What is the best way to repair plaster walls of a room?

Question

I just bought my dream home...only she's a 125 year old fixer upper and needs some work.

I need to repair all the walls, which are all old plaster and wood lathe. There are lots of cracks and crumbles on the walls and ceilings but over the fireplace, there are big sections of exposed lathe with no plaster at all from where water ran down the chimney and leaked inside. (I have already addressed the all the leaks and put new flashing around the chimney)

I plan to repair small cracks with plaster and larger peices will be fitted with drywall. The finish is going to be textured to help hide repairs. I think I've got that much down and I'm pretty sure I can tackle it, but my question still is prep work and where do I start? what should I do first?

I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks!

Answer 1

In a fireplace room, the first thing to do is sponge off the walls with a TSP mixture to get off the soot(smoke) from the fireplace. You can get that at a builders supply or paint store. Just ask for TSP.
Then, get the loose plaster off.
If you can take it off with your fingernails, it is gonna fall off.

Use 1/2" thick drywall board. for the large hole over the fireplace take the plaster off to the 2x4 studs as you have to screw the drywall onto the studs. Also if it is an outside wall, insulate before the drywall goes on. Then once you have the board on, if the plaster is still alot thicker, you can get thinner drywall board and glue it to the 1/2" board to bring the surfaces up to the same level. Use good construction adhesive.
Ask at the store to be sure.

As for the little cracks, take the edge of a putty knife or flat blade screwdriver and scratch inside that groove making it bigger. Then use drywall compound to fill the crack with a putty knife or 4"spackle knife(or larger). (you may have to do it twice(allowing for the mud to dry completely) as drywall compound will shrink as the water evaporates) Plaster does too, but drywall mud is easier to sand smooth than Plaster of Paris stuff. And under paint everything is the same.
If you spend time and block sand smooth (using a variety of papers from 80 to 120 grit), no texture is required. The walls will be perfect.

There can be no rush here, cause it won't rush. Once you put on mud in the morning one day, you got to wait overnight till you can sand it. Same could almost be said the same for reapplication without sanding (depending if it is visibly wet and thick) when in doubt give another day. Easiest way to check is start sanding. If the paper clogs up, then it is still too wet.

This whole process is equivalent to putting on makeup and guys know that it takes a long time.

Answer 2

Buy the plaster get a steal stirring attachment for a drill and keep a thick consistency of the plaster fill the hole little by little the first day put a layer the next day put more until the hole is filled.to finish fan it out to be smooth.You don't want to fill the whole thing the first day.because it will crack and hang down from the weight of the mud.Practice on the smaller hole first.It is the same process for the big holes.If you fan it out good enough you wont have to texture.Make sure to remove all the water damaged areas because they will crack if it came off of the lathe.

Answer 3

Hello Wendy. I have tiled and fitted hundreds of showers and the fact is that tiles in a shower are a no go. As you say the water gets through the grout and makes the tiles loose and the wall behind wet. Also mould is a big problem. I got fed up with this, took all the tiles off and fitted a plastic marble effect sheet. Simple, cheaper than tiles, no more problems. BB. You will find the sheets on the internet.

Answer 4

To repair the entire wall, you can use a gouging tool or drill to make gouge lines or holes in the wall so that the joint compound can adhere to - See more at: http://www.miconstruguia.com/en/how-to-repair-plaster-walls/

Answer 5

mix up some bonding plaster and use this with a hawk and float these can be bought at most diy stores make the bonding up fairly thick try this with small amounts until you get the right texture apply small amount of water to wall using paint brush then apply layers of bonding to wall allow to dry for about one hour then apply small amount of water to bonding and build up layers until almost flush with surface of wall leave about 1mm and then apply finish plaster and smooth over with water apply small amounts of water and smooth again after about 20 Min's.

Answer 6

I think the best way to do this is to hire a company that offers construction repair services. They are able to complete this work in the most proper manner. Such a company is Dryfast.