Get matched with top plaster repair specialists in Twin Lakes, NM

You’ll want to inspect your plaster walls for signs of damage before painting. If you notice soft spots, deep cracks, bubbling, or areas where the plaster is crumbling or pulling away from the wall, it likely needs repair. While small hairline cracks are common and likely cosmetic, you should address larger issues before painting to ensure a quality, smooth finish.

All plaster walls will crack over time with expansion and contraction from temperature and moisture changes, as well as from normal house settling. In these cases, the cracks will usually be thin and don’t mean there are major structural issues. However, excessive cracking, wide wall cracks, and cracks that span around corners can sometimes mean you have a foundation issue. Identifying severe problems is a key reason why hiring a professional for plaster repair is usually a good idea.

Although their applications are very similar, no drywall compound and spackle are not the same thing. Spackle is a bit thicker and is used to patch holes as it dries quickly and is easy to sand. Joint compound shrinks a bit more and can be more temperamental to spread. However, one benefit is that you can use joint compound as spackle (for small jobs), but you can’t use spackle as joint compound.  

Yes, to some extent, you can speed up the time it takes plaster to dry and cure. Choose a time of year when humidity levels are somewhere in the middle, neither too high nor too low, to allow moisture to evaporate from the plaster effectively. Also, open a window or set up a fan in the room to improve ventilation.

Don't use a dehumidifier in an attempt to speed up drying time, as a dehumidifier may suck moisture from the air too quickly, leading to crumbly plaster.