How to Cover Cracked Plaster Walls?

Plaster walls getting cracked is one of the biggest problems homeowners face as their homes get older. Cracked plaster walls are always an eyesore, so you would not want them all over your house.

Many people ask about what is best way to cover cracked plaster walls?

You should note that making repairs to cracked plaster walls, especially for bigger cracks, can be a difficult task that takes time. Here we will cover a step-by-step journey towards covering your cracked plaster walls. 

Why are My Plaster Walls Cracked?

Cracks are a regular occurrence on plaster walls as they form over time. Cracks may plague plaster walls for several reasons.

While it may be due to climate, the quality of construction may also be a cause. Here are a few reasons why you find cracks on your plaster walls:

1. Unfriendly weather conditions are significant factors responsible for the cracking of plaster walls. Some building materials shrink in summer but expand in winter, causing the entire wall to move and warp.
   This occurrence causes cracks in plaster walls which would subsequently need to be repaired.
2. Vibrations are another principal cause of cracks on plaster walls. Multiple sources of vibrations such as earthquakes, nearby construction work, heavy-duty equipment, doors or windows slamming incite cracks on plaster walls.
3. Thinner cracks occur on plaster walls when the top coat of the plaster degrades. These are identified as spider-web cracks because of their delicate nature.
4. Movement in the foundations of a house can also cause cracks. Wet and dry weather can cause the ground to move effecting the foundation of your house. If the movement is significant cracks in plaster walls can represent a more serious issue related to the foundation and structure of your home. If they are hairline cracks it’s usually not a cause for concern.

How can I Repair a small crack in a Plaster Wall?

Making perfect repairs on your cracked plaster walls could require some heavy physical work, especially when you do the work yourself.

Sometimes a person will the mistake of attempting to remove large pieces of plaster to make replacements. Unfortunately, this singular action sets off the damaging of the whole plaster wall, which breaks off little by little as preceding pieces are removed.

In order to avoid this occurrence you’ll need to evaluate the size of the crack and to what extent you want to repair it.

Materials you Will Need to Fix a Cracked Plaster Wall

There are specific tools and materials you will need to obtain before you commence the activity of fixing your cracked plaster walls.

The tools required include: 

1. A utility knife.
2. A short vacuum.
3. A pair of scissors.
4. 6-inch drywall knife.

The materials needed include:

1. 150-grit sanding sponge.
2. Drywall joint compound.
3. A paper drywall tape.

Steps for Repairing a Cracked Plaster Wall

Here is a series of steps that can yield excellent results when followed to correct small cracks on plaster walls.

1. The first thing to do is to test the crack. You’re doing this step to get a deeper insight into the level to which the crack has affected the plaster wall. It would help if you used the utility knife to cut around the edges of the crack at this point. You should open out the crack area a little bit and remove the loose material.
2. The new plaster compound will need an area to stick to, which you’re doing to create space for the subsequent repairs. It would help if you understood that it is not necessary to scrap the cracks vigorously. Although it is essential to remove the loose material with care.
3. Go ahead and spread the joint compound after thorough mixing. Using a 6-inch drywall knife, fetch a small portion of the joint compound and spread it over the crack. Do well to note that you should spread the joint compound wider than the size of the paper drywall tape. The joint compound dries up rapidly, you shouldn’t waste time before you move to the next step.
4. Apply drywall tape to the crack and smooth the tape with the 6-inch drywall knife. You should ensure that you perfectly smooth the tape so that no irregularities form on the plaster wall surface. Note: If the crack is not very large the tape may not be necessary.
5. Add another layer of joint compound over the taped area and smooth using the 6-inch drywall knife. In addition, you should apply the joint compound so that it blends with the surrounding plaster and is allowed to dry.
6. Once dry, lightly sand the compound with a 150-grit sanding sponge or paper to irregular ridges present on the patched plaster wall. However, do not sand too hard, or the tape gets damaged.
7. Place more drywall joint compound on the wall, feathering out the area to cover a greater space on the wall. Let it dry and sand, doing this again two more times so that the plaster is covering a wide area. This is necessary to prevent a lump/line showing where the new plaster is, instead feathering out join.
8. Finally, clean the repaired area and surrounding area with a vacuum and wipe with a dry cloth.
9. It’s now ready for painting!