Ready to hire?
Post your job in minutes, browse real reviews and choose who to speak to.Post a jobNeed some tips or advice?
Ask a questionHandyman
Crack in plaster/ wall?
Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 2.31 PM
I have only recently moved into this house and the back part of the house is a 10 yr old extention basically i have a crack in my 1floor wall it goes from the bottom right of the window all the way to the skirting board it appears to me that the previous owner has already filled the crack b4 and it has reapeared I just wondered if anyone has any idea why this could happen or what step I should take next really any advice would b appreciated. The crack runs diagonally and is only hairline but has now got a "lip" to touch it looks much worse by the window seal and sort of fades ont towards the skirting.
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
3 Answers
Anonymous user
How wide is the crack? Does it run diagonally, or vertical?
Answered13 September 2011
1
Anonymous user
I won't go that far, but it's true that plaster walls can be difficult to repair--especially if they are too far gone. Like rust on a car, you need to strike at the first sign of problems. You'll want to preserve whatever is there and fix it, rather than tearing it out. The moment you start tearing out chunks of plaster, it's a never-ending process. One chunk leads to another, and before you know it, your backyard is full of plaster and you're shopping for drywall.
1.Using a putty knife or a utilty knife, score the hairline crack to open its edges. This may seem counter-intuitive, but you need to increase the area for the repair compound to stick to. Brush off any loose crumbs.
2.With a wide taping knife (of the type used for drywall), smooth a thin layer of joint compound over the cracked section.
3.Press paper tape or fiberglass tape into the wet area, along the length of the crack. This is ordinary drywall tape. You don't need to purchase any special plaster repair tape.
4.Let dry. Feather joint compound over taped area so that the compound extends two or three inches past the taped area.
5.Let the joint compound dry. Lightly sand it down with fine sandpaper to get rid of any bumps or ridges. Don't sand so hard that you dig into the tape.
6.Feather a second layer of joint compound, this time extending the edges even farther to about six to eight inches. Let dry. Sand.
7.Finally, your third coat of joint compound takes the edges out to twelve inches. Since this is your last chance to get the sanding right, be careful to make it smooth.
Answered13 September 2011
0
Anonymous user
Hello.
The crack is most likely caused by sinking foundation. The depth of your foundation might not be sufficient for the type of soil it is built on. Underpinning is often a good solution. However it is hard to tell provisionally as it must be seen first.
Regards,
Pavel
Answered13 September 2011
0