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Hi, I’m having trouble fixing cracks in the ceilings and walls. The ceiling cracks are quite strange to me — they begin at the seam between the ceiling and the wall, then go for about 2 feet away from the wall and then make a turn towards the other wall [creating a L shaped hairline crack]. Is this alarming – or normal.
Also, I’m finding large branched-hairline cracks over some doorways that re-appear. I’ve tried patching [no tape, just compound]. I was thinking of trying the tape and compound next.
Any suggestions on materials and techniques would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Kelly
Replies
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Check the archives. Lots of discussions on this. Pick up a home repair manual. Lots of material on this.
Joint Compound alone won't fix cracks, and will only hide them for a few months at best. I take a utility knife and widen the crack. I also score the top of the plaster around the crack, so it will accept tape or mud better. Apply thin coat of mud, apply tape (I like paper tape) and more mud. Finish as ususal.
There are also some wall fabrics that will fix these rooms permanently, which I have used. One applies a bonding agent, then fiberglass mats, then a top coat. Check in Old House Journal towards the back of the magazine.
*b WBA At Your ServiceGo get yourself a carbide hand scraper with a 2 1/2" blade so that you can scrape off the white coat (the top layer of plaster) as mentioned above. The scraper will cost about $18 and is well worth it. Sandvik sells a popular model. Tape the crack as mentioned above. We have had the best luck using setting type joint compound such as USG EZ Sand or Durabond. It is a dry mix that you must mix with water. It comes in a variety of setting times. You only mix as much as you need at a time. Be sure to scrape at least an 1/8" deep. Don't forget the dust masks.
*Thank you for the tips. One more question, I forgot to ask - the ceiling in one room has a few dimples where the nails are popping through from the joists and you can see the outline of the joist across the ceiling. Is there any concern with this? This is not the same room where the crazy ceiling cracks are.Thanks again.
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Hi, I'm having trouble fixing cracks in the ceilings and walls. The ceiling cracks are quite strange to me -- they begin at the seam between the ceiling and the wall, then go for about 2 feet away from the wall and then make a turn towards the other wall [creating a L shaped hairline crack]. Is this alarming - or normal.
Also, I'm finding large branched-hairline cracks over some doorways that re-appear. I've tried patching [no tape, just compound]. I was thinking of trying the tape and compound next.
Any suggestions on materials and techniques would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Kelly