If you have been living in the same home for years, it’s not a surprise (rather shock) to find the plaster on your walls weaken and crumble over time. As the house settles over time, the plaster begins to pull away, eventually cracking and crumbling. So, when you notice such cracks and chips in the plaster on your walls, you need to take the ultimate decision between repair and replace. Well, if you ask us, repair has a lot of benefits over the expensive and dusty alternative of plaster removal/replacement. It’s also much less expensive to do so.
Repairs can be most efficiently done without the disruptions that replacement causes. Also, waste generated is reduced, as you are keeping the original plaster in place. And what more? A homeowner like you can do the repair work using common tools. You should also repair up the plaster if you have just bought an old property and plan on decorating it your way. Let the old wallpaper go; and with a repaired, smooth, good as new plaster base, you can paint or renovate it to your heart’s (read home’s) liking. So, either get those historic plaster issues solved the DIY way, or call over professionals for the plaster repairs. In Auckland, Auckland Premium Painters are known for doing a great job on that old plaster. Whether it’s a complete makeover or filling up minor cracks, they will assist you in the best way, at the best rates.
How to go about repairing old plaster:
One of the most common mistakes that you could do when renovating a historic home is tearing down those old plaster walls and putting up modern drywall. Anybody you ask for advice, even the commercial painters from Auckland whom you hired, will recommend you to keep the plaster. This pre-historic building material has been used in homes for centuries, and is a far better choice than any of the modern wall coverings. So, you definitely needn’t have a doubt in deciding to go for the repair of your plaster walls. And despite all those rumours, you could do it all by yourself. Here’s how:
- Assessing: There may be many reasons behind the downfall of your plaster. Knowing the cause of the problem plays the most crucial role in finding the correct solution. Different conditions of plaster are unique to their own problems, but you need not panic. The very first step in any DIY task whether it is plaster repair or even exterior house wash in Auckland is all about assessing the situation.
- Cracks: Now, if you are dealing with a cracking plaster here, the repair can be done by drilling small holes into the plaster at various intervals. You can determine the damage by measuring the depth of the penetration. Cracks occur when the plaster and lathe separate from each other and most of the times certain well-placed screws can help bring them together. In serious cases of detachment, an elastomeric adhesive is injected into the separation through the holes. It’s then allowed to dry and then the cracks are filled up with lime and gypsum and left to dry.
- Peeling paint: This is yet another common problem seen in old houses when multiple layers of paint have been applied to the plaster over the years. To solve this problem, the old paint has to be removed with the help of a steamer and a plaster knife. Make sure to not damage the plaster while removal. After the removal, clean it up, and allow the plaster to dry for a day before repainting.
- Patching: Patching plaster is one of the problems which are best left to the pro’s but if you are curious enough, you could give it a try. You need to fix it up using plaster. So, mix it with water and with the help of a plaster knife, press it firmly into the separation. Make sure your mixture isn’t too watery or sagging and firm enough to hold its own weight. Once dried, give it a bit of sanding to smoothen out before the repainting.
So, these are the plaster damages which can get easily repaired, in an inexpensive way, all by oneself. So, before you decide to rip that old plaster and cover with a drywall, think twice. You are letting go of something which is pretty darn important.
