Repairing Plaster

[fishhuntwork]

I'm doing some home remodeling and I have a home with plaster walls. What is the best material to use to repair cracks and some large areas that the first layer of plaster has fallen off? Should I use just normal joint compound?

[delcecchi]

Some folks find that a layer of thin sheet rock is the best idea. Cover the whole wall.

[amateurfishing]

im sure it is possible, guess it just depends if u ever want to deal with it again, only results i have heard of are complete wall demo and change over to rock or just rock over it. the strenght/age of the wall will only continue to get worse as it contiues to age.

[upnorth]

Once the plaster starts to break away from the lathe it only gets worse. Better to pull it down and just put up rock and it is a good time to upgrade the insulation at the same time.

[mabr]

We have had decent results with DURA BOND with adding a plaster bonding agent. You usually have to go to a drywall specialty place to get that. Its (dura bond)a powder based gypsum but harder than normal mixes. Just mix it up with water like any other. Its alot harder than normal drywall mud and it has pre set hardening times (note hardening not drying times)90 min is the norm.

On cracks dig them out with a blade, tape like normal with Dura Bond and coat like regular drywall. You can use a normal drywall mud on the finish coat.

Real plaster is the best option, but it take alot of skill to work with it and the skilled (old) guys are a dying breed.