Be sure to watch our instructional videos at Big Wally’s Plaster Magic website.
When repairing plaster there are two major issues to consider.
Stability
Cosmetics
Until the plaster is stabilized no repair will last. Once the plaster is stabilized almost any repair will last.
You test for plaster crack stability by:
- Placing one thumb bridging the crack
- Using the other hand press on the plaster on one side of the crack and then the other side of the crack
- If there is movement across the crack it needs to be stabilized.
There are four ways to stabilize plaster.
- Big Wally’s Plaster Magic is low odor, flexible, water based adhesive system designed to address the conditions found within plaster walls and ceilings. Big Wally’s uses the wood lath or masonry lath to bridge the cracks and reinforce the plaster structurally. (In certain instances customers have used it to reattach plaster to wire lath.) Reattachment is accomplished by knowing the anatomy of the plaster walls and ceilings and using those existing elements assist in the repair. Big Wally’s Plaster Magic is flexible so it moves with your building. When using Big Wally’s Plaster Magic you do not need to apply mesh tape to the cracks, dig out the cracks (HINT: this actually weakens the plaster by ripping the internal fibers of the plaster), or apply anything to the surface of the plaster. Not doing these tasks saves half of the time of other methods.
- Screws and washers stabilize the plaster by compressing the plaster to the lath. Often this will crush the plaster further weakening it and only holds the plaster where the washer is. Screws and washers have rigid narrow point of attachment, only holding the area covered by the washers so you need LOTS of them. After they are installed they must be covered up and the cracks reinforced with tape or screening. This means either multiple layers of joint compound or plaster leaving a hump on your otherwise flat plaster.
- If you just use drywall tape (either mesh or paper) to bridge the cracks the plaster has not been stabilized except in a minor superficial way. All that has been accomplished is that the crack has been hidden for a short while; the plaster is still loose on the lath and moving.
- Using fiberglass sheeting or “wallpaper” to reinforce the plaster is just a surface treatment. The application is smelly, messy, and if you don’t like the texture too bad. You still need to use screws and washers (or BWPM) to stabilize the plaster if it needs it. It’s not cheap, not effective in the long term and if there is ever a problem with it there is no way to fix it.
Big Wally’s Plaster Magic is the most cost effective method of plaster repair on the market today.
Be sure to watch our instructional videos at Big Wally’s Plaster Magic website.
After the plaster is stable the rest of your repair is cosmetic. How do you want your plaster to look?
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