Repair Cracked Plaster
If you own an older home, you may have to repair cracked plaster in your walls. To repair these cracks you have to first tape over the cracks with paper or mesh tape. Just filling the cracks will not work because as the wood in your walls shrinks and grows with humidity and temperature changes, so does the plaster shift and crack.
If you merely fill the cracks, the joint compound will just crack right along with the plaster as the plaster shifts. If you place tape over the crack, it will usually hold the crack and keep the plaster from cracking again at the same spot.
Cracks are easy to repair. You will need a drywall taping knife or a broad knife, and a drywall mud pan to hold the plaster while you are working. First, remove all loose plaster. Then mix your joint compound as directed on the package. Be sure there are no lumps in the mixture.
Cut pieces of paper or fiberglass tape that are long enough to cover the cracks. If the cracks are curved, use more than one piece of tape to cover the width of the crack. Apply
How to Look After a TerrariumTerrariums, or Bottle-Gardens, are an amazing, relatively low maintenance, living decoration - a miniature world. Terrariums need the essential requirements of soil and water for the survival of plants that are housed in it, but with occasional care and maintenance. Apart from these essential requirements, the bottle garden has a reservoir of water which keeps readily available moisture to the pla ...
a layer of joint compound over the crack (about 1/8” thick).
Press the tape over the web compound and drag your knife across the tape. Remove any excess compound that leaks out along the sides of the tape. After the compound has dried, you can apply a second coat to hide the original layer and the tape.
When this second coat has hardened, you can apply the third coat. Before you do this, be sure you scrape off any humps or spots that are not level. If you need to wet the excess compound a little to soften it so you can remove it, do so.
If you must make a repair in an area where there is no base behind the plaster, you will have to create a base to which the plaster will stick.
Cut a piece of wood and tie a length of string to the wood around its middle. Use construction adhesive to the face of the wood piece and gently insert the piece through the hole.
Then pull on the string to pull the wood toward you until it adheres to the back side of the wall. When the glue is dry, the plaster repair can be completed.
Here are some more home improvement articles...
