reparing cracks in plaster

[stl]

I am tired of looking at these cracks. What is the best way to repair them? I am thinking of raking them out with a knife, but what is the best material to fill them with? joint compound, spakle? Do you use the mesh style drywall tape? Any ideas will be appreciated. Thanks

 

[rwise]

Re: reparing cracks in plaster

spakle and tape is what I use, but what caused the cracks? is there problems below? or just the house has setled a but through the years?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: reparing cracks in plaster

How big are the cracks? Hairline or bigger?

 

[stl]

Re: reparing cracks in plaster

The house is 96 years old, so it has settled a bit over time. Most of the cracks are hairline, but there are a few that are a bit bigger.

 

[aspeck]

Re: reparing cracks in plaster

I never liked the mess tape - plain paper tape always - easier to deal with. tape and spackle, then run the spackle out far enough to blend in. Might have to put a good bit of spackle down to cover the ridge you will be making. Don't be afraid to feather it out for a distance ...

I like to sponge finish because of the dust on a remodel.

 

[rwise]

Re: reparing cracks in plaster

IF the foundation has settled, you may want to give that some attention, the house may need a pick me up here and there and would close up some of the cracks.

 

[BF]

Re: reparing cracks in plaster

I've had best luck by gouging out the crack with a utility knife (don't be shy about it), and then filling it with what I think is a urethane based patching compound (?)... I think it was called dura patch or something along those lines (?) In a black metal tin the same size as a tin of Johnson wax... I bought it at Home Depot in the spackling section. It goes on with a putty knife like spackle, but it's WAY harder. Like all of that stuff, it says it doesn't shrink, but it does. So it takes 2 applications to get it filled. I don't use tape.

On my 60 y.o. house, cracks that I filled with joint compound or regular latex based spackle show up again within 6 months or a year... the ones filled with this other stuff have stayed away more than two years (and counting).

I also use this stuff to fill in the joint when I need to shim out door frames the 3/4" so that the thickness of the door and frame kits match my walls. It's strong enough not to crack there either.