Asked on Mar 07, 2014

Cracked Plaster Walls Fix

Jean B
by Jean B
Our home is 108 years old, and the walls are mostly wallpapered. However, we have two bedrooms which are full of nasty cracked plaster. Other than taking off the plaster, what can we do? No paneling. I thought about beadboard, but I don't know about a whole room full of it. Ideas, please!
  4 answers
  • They make several repair products just for your wall. One is a thin fiberglass matt material that is glued onto the wall surface to reinforce it. Once installed you simply paint over it. However you must first remove any loose and damaged areas and re-plaster it. Not really that hard to do, and does not need to be perfect as the mesh will provide that surface for you. It is applied using a roller with an adhesive being put on wall. Then followed by the mesh. You do the whole wall. Then a 2nd coat of the adhesive is applied again... Once dry you simply prime and paint. Your not going to find this at your local home center, but at better quality paint suppliers. If they do not have it, they can order it in. Another method of repair is sizing paper. It is wall paper that is really thick and strong. It comes in widths slightly wider then normal wall paper but applied the same way. it comes smooth and in embossed forms with patterns on them. Once its applied and dry, you simply paint over with primer and color. Both will make your walls look like new again. If you decide to remove any wall paper in other rooms you will also find several damaged areas hidden behind the paper. So take your time when removing it if your going that route and the hidden damage will be minimal. If you rush, you will have another area to make larger repairs on
  • Debbie Harris Debbie Harris on Mar 08, 2014
    Are you able to fill damage with plaster patch and faux finish. I did this on a house that way a little over 100 years old. Could not tell there was ever any damage.
  • Lori J Lori J on Mar 08, 2014
    We have some similar issues in a bath room. The original plaster is not in too bad of shape, but some well-intended and untalented person put a highly textured and hideous layer of plaster on the wall. If that weren't enough, they then painted to ugliest Winnie the Pooh mural I have ever seen. We have been avoiding this room as we tackled other rooms. We are going to go down to studs on this one.
  • Abigail Abigail on Mar 10, 2014
    The house I grew up in had the same problem. With us it was caused by the house settling and no longer level. So for a permanant fix you might need to have the house releveled. My mom used to just use plaster to fill in the cracks and then she would paint over it.