Patching and Plastering - Couple basic questions???
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : Couple basic questions???
spikedog4
05-25-06, 04:20 PM
Would someone tell me the differences b/t skimcoat, joint compound and spackle? I have old crumbly walls (?plaster or drywall?- again a difference I'm not clear on- ?sheetrock the same thing too?) Anyways, there are a few areas that the movers damaged that I need to repairs. I already spackled the smaller ones- but there's a couple that are fist sized and the more I attempt to touch it the more "wall" falls out! Should I buy some of that gauze looking tape (or the metal kind) and ?plaster over this or just stick with ?joint compound and then sand/paint?
One area is on a wall and the other is on the curve of the ceiling of a flight of stairs they knocked into while moving furniture down.
Thanks,
deb
One area is on a wall and the other is on the curve of the ceiling of a flight of stairs they knocked into while moving furniture down.
Thanks,
deb
Wayne Mitchell
05-25-06, 05:00 PM
First thing - I would go after the moving company for the repairs. Have you discussed the damage with them?
Second - If you decide to do the repairs yourself, the first step is to determine what material your walls are made from. Plaster is usually found in older homes that have not been renovated. It is applied to strips of wood called lathe.
It sounds like you have drywall (also called sheetrock, gypsum board, wall board and probably a dozen other names). Repairs to drywall usually require that a backer of some sort (piece of wood) be installed behind the hole to support the repair. Then a patch piece can be cut to fit the hole. Drywall tape (either fiberglass mesh type or paper tape) is used to cover the seams. If this is your first repair I suggest fiberglass tape because it has it's own adhesive.
Once the hole is backed, filled and taped, drywall mud (joint compound) is put on with a wide putty knife to cover the entire repair. Get it as smooth as possible and extend it out well past the edges of the repair. Try not to put it on too thick. Wait 24 hours for the repair to dry and sand off any high spots and sand smooth (feather) the edges. Repeat with at least one and better two more coats, extending each coat further past the repair edges until the repair is smooth and even with the wall. If you can see any imperfections fix them before you paint becasue paint will highlight them.
Second - If you decide to do the repairs yourself, the first step is to determine what material your walls are made from. Plaster is usually found in older homes that have not been renovated. It is applied to strips of wood called lathe.
It sounds like you have drywall (also called sheetrock, gypsum board, wall board and probably a dozen other names). Repairs to drywall usually require that a backer of some sort (piece of wood) be installed behind the hole to support the repair. Then a patch piece can be cut to fit the hole. Drywall tape (either fiberglass mesh type or paper tape) is used to cover the seams. If this is your first repair I suggest fiberglass tape because it has it's own adhesive.
Once the hole is backed, filled and taped, drywall mud (joint compound) is put on with a wide putty knife to cover the entire repair. Get it as smooth as possible and extend it out well past the edges of the repair. Try not to put it on too thick. Wait 24 hours for the repair to dry and sand off any high spots and sand smooth (feather) the edges. Repeat with at least one and better two more coats, extending each coat further past the repair edges until the repair is smooth and even with the wall. If you can see any imperfections fix them before you paint becasue paint will highlight them.