Steps
- Use drywall compound and drywall paper tape to treat plaster cracks, doing the same thing you would do for drywall seams.
- Apply at least two coats of joint mud over each taped crack.
- Repair small plaster holes or dings with quick setting joint compound. For larger holes where there is no backing, supply it with wood strips screwed into place, then drywall screwed into place over that. Fill around the edges, tape, and top coat two or more times to level everything out.
- Apply skim coats of drywall joint compound over ugly textured plaster, to get a smooth surface for paint, wallpaper or new texture. Sand and prime before painting or papering.
- Doing new texture requires that you practice on scrap materials until you get something you can put on consistently over the whole surface.
Tips
- Keep joint compound in a covered container when not in use. Would be good to put a little water on top to prevent a crust from forming.
- Clean tools well after use. Joint mud is corrosive and will rust steel tools.
- When putting drywall into a plaster hole, do whatever you need to do to get the patch material level with the surrounding surface. That makes the taping and top coating a lot easier.
- Paper drywall tape is superior for most purposes to fiberglass mesh tape for crack reinforcement. Don't learn this from bitter experience.
Warnings
- The repair steps outlined above are descriptive and general. You may well require more detail. For full information, find the appropriate online sources to guide you.
Things You'll Need
- You will need the usual drywall finishing tools, like taping knives and broad knives and mud pans, sanding sponges, dust masks.
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