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I am about to begin work on my home. The plastered walls are cracked. What can I do to cover these cracks and prevent them from returning once they’ve been convered w/ a new coat of plaster? Someone mentioned a product called flexpatch? Is this stuff basically plaster?
thanks,
Jose
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The stuff I use to fix cracked plaster is called pro-cote or any similar, flexible patching compound. The important thing is to use the pro-cote fiberglass tape because it is much thinner than traditional fiberglass tape for taping drywall. I also use their rubber trowel which is kind of like a squeege. Another quick fix I have come up with for a small area with spider web cracks is to mop on a very heavy coat of primer and then press a piece of paper over it, grocery bags or anything similar works well..DO NOT paint more primer over the top until the first coat dries because it makes the paper wrinkle. Wait until the first coat dries, then put on a second coat, then skim coat with joint compound. This method seems to have more flexibility and strength than using joint compound. I've also used this method in a pinch on long running cracks with paper drywall tape, but keep in mind that this method doesn't have the flexibility of the pro-cote method. Traditional paper with joint compound will only work if there is no movement at all in the cracked surface. If you are really going to re-plaster, the plaster will cut out the crack, slap on some mesh and go over the whole thing so you wouldn't really use any of the above methods. Hope this helps. Good Luck. Matt
*Matt:is pro-cote similar to Highland Plaster or to Quick Patch?If not, would my local home depot carry "flexible patching compound" or will I have to locate some of this stuff at a contractor's supply center?The walls/ceilings that I will be fixing are in my Craftsman Style home and are currently covered (EVEN ON THE WALLS IN SOME ROOMS) with acoustic/pop-corn texture. I'll prep everything and bring in the water hose, wet the surfaces and scrape the acoustic off w/ a 12" blade 'till I've got the stuff off. I figure this is the best way to save effort (except for the prep work of course) and my lungs. The acoustic must have been sprayed on some time ago to cover the cracks on the plastered surfaces--still the cracks are visible. I'm hoping this doesn't turn in to a greater chore: I'm afraid to discover that I'd have to knock the plaster off entirely and start from scratch. In this case do you (or anyone else out there) have any suggestions.I grew up doing drywall/taping alongside my father (I'm sure we can swap some stories here w/ those of you who were "apprenticed" by your "old man")but haven't really done plaster work on my own. What are your thoughts?Jose
*Jose,You could either overlay the existing walls with 3/8 drywall or you can paper them too. Both ideas are if you have excessive cracks.The paper I am refering to is just a smooth wall paper for just this situation. if done properly, you will not even be able to tell that it is papered. I believe I recently saw some of this product at Sherwin Williams.Pete Draganic
*Pete:thanks. This site has proven to be quite a treasure! I just got back from Home Depot and they do indeed have some "flexible plaster compound" which can be brushed on or placed on w/ a 6" tapers blade.I will call Sherwin Williams, Sinclair/Dulux to find out about the paper application you suggest.Jose
*Jose - Click on this related archive discussion.
*Jose,Pete's idea is really good. I think what he is refering to is commonly called liner paper,but he may have another system in mind. If is is liner paper it's really just wall paper. Put it up, knock on a coat of oil based primer then top coat.Home Depot does carry felxible patch, but you have to find someone who actually knows what they are talking about to show you where it is. Often hard to do...See what you get when you peel off the acoustic and let us know how you're progressing. Good luck. Matt
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I am about to begin work on my home. The plastered walls are cracked. What can I do to cover these cracks and prevent them from returning once they've been convered w/ a new coat of plaster? Someone mentioned a product called flexpatch? Is this stuff basically plaster?
thanks,
Jose