REPAIRING LATH AND PLASTER WALLS TV
REPAIRING LATH AND PLASTER WALLS CRACK

If the plaster has really pulled away from the lath you feel a little gap between the plaster and lath.

REPAIRING LATH AND PLASTER WALLS CRACK

The first step is to drill 3/16″ holes into the plaster on each side of the crack about 3 inches apart (essentially trying to hit every lath piece as you ascend the wall.) As you drill you feel the bit go through the plaster and then hit the lath. The only way to really fix plaster cracks is to reattach the plaster to the lath. The crack is really a symptom of a larger problem – loose plaster. See the “keys”?Įventually those “keys” can break off in the wall and then there is nothing holding the plaster onto the lath.

When plaster is first applied it oozes in between the gaps of the lath and become anchors for the plaster. The cracks in the plaster are a result of the plaster pulling away from the lath. Now it was time to get serious and address the cracks. Just a couple quick swipes of joint compound with the putty knife. The first thing we did was to carefully inspect every inch of the wall and fill every tiny hole, scrape, gouge, or dent. It is obvious that cracks in the plaster have not recently (probably NEVER) been addressed in this house. We already experienced the joy of wallpaper removal, so now every crack is clearly visible. Bob Villa wouldn’t lead me astray, would he? This product isn’t going to take care of all our plaster needs, but it will hopefully help make sure that all of our repairs will last. Right? BUT, this stuff has been featured on This Old House at least twice and seems to be ligit.

REPAIRING LATH AND PLASTER WALLS TV

In my research of plaster repair I discovered a relatively new product that seemed easy to use and effective, even though the name of the brand does not instill much confidence – “Big Wally’s Plaster Magic.” Definitely sounds like something that would be advertised on late night TV for $19.99. In addition, it just feels sturdy and solid… more substantial. It is more fire resistant, it is a much better sound buffer than drywall, plaster is much stronger and more durable, and plaster walls just have a certain warmth and charm that you aren’t going to get from drywall. Sure, removing the plaster and starting over might make things easier for a rehab job, but you lose such an important part of the house. Don’t most people just gut an old house and start over? Yes, some people do, but ripping out the plaster is a big mistake (in my opinion). You might wonder why we even kept the plaster. It was only after researching every possible scenario I would encounter did I then feel like I could proceed. One of the things that makes plaster repair challenging for a novice is that each situation requires a different strategy. The plaster issues include cracks (lots of them!), missing plaster, crumbling plaster, small holes from insulation being blown into the exterior walls, and big holes from who knows what. Like most aspects of home rehab, it’s not horribly difficult. Plaster repair was one of the jobs that we didn’t know much about in the beginning and it seemed as if we might just hire someone to do it, but the more I researched the more I believed in our ability to do this.

Plus, those silly people at the bank would probably deem the house uninhabitable at the very sight of exposed lath.

Technically, I guess we could do his after we move in, but it’s a messy job and not something we really want to be doing with furniture in the house. One of the big remaining jobs we have left to tackle before moving into our rehab house is repairing the plaster.

Repairing lath and plaster walls