The handyman column      
By Roger Runswick
 

Chips, Cracks and Worries

50plus Handyman director Roger Runswick on making good tired walls and woodwork

So you are sitting down, relaxing, looking around you and thinking "this room could do with a spruce up". Prowling round you start to notice a few chips and scratches in the woodwork (must have been the football practise during the world cup) and the odd crack in the wall.

So just how does one go about fixing these things? Cracking is something that can easily drive one to distraction. Most traditional UK homes are built with plaster walls, and these typically have cracks of one kind or another. Houses, particularly older ones built when foundations were minimal, move as soil conditions change. So a dry summer, for example, can cause movement and cracks to appear. Cracking where a plasterboard wall (stud) meets a solid wall is similarly common.

If these are "hairline" cracks, less than a couple of mm wide, they are most likely due to normal stresses. However, if a crack becomes noticeably wider or goes through to the brick, stone and/or mortar of the wall, call in a builder or surveyor for advice but don't panic, the odds are it's still nothing serious.

Before we come on to how to deal with regular cracks, a word on 'live' plaster. If a wall has become damp or there has been movement over time, plaster can become detached from the brick or block behind it. It is often apparent when this is the case, as the plaster makes a 'hollow' sound when tapped. If there is any hint of dampness, then the underlying cause should be investigated and dealt with before going further.

'Live' plaster needs to be removed and the - hopefully - small area re-plastered before decorating. Whilst plastering is a real art, new lightweight 'fill and skim' products are now available which make patching far easier for the lesser-skilled, but if only a relatively small area needs re-plastering.

A wide variety of materials are available to deal with cracks. The traditional method was to fill the crack with a dry mix or ready-mixed filler, smooth down and paint over. This method still holds good, but improved fillers are now available which substantially reduce the risk of the crack reappearing in the short to medium term. Both lightweight fillers (enabling filling of larger cracks or damaged areas quickly) and flexible fillers are available from all good DIY stores – a flexible filler is particularly good for joints between walls and timbers, such as skirting and door frames, as it allows the timber to move without cracking. Many fillers offer a fast drying-time.

If you are a professional then this is important as drying time can hold one up. For the non-professional who may have a little more time available, it is worthwhile taking the job slowly and filling then sanding to get the perfect finish. Note also that paint technology offers a range of flexible paints, particularly suitable for ceilings that are prone to hairline cracks.

For real hairline cracks, filling can be difficult. The best way to handle them is to open it up into a 'v' groove, dampen the crack and then fill it, removing the excess just before it dries. Then sand down - but not for 24 hours or so.
 

Finally, remember that when decorating, the bulk of the time should be in the preparation. Putting the topcoat of paint on will be when the good preparation work shines through!


Roger Runswick is a director of 50plus Handyman and a member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers. He can be contacted at roger.runswick@the50plus.co.uk .


Previous articles in this series:

Fixing drips and changing your taps

Can I still change my light switch?

Fitting an outside light

Pre-winter maintenance

Thinking of installing a shower?

Decorating – are you getting your money’s worth?

Estimate or quotation?

Replacing a door?

How to upgrade the lighting in your home

Creating a cloakroom and shower

Ideas for collecting and saving water

Power in the garden

Plumbing and bats

Busman's holidays

Home Networking

Chips, cracks and worries
 

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