Hairline cracks on re-skimmed plastered wall - how to fix

Buffman

Buffman

Buffman

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I've recently had my kitchen plastered (re skim on old plaster , and since painted etc and had some hairline cracks appear above one of the radiators (the large one ).

Generally none of the other walls have this issue (one bit on a corner near a window) and the plasterer came back to do another section and mentioned it the thermal expansion/contraction.

My plasterer suggested just repainting over the cracks but surely it will re appear? It's dulux kitchen paint which I imagine is fairly flexible. As its happened in few areas I don't think it's a wider issue.

Ive read online and it suggested decorators caulk, then sand then paint?
Maybe just sand and paint first and see if that works?

It's the wall with the large radiator I previously posted here
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/posts/31327584/
 
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JRJ said:
Had the same in our living room in our old house, tried caulk and several big brand fillers which either shrunk and cracked again or fell out when sanded, somebody on here recommended devil one time https://www.diy.com/departments/red-devil-filler-1l/564999_BQ.prd
And it worked superbly, thin to get right in the crack, sanded easy and never shrunk or cracked.
Click to expand...

Was yours a hairline crack? Ive seen some people on the internet suggest scraping it out then using filler but worried ill never get as good as a plastered finish like this..
 
If it really is hairline filler will be fine. Anti-shrink, sandable, extra strong etc are just down to the polymers they mix with the main powder and other ingredients, if you mix up some regular poly filler thin enough it will be fine, don't be too concerned with filling it perfectly flat first time, just sand it down with some 120 grit paper and paint over it if it bulges slightly.
 
The Craig said:
Was yours a hairline crack? Ive seen some people on the internet suggest scraping it out then using filler but worried ill never get as good as a plastered finish like this..
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Yup hairline, I had previously used caulk on a section but ended up cutting this out with a blade which made the crack wider but the Devil one time did this and the hairline perfectly.
 
CaptainComedy said:
personally, I'd make the crack bigger and replaster myself. having air pockets in the walls won't help
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As in reskim or just fill it to match existing? What you've suggested is what I've read online, but instead they suggests using filler which I'm more comfortable with. Im a bit worried I'll make it look worse though!

Is it best to leave it a while for cracks to stop then have a go at it? I have a number of other jobs to do anyways..
 
The Craig said:
As in reskim or just fill it to match existing? What you've suggested is what I've read online, but instead they suggests using filler which I'm more comfortable with. Im a bit worried I'll make it look worse though!

Is it best to leave it a while for cracks to stop then have a go at it? I have a number of other jobs to do anyways..
Click to expand...

Cracks don't really stop.... as houses are constantly moving, the cracks only spread or widen more.

Personally use proper plaster, for my ceiling cracks I shouldn't really need to worry as I haven't got any coving on. But for everything else, it needs to be chipped away and re-set or it's just extra weight to pull everything else off.

I'm no professional though, so don't take my word for it, that said, the plastering I have done on the walls hasn't cracked since and that was 2 years ago now...
 
The Craig said:
I've bought the filler.. :p

Did you cut out any of the crack so the filler has more area to bound to or did you just fill it, sand it then paint?
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I'd make them a bit deeper with my mate stanley, then apply the filler

that's what the ocuk folk recommended for me on my cracked ceiling
seems to have worked for the last 14 months (touch wood)
 
The Craig said:
I've bought the filler.. :p

Did you cut out any of the crack so the filler has more area to bound to or did you just fill it, sand it then paint?
Click to expand...

No it's fine enough to get in the cracks. Hoover out the cracks and push in with a filling knife. No need to sand just leave it level. Paint over.
 
How are peoples walls with this still? My parents are offering to pay to reskim my walls due to hairline cracks but seems a waste of money when other than small cracks they're good, in addition to the OP talking about cracks in newly skimmed walls...

my brother in law says red devil and redlite are rubbish and to either reskim or line them.

Do you key the crack wider? I take it yes? Did you pva before filling?
 
Jonnybmac said:
How are peoples walls with this still? My parents are offering to pay to reskim my walls due to hairline cracks but seems a waste of money when other than small cracks they're good, in addition to the OP talking about cracks in newly skimmed walls...

my brother in law says red devil and redlite are rubbish and to either reskim or line them.

Do you key the crack wider? I take it yes? Did you pva before filling?
Click to expand...

Ive used red devil and it works well (need to score out more with a Stanley knife)

In the case above I don't think it should have been skimmed as the plaster behind it was blown, or it's possible that after the matter my shower behind it had a slow leak.

Regardless that house is sold now!
 
Buffman said:
Ive used red devil and it works well (need to score out more with a Stanley knife)

In the case above I don't think it should have been skimmed as the plaster behind it was blown, or it's possible that after the matter my shower behind it had a slow leak.

Regardless that house is sold now!
Click to expand...

Haha - thanks for the quick response.

I'm kind of in a hard place because my parents are offering to pay for free I just don't like paying for things that don't need doing. My painter and decorator brother in law is saying reskim or he will paper line for free for me.

I have lots of free options but I'd rather fill if it works, especially if I end up plastering and getting cracks again I'd be miffed and gutted that they'd been redone

This is how my walls look currently
https://ibb.co/DpRR04q
 
Jonnybmac said:
Haha - thanks for the quick response.

I'm kind of in a hard place because my parents are offering to pay for free I just don't like paying for things that don't need doing. My painter and decorator brother in law is saying reskim or he will paper line for free for me.

I have lots of free options but I'd rather fill if it works, especially if I end up plastering and getting cracks again I'd be miffed and gutted that they'd been redone

This is how my walls look currently
https://ibb.co/DpRR04q
Click to expand...

If you knock it does it sound hollow? Or is it well bonded to the wall?

A good plasterer will know better and should give you an idea if it could be skimmed!
 
Jonnybmac said:
I think it's well bonded. I guess I'm just worried a reskim would still leave me with cracks
Click to expand...
Normally they can put a type of special bonding coating to the wall wall prior to skimming it ("posh PVA" If you will)

If it's like that all over the wall id say you're best getting it skimmed.
 
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