How to repair damaged plaster

Cracked, chipped or plaster that has fallen off the wall are all easy repairs to tackle yourself, and if you have acquainted yourself with basic plastering techniques, these are jobs that can be done in a weekend.

 

Although plastering takes a bit of practice to master the technique, once done you will be able to handle your own plastering projects in and around the home - saving yourself a lot of time, hassle and money!

You will need:

If you're planning to do regular home maintenance projects, it's a good idea to kit yourself up with a selection of tools that will come in handy. Pop into your local Builders Warehouse for all the tools you need.

For this project you will need to have a hawk or board, plastering trowel and a wooden float, as well as a small bag of cement and washed plaster sand.

Here's how:

1. Where plaster has cracked or chipped you need to prepare the area first. For plaster that has broken off completely, remove any remaining loose pieces and clean out the area with a soft brush. If necessary, remove lawn or soil to get to the base of the area to be plastered. If you are concerned about cracks - call in a professional contractor

2. Mix only as much plaster as you can use in 2 hours. Should your mix stiffen slightly in this period, some water may be added to regain workability. After 2 hours the unused plaster should be discarded.

If there are any signs of damp on the brickwork, use Prominent Paints Damp Cure as a preventative measure before plastering

3. Starting at the bottom of the area to be repaired, take a small amount of plaster with the plaster trowel and with a quick flicking action, apply to the wall, press and smooth upwards. Repeat this to fill up the damaged area.

4. Using a wood float, dip this into a bucket of water and then smooth the surface of the plaster until it blends with the surrounding wall.

To match existing plaster finish, use a dry paintbrush, sea sponge or foam roller for textured paint to blend.