Easy Process Of Repairing Hairline Cracks In Plaster Walls
Hairline cracks that usually occur in plaster walls are unsightly & look extremely unattractive to the naked eye. Plaster walls are generally extremely durable, but still, they can incur damage because of wear & tear and poor maintenance. A hairline crack is simply a line that appears along the surface of a wall. If hairline cracks happen in your plaster walls, you don't need to worry as they are not a cause of concern. However, you need to fix this issue as soon as you possibly can before they get worse. In order to repair hairline crack in plaster walls, you, first of all, need to collect certain tools & materials needed for the process & then go through the below-mentioned step by step process carefully:
Tools & Materials Needed
- Utility Knife Or 5-In-1 Tool
- Shop Vacuum
- Scissors
- 6-Inch Drywall Knife
- 12-Inch Drywall Knife (Optional)
- Drywall Joint Compound
- Paper Drywall Tape
- 150-Grit Sanding Sponge
Step 1: Score The Crack
First of all, with the help of a utility knife or painter's 5-in-1 tool, cut along the edges of the crack, opening up the crack, to a small degree and getting rid of loose material. Due to the fact that opening the crack may seem contradictory, so it is important to enlarge the area for the joint compound to stick. Do not forcefully scrape into the crack, make sure to be gentle and go slow. Use a shop vacuum in order to get rid of all crumbs and dust from the crack.
Step 2: Cut The Paper Drywall Tape
Now, calculate or compute and cut one or more lengths of paper drywall tape in order to fit the crack. Drywall compound starts to dry rapidly, therefore, it is best to cut the tape in advance, which in turn makes this work go faster and prevents inadvertently creating creases, folds, or bumps. Use scissors or a utility knife when it comes to cutting the tape because tearing the tape by hand will produce a ragged edge.
Step 3: Spread The Joint Compound
Next, combine or put together the drywall joint compound, as needed. Excavate up or cut out a small portion using a 6-inch drywall knife, before smoothing a thin layer of joint compound over the crack, resulting in a path that's a little wider than the paper tape. Proceed instantly to the next step, due to the fact that the joint compound dries rapidly.
Step 4: Apply Tape To The Crack
Put down the tape onto the mud by hand, before smoothing it with the help of a 6-inch knife having one or two passes. The main aim is to flatten the tape and make sure to have full contact with the compound, with no wrinkles or air pockets. It is important not to overwork the tape and tear it. Allow the joint compound to dry wholly.
Step 5: Mud Over The Tape
Now, position a layer of joint compound over the taped area, in order to make sure that the compound extends past the tape's edges, with the help of a 6-inch knife. Smooth the compound in order to make it flush with the surrounding surfaces before allowing the joint compound to dry completely.
Step 6: Sand The Repair
Gently & firmly sand the compound using a 150-grit sanding sponge or sandpaper in order to smooth important bumps or ridges. Make sure not to sand so hard that you are exposing the tape.
Step 7: Apply An Additional Mud Coat (optional)
Position the third layer of the joint compound, using the 12-inch knife, in order to extend the edges even farther. This is an optional step that will help you in blending the repair into a very smooth wall surface. If the surface has some texture, then it is generally better to take the opposite approach and reduce the width of the repair, as it's hard to texture the new compound. An extra coat should take the joint compound out at least 12 inches. Allow the joint compound to dry wholly, before sanding gently to smooth out the repair area. Again, make sure not to sand down into the paper tape, a very light sanding is all that is needed.
Step 8: Clean The Area
Finally, you need to clean the patch as well as the adjoining area with the help of a shop vacuum and wipe it using a dry cloth.