How and what can I use to repair cracks in old lathe & plaster walls?

Hi Jonna,

We have plaster walls in our home and we use spackle or drywall putty to fill in in small cracks or holes. If it's a large crack, you'll also need drywall tape then use the putty over it, sand and feather it until it is smooth and blends with the rest of the wall. I hope this helps you.

Linda

Another alternative I have used is a stabilizing paper made especially for lathe and plaster walls. It is thicker than wallpaper and goes over the whole walls to keep them whole. So, after you have done what patching needs to be done put this stuff up and paint it a color you love. No more cracking and breaking once it is applied. Enjoy.

You could try mixing a small amount of sand into the paint you will use after completing the job. Also, there are commercial paints which are formulated with sand to achieve what you desire......( to provide a non-slip surface )

Compound sold already done in buckets at home depot

Check out this blog. It may give you some other ideas. It takes lots of trial and error to get the right match. Do you have a historical preservation society where you live? They may be able to advise you on what materials were originally used to create the finish you are trying to match.

http://www.contractortalk.com/f49/help-matching-plaster-texture-69124/