Anatomy of a Lath and Plaster Wall – Plaster Wall Repair Basics
Searching for Plaster Repair Advice; the Story Behind Developing Plaster Magic’s Plaster Repair System
A History of Plaster, from Ancient Rome to Modern Times
So, what is plaster actually made of?
Ceiling Repair: A Helpful Tip
First off, kudos for having the courage to tackle this ceiling plaster repair job yourself, Janine. We love to see homeowners doing repairs the right way and making the effort to preserve historic plaster.
Thanks to gravity, ceilings present a unique problem when it comes to conditioning the lath and plaster in preparation for the adhesive. Indeed, the liquid will want to drip back out. I have discovered one tool that helps, though — a pressurized garden sprayer, which you can pump as much or as little as necessary to produce a stronger stream than the standard spray bottle. Continue reading Ceiling Repair: A Helpful Tip
Maintenance is the Best Medicine
Just like an old car, your home requires maintenance. The insertion of small amounts of capital into a building over an extended time period can mean the difference between a beautiful, functional house and a falling-apart, expensive headache of a house.
At this point, you may be expecting some tips on maintaining your plaster walls and ceilings. But it’s not the plaster that needs maintaining, it’s the structure supporting it. Continue reading Maintenance is the Best Medicine
We Could Have Saved This One!
We recently saw a television commercial that made us laugh, then nod our heads in agreement, then cry (Okay, we didn’t actually cry. But the seriousness of the commercial’s message was well received).
The ad was for a carpet cleaning service. Two cleaning techs are driving down the road in a company van when they see a worn-looking rug rolled up and tossed out on the side of the road for trash pickup. The driver of the van slams on the brakes, dashes out of the van and kneels beside the rug. “No!” he cries. “I could have saved this one.” He glances up at the offending house… “I could have saved this one!” Continue reading We Could Have Saved This One!
Glossary of Plaster Repair Terms
There are lots of tools, processes and materials specific to plaster and plaster repair. Some of their names you may recognize, some may sound vaguely familiar, and some may be completely foreign.
Thus, we present to you a plaster repair glossary. Read them, study them, memorize them and wow all your friends at cocktail parties when you explain that a “hawk” is not only a bird of prey of the Accipitridae family, but also a flat sheet of metal with a handle, made to hold globs of wet plaster during the application process. Continue reading Glossary of Plaster Repair Terms
Lead Paint May Be Lurking on your Walls. Now What?
If your home was built before 1978, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) says it may contain lead-based paint. You’ve most likely heard about the dangers this presents to your family and pets, and we often are asked how to deal with plaster walls and ceilings that may contain lead paint. Continue reading Lead Paint May Be Lurking on your Walls. Now What?