If the house does move a lot then there may be little that can be done to keep the crack from re-occurring. A traditional approach to repairing cracks involves removing any loose plaster and then filling the crack with new plaster, also using some paper or fiberglass joint tape if the crack is large will help. These homes will move with the seasons and cracks will re-appear over time. It seems that cracks in plaster are sometimes unavoidable in old homes. Once the washers are installed, and the plaster is stabilized, you then skim a coat of new plaster over the washers to hide them. You will need these washers every foot or so (or every few inches depending on how bad the plaster is detached) to secure the plaster.

The washer pulls the plaster tight against the lath. They are about 1 1/2″ wide, a screw is inserted through the washer and driven into the wood lath. These washers are either metal or plastic. This can be done with drywall screws but a better solution would be to use “plaster washers”. You need to re-attach the plaster to the lath. If the plaster has separated from the wood lath, it’s likely because the “keys”, where the plaster connects to the lath, have broken off. The repair method will vary depending on what type of plaster you have and how it was originally installed. There are a few types of common repairs cracks, missing pieces or separated lath and plaster. What if they are not? Then you may have to repair the plaster before attaching anything to it. These expand behind the wall to provide good holding power but will need a larger hole to install them.Īll of these attachment methods assume your plaster walls are in good shape. If you are attaching heavy things like shelves, and you can’t screw into a stud, you may want to use a Toggle Bolt. If you are installing heavy curtains, you will want to use a longer screw than may come with the curtain rods and then make sure you screw through the plaster and into the framing around the window. How about curtain rods? YES, you may be able to install the curtain rods with the hardware provided. A trim head screw would be ideal but other screws could be used as well. You can also use a screw into the lath or a stud. Make sure you read the package for how much weight the particular hook can hold. You can get these at your local True Value hardware stores. Paul had good results with what he calls “tempered picture hanging nails” or also called hardened steel picture hook nails. Modern plaster, also called veneer plaster, is installed over a substrate board, similar to drywall. This may also be applied, in some instances, over a masonry, brick or stone wall. The plaster can contain pig hair or horse hair for strength. Traditional plaster are often made by installing strips of wood lath to the framing and then multiple coasts of plaster are spread over the lath. Some cracks might be inevitable but we discuss in the show doing repairs and hanging things on your plaster walls.

Can curtain rods be hung on plaster? Is it best to live with and/or “enhance” the cracks as a feature, or can they be fixed for a reasonable amount of $$? LOVE YOU GUYS! Thanks! Would you please talk in detail about homes with plaster walls? I have never lived in a home with plaster walls until now and have only heard horror stories about putting things/pictures, etc, up on the walls. The Handyguys received this question from a listener: Repairing plaster walls and attaching things to plaster walls are discussed in this audio episode of The Handyguys Podcast.

Lap and plaster walls