The Best Methods To Repair Cracks In Walls
Wall cracking is a problem that can occur during renovations, but also afterward. Most often, cracks appear shortly after finishing a wall or ceiling, but they can appear after some time. What must be known is that these extremely unsightly problems have a multitude of causes. Fortunately, most of these cracks can be repaired locally. Are you looking for ways to fix cracked walls? How to repair cracks in walls? There are several options out there, from DIY fixes to professional services. Which method should you choose?
Types of Cracks
There are different types of cracks in walls, as well as very specific ways to properly do all crack repairs for each of them.
1. Superficial cracks in plasters and finishes
2. Deep cracks in structural elements
Causes of Cracks
There are many reasons why cracks appear on the walls, even after renovation. Some are trivial and represent the effect of shrinkage processes, by drying the materials or as a result of some errors related to the concentrations used. Another possible cause, which leads to the appearance of unsightly cracks on the walls, is the age of the construction because the materials used have exceeded their useful life.
The materials used for the construction of the house - wood, brick, blocks, their combinations, as well as the thickness and type of reinforcement elements have an evolution over time and a certain sensitivity to temperature variations, from one season to another. Cement-based materials are more exposed to the appearance of cracks compared to other types of materials, and the cracks appear, as a rule, under the layers of painting, at the level of the plaster.
The wooden wall, for example, has a high level of moisture, and its drying can lead to the appearance of cracks, just as the use of reinforcement elements that are too thick can be one of the causes of the appearance of cracks on interior walls.
Cracks occur predominantly in new construction as a result of what is called "house settling", in fact, a stabilization settlement of the house. This is one of the reasons why, in new constructions, it is recommended to repair cracks, if they appear, at least one year after the completion of the construction work.
The window or door area is more prone to cracks, but these do not indicate structural problems and are caused only by the way the walls are constructed. These cracks are superficial.
Vertical cracks are, most of the time, in the joint areas and also fall into the superficial category. They are possible at corners or where drywall meets. In this case, the cracks are caused by the finishing errors of the interior walls. Some vertical cracks may indicate too much weight on that wall, and horizontal cracks are caused by the shrinking of the plaster or may indicate foundation problems.
Vibration is another cause that can lead to wall cracks. This usually occurs in homes that are near heavily traveled roads or if extensive construction work is taking place, involving heavy machinery, mechanical compaction, and vibration. If cracks appear in the walls of the house after such a situation, usually there is damage to the resistance structure, and the repairs should be borne by those whose fault they occurred.
Long, large and zig-zag cracks, those that appear diagonally or stepped cracks that follow the mortar line in brick walls or curved, irregular ones should be alarming, because they indicate a structural problem, either through settling unevenness of the foundation, either as a result of problems with the resistance structure or construction errors. These kinds of cracks are not superficial, but go deep into the wall, sometimes they also communicate to the outside, being visible on both sides of it. As a rule, a crack wider than five millimeters, regardless of whether it is vertical, diagonal, or horizontal, on the wall or ceiling, is a cause for concern and the cause that led to its appearance must be established.
What You Need To Repair the Cracks
If the cracks are superficial and do not involve structural problems or water seepage, repairs are not complicated and with a little care, you can do them. The costs are not very high, and the satisfaction of making something with your own hands is immense.
No matter how small, repairing cracks involves some mess and the specific kind of mess that building materials produce. So take this into consideration. In addition, because you are not a specialist, the work will probably involve more time.
It is important to have a stable ladder that you can climb easily to work in high areas or on the ceiling. Protect your eyes, possibly your hands, with gloves that allow you to work efficiently and a dust mask when cleaning the walls.
What Tools Do You Need?
- Gauging Trowel
- Spackle Knife
- Float
- Hammer
- Hawk
- Bucket
- Trowel
- Paint roller
- Paintbrush
How To Repair Wall Cracks (except plasterboard walls)
The following steps are mandatory. None of the steps can be skipped. It is necessary and useful to document yourself beforehand at each stage, especially if you have never done this before. Look for tutorials, and pictures, and consult with someone who knows how and has experience. Work patiently.
Before you actually get down to business, consider all the materials you need and purchase them in the correct quantity. It is always better to buy a little more than not enough. Read all material preparation instructions and possibly sample small amounts to get a feel for each material's properties. You could use some help. Prepare the work area. Cover the furniture, and protect the rugs, and carpets because there will be quite a bit of dust.
1. Cleaning
Regardless of where the crack appeared, you need to putty away all the material along it, down to the plaster, a few centimeters wide on either side. The cleaning must be thorough and equally deep along the entire length of the crack. Sometimes it can reach a centimeter deep, or even more, but in this way, the crack will be avoided.
2. The Cracking Repair
The place must be thoroughly cleaned of dust before proceeding to the next step. To make the repair last, the best solution, regardless of whether the plaster is damaged or not, is to use Plaster Repair. A flexible trowel is used, which will help you apply it evenly and level it properly.
3. Finishing of the Repair
After Plaster Repair has dried, proceed to the stage of wall preparation for applying the final layer. This involves applying a special, self-adhesive tape over the entire surface of the crack. The role of the tape is to stabilize the place and create adhesion for the plaster.
Applying the Plaster Layer
Use multi-finish or something similar to plaster over the repair. Mix the material according to the instructions. Respecting the quantities and the pace of work are important. The material is applied in an even layer and dries relatively quickly, so it must be prepared in small quantities.
Use a Spackle Knife and a Trowel. With the first, the material is taken, which is transferred to the second, with greater width, with the help of which the trowel is spread on the wall. The operation must be done with patience and care. After application, it must be allowed to dry, which can take up to 24 hours. The ventilation of the space is important and helps a good fixation. After complete drying, the tile must be smoothed with abrasive sandpaper.
Surface Painting
Because it is a repair operation, the final paint must be identical to the one originally used on that wall. The paint is applied in a thin layer with the paint roller or paintbrush. It is important to go around the area that was not affected by the repair, so as not to make the spot visible by accentuating the shade. After the first coat dries, a second coat will be applied for a uniform appearance.
How To Repair Plasterboard Walls
Because is a different type of structure, crack repair involves a different process. In the case of plasterboard walls, cracks appear mainly at the joints of the boards.
Cracking Cleaning
The crack site should be thoroughly cleaned with a Spackle Knife. The operation is similar to the one described previously. After removing the layers, up to the plasterboard structure, the place must be thoroughly cleaned.
Primer Application
It is an essential step that reduces and equalizes the absorbency of the substrate and improves the adhesion of the applied joint paste. In the absence of primer, the plaster will contract and joint cracks may reappear, but it may also cause peeling of the joint plaster due to rapid water absorption.
Crack Repair
Special materials are used for plasterboard, which is also plaster, but with a different composition, adapted to this type of structure. It is important to use the correct amounts of material and to use them quickly, according to the specific instructions for use, which may vary by manufacturer. Fiberglass joining type must be applied to strengthen the repair. After that, the paste needs to be applied within a time frame specified by the manufacturer, which can vary from 30 to 60 minutes. After this period, the hardening process begins and any intervention in the mixture destroys the bonds between the gypsum particles. In this way, the strength of the joint decreases, and cracks may reappear. After drying, the repaired surface can be corrected by sandpapering.
Surface Painting
Applying the paint is done as in the case described above.
If you have any questions or would like to help with advice, feel free to leave a comment and I will answer as soon as I can.
Thanks!
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