Is Plaster Hard To Repair?

Most older homes here in Australia continue to have at least one coat of plaster on their walls and ceilings, strikingly standing out against modern-day drywall and wallboard. These homes often have walls with holes and cracks in the old plaster, which the owners should repair immediately. 

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Repairing plaster on walls and ceiling walls is not always that difficult, but you should always call the experts for a well-done job. So if you are wondering – is plaster hard to repair, you will find all the answers here.

How To Repair Plaster Walls?

If you want to repair cracks on your existing plaster walls, you need to know what to do and how to get it done. There are two ways to repair plaster walls. First, you need to know the best plaster for your home or office, and then, we need to find out the best way for you to fix cracks in plaster walls.

The Best Plaster For You

Repairing plaster walls can be tricky if you don’t know the right plaster to buy to repair a damaged plaster wall. Different types of plaster have varying plastering costs, appearance, and durability.

Plasterboard

Commonly known as drywall or Gypock, it is the most preferred by builders simply because it is easy to install, moisture and fire-resistant, and has sound insulation. They make an excellent lining for walls and partitions.

Wet Plaster

It provides more soundproofing and fire resistance than drywall mud. It is a mix of several elements such as lime, cement, and gypsum plaster, making for a smooth and durable wall surface. Every coat of plaster needs a skilled application and may take a while to dry completely.

Ornamental Plaster

Used for sculpting mouldings, cornices, and other features and can be directly applied on walls and ceilings.

Cement Plaster

It has a rough texture and comes in the colour grey. It is robust and durable and made of sand and cement but shrinks and cracks with time.

Gypsum Plaster

Gives smooth plaster walls ready for paint – Gypsum plaster walls are the simplest to install and repair plaster walls. It is also mould and mildew resistant.

How Can You Repair Plaster Walls?

If you need to reattach loose plaster, or the original plaster on your walls has cracks because of too much moisture, you need to call a plasterer or a plaster repair service provider.

Get your plaster walls easily repaired by calling the best services providers like patching plaster on your walls. Top Gun Plastering is one such plaster repair service provider that provides a host of plaster repair services.

Top Gun Plastering was born out of a growing need for interior plaster services across homes in Australia. They are known to provide stress-free interior plaster solutions at unbelievable plastering costs.

Steps To Repairing Plaster Walls

Plastering is more than just putting plaster compounds on the repair area. While there are DIY techniques to cover up a hairline crack or for patching plaster and others, it is always best to rely on professionals like Top Gun Plastering.

Simply because there are techniques and application methods for removing air pockets or applying the first coat of plaster or even the second coat of plaster that a non-professional might be aware of. The manufacturer’s instructions always mention the best use of plaster. However, to reduce the chance of lousy work, call Top Gun Plastering.

However, even if you are relying on a plasterer to fix the loose plaster in your old house, you should be aware of the different steps to repair plaster walls:

Prepare The Repair Area

Say you are starting with repairing your bedroom walls. The first step is to prepare the room by covering the floor with a painter’s drop cloth and paper tape, and the taped area protects the floor from wet plaster or joint compound.

You should also seal the room with plastic sheets to prevent sand dust – like a dust mask – from fine-grit sandpaper used on plaster walls to sand lightly after the final layer has dried up, from flying and blocking vents. Preparing the room makes cleaning up easier.

Reattach Loose Plaster Compound

The plaster can get loose if it becomes too old and fall off. You can get the plaster reattached using drywall screws as the first step. If you directly apply multiple layers of plaster to the cracks, it will quickly become loose material.

Drill Holes Near Cracks On Plaster Walls

Drilling holes on two sides of the cracks prevents structural issues from arriving and for your plaster to stick well with the wall studs. Ensure a minimum distance of 3 inches between the holes for maximum effect.

Apply Adhesive Compounds Into The Plaster Holes

It would be best to vacuum the holes, apply conditioner and then inject the adhesive into the holes. You can remove the excess adhesive with a utility knife or a sponge.

Fill The Cracks

Mix the joint compound or patching plaster with water with the putty knife. Use the putty knife to fill the cracks with the plaster and cover with paper tape.

Sand The Plaster Down

Before applying paint over the solid plaster, it is essential to sand the plaster down. Use 120 to 150 fine-grit sandpaper to smooth the surface of the plaster. Once the surface is smooth and the cracks filled with patching plaster or joint compound, it is ready for paint.

Make Repairing Plaster Walls Easy

Whether a small batch or damaged plaster walls in your home, give Top Gun Plastering a call today. Make plaster repair very easy for yourself by relying on the best professionals in town for the job.

Top Gun Plastering has earned the reputation for offering the highest quality fixes to residential and commercial plaster repairs. So if you need help repairing the plaster in your house or have old plaster on your walls that need a fix, we are here for you. Click here to know more about how we can help you.