Cracks and damage in plaster
First look at the cause, then determine the repair.
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Report a crack with sufficient information
Capture the development
Write down the date on which you first saw the crack and store images from the same place. Make an overview of the wall and a detail with a size reference. Please indicate whether windows or doors work differently, whether moisture is visible and whether the tear occurred after work. These observations help to assess the cause without even determining the cause.
Look at place and coherence
A crack along a material connection, a local impact damage and damage after a leak are different situations. Therefore, show the environment. When in doubt about the structural cause, an appropriate inspection is required. Only filling and painting can temporarily cover the visible place while the underlying cause remains present.
Tune repair and desired appearance towards each other
Ask what preparation is needed, which part is restored and what happens to the final finish. New filling may look different from the surrounding structure or paint. Discuss the possibility of visible local repair and let it record which larger plane is possibly included. Then follow the agreements about control and finish further.
This is what you discuss in advance
- Create similar images with date.
- Describe location, gradient and possible moisture load.
- Let an unclear cause be assessed first.
- Agree the extent of repair and painting.
Take a closer look at the subject.
Illustrative images in preparation, substrate or finish.
First look at the cause, then determine the repair.
First look at the cause
A tear can have several causes. Without assessment it is not possible to determine whether it is a superficial damage or a problem in the substrate.
Make the situation visible
Take overview photos and details. Write down where the tear is, when it stands out and if it changes. Also indicate moisture spots or other damage.
Choose the right repair
Only closing can be insufficient if the cause persists. Adjust the method of repair to the cause, the substrate and the chosen finishing system. In case of doubt about constructive damage, an expert's assessment is necessary.
Discuss your situation
An article gives general explanation. The correct execution follows from the assessment of your space, the chosen materials and the manufacturer's requirements.
Ask your question.Assess the substrate before finishing
Make images of the crack and surroundings and note whether the site changes. A stable surface damage can be treated differently than continuous movement or damage due to moisture. A patch repair is not automatically a solution for a structural cause.
- Describe the existing condition.
- Make the desired result concrete.
- Capture preparation and follow-up.
- Save product data and appointments.
Deepen this topic
A crack in plaster: investigate the cause first
In case of repair, it must be clear whether the tear is stable or that movement continues. Filling alone cannot solve a recurring problem.
Read more →Repairing plaster after a leak
First solve the leakage and moisture condition. Only then can be assessed how the damaged finish is repaired.
Read more →More answers on this topic
Does a hairline rupture always mean a structural problem?
You can not only derive that from the name or a loose image. Place, gradient, substrate and other signals must be assessed together.
Do I have to scratch the crack for a review?
Do not do this on your own initiative when the cause is unclear. images and a description of the course are a better first step for the assessment.
Make a distinction between damage and a moving cause
A tear that always comes back to the same place requires a different assessment than a one-time impact damage. Images with dates can help to show change. Review recurring or changing damage before refilling only the visible line.
A useful checklist
- Note when the tear becomes visible and whether the shape changes.
- See if the place coincides with a seam, angle or material transition.
- Report moisture, previous repair attempts and renovations in the area.
- Ask which cause has been identified and what the proposed repair does and does not solve.
Discuss your plastering project.
Send your wishes, images and estimated dimensions. We will check which preparation and finishing suits your home.