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How to repair cracks in a plaster wall. Cracks larger still, where the plaster keys are broken, require reattaching with plaster buttons. To repair a hairline crack, 'vee' out the crack with a. May 31, 2008 Filling fine cracks in internal walls/ceilings - have tried but they reappear! The walls have been skimmed by previous owner and are just settling cracks. Thanks to everone who answered - a lot of useful info there which I will follow.
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You look up at your wall and notice it: a crack in the plaster. Here's what's causing it.
The earth slowly but constantly changes shape. As your home settles to accommodate these changes, it asks your plaster surfaces to stretch.
The plaster says no. Plaster is very rigid, so it doesn't stretch, it cracks.
Hairline Ceiling Drywall Crack Repair
Weak spots in plaster
Advent 7074 drivers school. These cracks will occur at the natural weak points in the plaster: the studs and joists, doors and windows, and the space between floors in a stairwell.
The studs and joists are the only place the plaster is not allowed to make a key (curls of excess plaster on the other side of the wall). It oozes between the lath (narrow strips of wood, also called split boards) to form a key, but since the lath is nailed to the framing, there is no space behind the lath for a proper key. Combined with the fact that the framing is also the thing that moves as your home settles, this is where a crack will begin.
Once started, however, the crack may travel diagonally to accommodate the settling. Any opening in a solid wall is also a weak spot. This is why you will find cracks at the corners of almost every door and window in the house. Openings absorb the stresses of settling. The space between the floors of a house is another area where the lath is nailed to solid wood and where there's no key for the plaster. It's also an area that receives the stresses of settling.
The other weak spot is actually the strongest spot in the house. The chimney and fireplace are the solid rock, and everything settles around it. This is why you will always find cracks around the fireplace and chimney.
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Live in an older home? You might have to deal with plaster instead of drywall.
When the house settles
The more your home settles the more cracks you will have. Plaster cracks are generally cosmetic and will not cause future problems if not addressed.
But unkeyed plaster is a problem that just gets worse and damages more and more of the surrounding plaster until it has broken so many keys that the plaster just falls to the floor.
Fixing the cracks
A quick fix for cracks that are open and showing as a black line is to caulk them:
1. Use acrylic latex caulk and put a small bead of caulk along the crack.
2. Using your finger, rub the caulk into the crack with a motion that is perpendicular to the crack. This will force the caulk into the crack.
3. Wipe off all the excess with a sponge so that the only caulk left is in the crack. It will feel like you've done nothing, but this will allow the paint to cover the crack and eliminate the black line.
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Dear Angie: How important is it to repair plaster before repainting? Our ceilings have peeling paint that we’re pretty sure was caused by past water damage. Since the water problem is no longer an issue, can we simply repaint the ceilings or should we first repair any underlying plaster damage? – Sara S., Elgin, Illinois
About this Experts Contributor: Steve Irish has been plastering in the Seattle area for more than 25 years as Lux Interiors. You can follow the company on Google Plus.
As of April 5, 2016, this service provider was highly rated on Angie's List. Ratings are subject to change based on consumer feedback, so check Angie's List for the most up-to-date reviews. The views expressed by this author do not necessarily reflect those of Angie's List.