Hole and cracks in plasterboard

cepheus

I have damaged the plasterboard on an adjoining internal wall near the stairs, in fact there is a hole in it! Other parts of the plasterboard are slightly cracked. Presumably I need to first cut out a neat hole, fill up the gap with something, polyfilla it over, then sand it down?

The board will remain uneven though. Would lining paper be better than painting it directly?

What is the advantage of lining paper over wallpaper, is it just plain wallpaper which can be painted?

PS Need to do something Friday to keep me sane

ormus

depends on the size of the holes?
for small ones, either pack with newspaper and fill, or stick PB/masking tape over the top and fill.
for large holes, id replace the section of PB.

cepheus

about 4 x 4 inches, but crack 9 inches long

molerat

I filled an old switch hole by taking a piece of cardboard about 1 inch bigger than the hole, piercing hole in centre and putting piece of string through and knotting. Feed card into hole and pull tight against the back while filling the hole just short of the outside surface. Keep string tight until filler set then cut string and complete filling to surface. For the crack scrape a screwdriver in it to form a v groove and fill.

keystone

What molerat said but use a piece of plasterboard offcut with some coving adhesive or easyfill round the edges for the 4 x 4 hole. Yes it will fit across the diagonal. Put it up tight and let the addy set. Remove string then fill.

Cheers

molerat

I have also pushed cocktail sticks into the sides of a hole to form a framework for the filler to adhere to.

cepheus

Suppose filling the hole is the easy part, the main work is having to paint the entire wall so it blends in.

Do you find the lining paper is worthwhile to cover any bumps and cracks? Seems a bit over the top to me, might as well wallpaper it I am going to do this.

Plasterer

As said before cut a perfect square piece slightly bigger than the hole. Draw round it on the wall then cut this out. Then get a peice of "batten about 2 inches longer than the hole - simply slide this behind the hole (whist hodling it in place) Then put a screw thtough the existing wall and through the batten on both sides - then put you precut plaster in the hole and screw to newly placed batten then easy fill the lot.
Hope this makes sence!?!

Plasterer

Like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZbEsJsc7_4

cepheus

What is the purpose of the tape, just to make the surface smoother, like lining paper?

Plasterer

cepheus wrote: »

What is the purpose of the tape, just to make the surface smoother, like lining paper?

No, its to stop the cracks coming back.