uses a two-part adhesive to glue the lath and plaster back together, so a spackle is all it takes to make the repair disappear. Rory Brennan, a Vermont-based plaster restoration expert, developed this homeowner-friendly system after years of using drums of similar adhesives on large-scale plaster-repair projects.
Drill holes on both sides of the cracks If you miss lath, mark the holes with a pencil so you know not to put any adhesive in it.
I used Big Wally's this winter on the cracked and bulging plaster in my hallway walls and ceiling. Following the directions on the package, I drilled a series of holes through the plaster, stopping when I hit the lath, then squirted the milky conditioner into the same holes. The old plaster sucked this stuff up like a sponge, and became rock hard once the conditioner dried. Next I caulk-gunned the thicker adhesive into the holes and clamped the lath to the back side of the plaster with drywall screws and big plastic washers. Neither glue has any odor to speak of, and both of them wash up with water. (As I learned, if you don't flush the conditioner out of the spray head, it gets completely gummed up.) After the glue set in a day or two, I backed out the screws, popped off the washers, and filled the holes. A quick skim coat finished the job to my satisfaction.
Here, 'Big Wally' himself, Rory Brennan, demonstrates technique for Ask This Old House. (Stay tuned to see Rory in action when Ask airs its sixth season on PBS in October.)
Spray the conditioner in all the holes.
Plaster Crack Repair Products Reviews And Ratings
So far, Big Wally's has lived up to its promise; my repairs remain solid and crack free. Just be warned that this job demands a lot of patience, an unwavering attention to detail, and a high tolerance for dust, drips, and the occasional drilling mistake. If that's not you, show your painter how Big Wally's works and let him fix your walls. (They have to be primed and painted anyway once the holes are filled.) Just be warned: once you start a repair, you'll begin to seeing more areas that need attention. Better to buy more than you think you need, than to run out of adhesive halfway through the job. (In my own particularly bad walls, one tube was sufficient for about 3 lineal feet of 8-foot wall.)
The same goes for the plastic washers. Big Wally's supplies 15 in its approx. $85 Painter's kit, but I needed many more. You can stock up with a 1,000-count container from Demandproducts for approx. $40; .