How to Fill Cracks in Plaster Wall :: Home Improvement DIY

The amount of preparation needed beyond priming and stabilizing, depends on the overall condition of the wall. If you are going to paint with emulsion, even hairline cracks must be filled, otherwise they will be visible after you have decorated. Use ordinary cellulose filler, sold ready-mixed or in powder form for mixing with water, for fine cracks. A broad-bladed filling knife or caulking blade will get the job done quickly. The alternative is to cover the entire wall with lining paper or a wallcovering that is specially manufactured to be painted over.

You can fill larger cracks and holes with cellulose filler, too. First, undercut the crack with the edge of a filling knife to widen the gap below the surface and so give the filler a good anchor. Use an old brush to clean away the dust, then dampen the crack or hole with water to lengthen the filler?s drying time; this reduces the likelihood of the filler shrinking. Apply the filler with a filling knife, dragging it across the crack first of all, then drawing it down the crack to smooth it off. If you can achieve a smooth finish with a filling knife, all well and good, if not, leave the filler slightly proud, then smooth it off when it is dry, using sandpaper.

For large holes, you can use a deep-crack filler, though plaster filler is more economical. Apply it with a trowel in layers no deeper than 12mm, allowing each layer to set before applying the next. Where movement is likely, such as around a door architrave or skirting boards, use a flexible filler or sealant supplied in a cartridge. This will keep the crack closed despite any movement. Cracks running along the top of a wall where it meets the ceiling are caused by normal house movement; they will continue to reopen if filled, so they are best concealed behind a coving.

Source: http://homeimprovementdiy.info/how-to-fill-cracks-in-plaster-wall/

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