The best way to repair damaged plaster in your home

Whether you live in a small flat or a large house, you’ll want it to always look its very best. More and more people are taking a stronger interest in interior design within all rooms, and that can include carrying out relatively small remedial repairs. One of the more common – and more necessary – involves repairing damaged plasterwork. There are so many reasons for plaster to become damaged, ranging from cracks caused by exposure to moisture to accidental knocks when moving furniture from one room to another.

Being able to spot the signs that your plaster is deteriorating can help you to keep the problem to a manageable minimum. Early detection means the issue can be fixed easily before it gets a chance to become too serious in the coming months and years. If you notice any of the following tell-tale symptoms, it’s a good idea to effect an immediate repair:

• Sagging or bowing of the plaster
• Cracks or holes on the wall, the ceiling or the floor
• Peeling or flaking paint
• Water stains
• General dampness

The key to any high quality fix is the plaster itself. If the plaster is significantly cracked, you may want to replace the entire wall section rather than just repairing the crack. While you might think it’s enough to just scrape off the paint and patch up the holes, there are actually many ways to do it.

Save time with some careful consideration

First and foremost, determine what actually needs fixing. This step is important because you don’t want to spend hours scraping away good material if you don’t know where to start. Use a tape measure to determine how much wall needs to be repaired. If the hole is too big, you’ll probably need to replace the entire section.

Then, remove old materials. Start by unscrewing screws from the studs and pulling out nails, if applicable. Then use a scraper to smooth out any rough edges left behind. You can also use a hammer to break down the plaster, although of course you need to take great care when doing this.

The next step is to clean the area thoroughly. This is something that the plastering professionals will always do, but it’s an aspect that well-meaning amateurs often tend to overlook. It really is vital that the cleaning process is done properly. Make sure you remove all flaky areas and that you scrub anything that could be hiding mould.

So many patching options for you to choose from

Then it will be time to patch the wall. Once the area is cleaned, apply the relevant material over the whole area. The choice of material will depend on your needs. Options include ready-mixed plaster, jointing compound and even thick layers of certain types of paint. Remember to use a putty knife to smooth the area if necessary. Apply a good quality primer, then use a coat or two of paint to provide what will eventually become an invisible repair.

When it comes to plaster repairs, there can be some things you just don’t want to do yourself. Plaster repair can be dangerous, for example, because it may involve working around electrical wiring and pipes. There are many ways to protect yourself while doing such repairs, including wearing proper footwear, eye protection, a dust mask and gloves. As always, if you aren’t confident in carrying out such a task, it would be far better to engage the services of an experienced construction specialist who can be relied upon.

For every type of plastering job, from the smallest crack to the replacement of plaster throughout any given room, the quality of the process will be decided by the finished look. Therefore, you will want to do all you can to make sure it looks as invisible as possible. Here at Tayside Construction, we offer a reliable, professional plastering service to homes and businesses throughout the region. To find out more, contact us today on 01738 505 888 or drop us a line at [email protected]. Perfect plastering is ready and waiting right here, so get in touch soon. We look forward to talking with you.