Cracks in plaster

RaiderHammer

Just stripped off some wallpaper in the lounge and there are a number of airline cracks visible. Is it best to fill them or just paint over them, will paint cover them?

A builder told me to paint walls that just have plaster with a 50/50 emulsion / water mix. Will it work if I do this and then paint we a flexible paint before the top coat goes on without filling the cracks?

Are there any recommendations for any flexible paints for walls please?

Thanks all.

keystone

You only need to mist coat new plaster.

What you do need to do is ensure you get every vestige of the old wallpaper paste off the wall before painting.

If they are really just hairline cracks then filler will either not go in or just fall out. If they are wider than hairline then you need to rake them out to get the loose out and at the same time make them bigger. Gives your filler something to grab hold of. Overfill and sand back when dry too.

Any vinyl emulsion paint will do you.

Cheers

Leif

Hairline cracks if that is what they are, can be filled with normal emulsion. Otherwise as per above.

RaiderHammer

keystone wrote: »

You only need to mist coat new plaster.

What you do need to do is ensure you get every vestige of the old wallpaper paste off the wall before painting.

If they are really just hairline cracks then filler will either not go in or just fall out. If they are wider than hairline then you need to rake them out to get the loose out and at the same time make them bigger. Gives your filler something to grab hold of. Overfill and sand back when dry too.

Any vinyl emulsion paint will do you.

Cheers

Thanks what do you mean by mist coat please less than 50 / 50 emulsion / water?

keystone

No I mean the 50/50 mix. You only need to do this on a highly absorbent surface like new plaster. Otherwise all the mositure is sucked out of the paint when it hits the surface and it doesn't adhere.

Cheers

spaceboy

RaiderHammer wrote: »

Just stripped off some wallpaper in the lounge and there are a number of airline cracks visible. Is it best to fill them or just paint over them, will paint cover them?

A builder told me to paint walls that just have plaster with a 50/50 emulsion / water mix. Will it work if I do this and then paint we a flexible paint before the top coat goes on without filling the cracks?

Are there any recommendations for any flexible paints for walls please?

Thanks all.

Hairline cracks.

yangptangkipperbang

spaceboy wrote: »

Hairline cracks.

No - they are airline cracks. BA - b****y awful !

keystone

spaceboy wrote: »

Hairline cracks.

Pedant. Not where I come from they aren't they're 'airline cracks guv.

Cheers

Leif

spaceboy wrote: »

Hairline cracks.

How do you know he has not had aircraft crashing into his walls, and causing cosmetic damage? It is no fun living near an airport.

tco03

I 'V' them out with the corner of a scraper and then skim over with some of that ready mix plaster.

Wont last forver but will hold a few yrs

Meadows

As tco03 says. slightly open them up with a scraper and then filler & sand smooth, if you just paint over them you will see the cracks.
You can also buy things like the advanced formulation is easily applied and covers hairline cracks, stains and strong colours. Its built-in Polyfilla flexibility not only covers hairline and other wall imperfections but also helps to prevent them from reappearing to ensure a long lasting paint finish. 3in1 BaseCoat for walls that permanently* covers cracks, stains and strong colours ready for a problem free finish 1 Covers cracks Polyfilla Technology contains elastomeric polymers that flex with the natural movement of your walls to keep hairline cracks permanently* covered.