Retaping A Drywall Seam And Patching Plaster Walls

• Tweet
• Share
• Email

• Tweet
• Share
• Email

Retaping A Drywall Seam

A wall itself may sometimes be in fine shape but a section of drywall joint tape used to cover joint seams is peeling away. Repairs to this are actually easy and here they are:

• Cut away the loose tape and brush clean the area. Then cover the open seam with fiberglass mesh tape cut precisely to fit. Smooth the tape as you go to make a perfectly flat seam. Press the tape to the walls so it adheres.
• Apply a thin and even layer of joint compound with a 5-inch flexible joint knife to cover the fiberglass mesh tape. Allow it to dry then sand lightly.
• Use an 8-inch joint knife to apply a second thin coat of compound over the first. Feather the edges of the joint compound outward, decreasing the thickness of the application as you go so that the tape margins merge smoothly and invisibly into the surroundings. Allow to dry then sand lightly.
• Repeat with a wider 10-inch joint knife to add a third coat, feathering the edges as before. Allow to dry. Smooth the final coat with a dampened sponge.

Patching Plaster Walls

Solid plaster walls require different repair materials and a different patching technique. Patch holes up to 6 inches across with patching plaster either in powdered or pre-mix form and different in composition from drywall compound. For larger areas of damage it is best to hire a professional.

• Begin by cleaning loose plaster from the cavity including between lath strips at the back of the hole. Staple a piece of hardware cloth like coarse screen to the lath for better surface grip.
• Dampen the area and use a joint knife narrower than the hole to apply the patching plaster in three shallow coats. Let each coat dry before applying the next.
• Apply wallboard joint compound for the final coat. This time use a joint knife wider than the patch and feather a final, very thin layer of compound. Let it dry then sand until smooth.

• Tweet
• Share
• Email