DIY Cheat Sheet - How to Fill a Crack in the Wall

MoneySupermarket present: CHEAT SHEETS DIY #5 How to fill a crack in a wall CHEAT SHEET Cracks in walls can be caused by something as simple as hanging a picture, or can be due to the house settling. Either way it's best to repair them before the problem worsens... You will need: VA craft knife / Plaster paste (powder or ready mixed) V Flexible acrylic filler (depending on the type of wall crack) VA filling knife VA sanding block 1. Make sure any debris is cleared away with a craft knife so there is a smooth surface to work with. 2. Create an inverted V shape by running the knife along the crack, first pointing straight into the wall and then left to right – this will hold the filling much better. 3. Mix the filler (if not ready mixed) - it must be an easily workable paste and not too thin or watery. 4. Use flexible acrylic filler if the crack is at an internal angle or at a junction in the middle of skirting boards/door frames and walls this is better as it won't allow for much movement (don't worry about being neat with this type of filler – until it dries, it is water soluble so you can smooth it over with your finger or a wet sponge) 5. Filling - using the filling knife, apply the paste to the crack in one sweep, smoothing it over as you go. 6. Wait for the filler to dry – it will shrink a little below the surface. 7. Once it is dry – repeat the filling process (it is not a good idea to try to fill larger cracks in one go - instead, build it up in layers, waiting for each one to dry before applying the next). 8. Using the sanding block, smooth the surface, ensuring it is -9 90 mins flush. Source: diyfixit.co.uk/painting/filling-holes-and-cracks-in-walls-and-ceilings-1.html MoneySupermarket com MoneySupermarket present: CHEAT SHEETS DIY #5 How to fill a crack in a wall CHEAT SHEET Cracks in walls can be caused by something as simple as hanging a picture, or can be due to the house settling. Either way it's best to repair them before the problem worsens... You will need: VA craft knife / Plaster paste (powder or ready mixed) V Flexible acrylic filler (depending on the type of wall crack) VA filling knife VA sanding block 1. Make sure any debris is cleared away with a craft knife so there is a smooth surface to work with. 2. Create an inverted V shape by running the knife along the crack, first pointing straight into the wall and then left to right – this will hold the filling much better. 3. Mix the filler (if not ready mixed) - it must be an easily workable paste and not too thin or watery. 4. Use flexible acrylic filler if the crack is at an internal angle or at a junction in the middle of skirting boards/door frames and walls this is better as it won't allow for much movement (don't worry about being neat with this type of filler – until it dries, it is water soluble so you can smooth it over with your finger or a wet sponge) 5. Filling - using the filling knife, apply the paste to the crack in one sweep, smoothing it over as you go. 6. Wait for the filler to dry – it will shrink a little below the surface. 7. Once it is dry – repeat the filling process (it is not a good idea to try to fill larger cracks in one go - instead, build it up in layers, waiting for each one to dry before applying the next). 8. Using the sanding block, smooth the surface, ensuring it is -9 90 mins flush. Source: diyfixit.co.uk/painting/filling-holes-and-cracks-in-walls-and-ceilings-1.html MoneySupermarket com