Plaster, a decorative wall coating of lime, sand, and sometimes fibers, has been around since the beginning of time—and so has plaster repair. Although subject to cracks and bubbles, it’s a durable building material. Perhaps that’s why we still know that plaster adorned the pyramids of Egypt and covered Greek temples. Plaster walls were also popular in the early 1900s and is still found in historical homes built before WWII. (Drywall panels started to replace plaster in the 1950s). “Plaster walls offer a beautiful texture that provides depth and interesting shades of highlight and shadow offering a unique sculptural effect to any room,” says Kim Coombs, designer, founder and president of the Orlando-based KBCO Design.
These days, plaster has made a comeback: It can be seen anywhere from a warm modernist pied-à-terre to a colorful Manhattan townhouse. “Its rise in popularity today has a lot to do with technological advancements in plaster variation as well as being eco-friendly,” says Lance Thomas, principal at Thomas Guy Interiors in Lake Charles, Louisiana. “There are as many color palettes and texture variations for plaster as there are for paint colors. Modern homeowners and designers are turning to plaster to give their wall space a more artistic flair.”
There are many types of plaster on the market—like tadelakt, slaked lime, and Venetian, to name a few. “It’s important to do your research and understand what is in the material and how it can be used,” says Shoshanna Shapiro, owner and principal designer of Sho and Co in Fredericksburg, Maryland. “Gypsum and [other] cement-based plasters are more affordable but require a professional hand and may not be ideal for all surfaces,” she says. “You can achieve beautiful effects with Venetian plaster, but it will be on the higher end in regards to price.” Clay-based plasters can be softer, but can’t be used in wet areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Regardless of whether you add plaster walls into your renovations or you currently have them, if left neglected, the plaster repair can be substantial, not to mention costly. Check out this mini guide as to how you can minimize damage by caring for your plaster walls from the start.
1. Know how to recognize damage
Plaster is placed on top of wood strips called lath. John Romans, president of John Romans Construction in Upper Arlington, Ohio, notes that when cracks appear at a door opening, wrapped doorway, hallway, or near beams or corners, they are typically stress cracks from the foundation or the structure shifting. This can occur during a remodel or due to a faulty foundation. “Cracks in the corners can be from a leaky roof or pipe and place for water to go down,” he says. “Typically when you get water damage on plaster walls, you will see the plaster separate from the lath and form a bulge in the wall. With plaster over drywall application, the area will become soft. In both cases you will see a brown-tinted stain in the area.” Ideally, the defects should be repaired by a professional that works with the type of plaster you used—you will always see the repair unless you skim coat the whole wall.
2. Repair cracks ASAP
To keep your plaster in good shape, you will need to repair any defects as soon as they appear, according to Shapiro. This process is not as easy as filling in drywall cracks. “I have not found a sealing agent that will work for hairline cracks,” Romans says. “We always dig the cracks out. Unfortunately the caulks and sealants just bubble up in the end.” Plaster repair may involve tricky trenching.
Romans outlines it with this step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Plaster found in historical homes may contain harmful components. “I always suggest to tape a house filter to the back of a box fan, preferably with a Merv 13 or HEPA filter, and run it in the space to clear the air where you are working,” Romans says. A dust mask, gloves, and safety glasses are highly recommended when you do plaster repair. Even if you’re working with the newer, eco-friendly plaster formulation, you’ll also want to make sure children and anyone with respiratory problems steer clear as you do this home-improvement project.
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