How to Fix Cracks in Plaster Walls. Many people believe that plaster wall repair is an oxymoron. They feel that plaster walls cannot be repaired. It is true that plaster walls can be difficult to repair especially if they are too far gone. Like rust on a car, you need to strike at the first sign of problems. Fortunately, you do not need a special plaster repair kit. All you need are simple drywall tools that you can easily and cheaply obtain at a home improvement store. Why Plaster Is Harder to Fix. With drywall, it is often more expedient to rip out entire sections and replace with large sheets. As difficult a material as it is, drywall does offer some advantages over plaster when it comes to repairs. It is possible to remove only the section that needs fixing plus a few inches beyond, without the entire wall collapsing. The other advantage is that drywall has no backing. Once you cut through drywall, there is nothing behind it except for studs and insulation. It all removes in one layer. By contrast, plaster walls are made of two layers  the outer plaster and the inner wooden lath. With plaster, your best bet is to preserve whatever is there and fix it, rather than tearing it out. The moment you start tearing out chunks of plaster, it becomes a never ending process. One chunk leads to another, and before you know it, you are hauling plaster and lath to your backyard for disposal. The Process. 1.  Score the Crack. Using a putty knife, a 5 in 1 tool, or a dull utility knife, score the hairline crack to open its edges. Download Aisc Manual Examples'>Download Aisc Manual Examples. This may seem counter intuitive, but you need to increase the area for the repair compound to stick to. Brush off any loose crumbs. How To Save Htm Files'>How To Save Htm Files. Spread Joint Compound. With a wide taping knife of the type used for drywall, smooth a thin layer of joint compound over the cracked section. Taping. Press paper tape or fiberglass tape into the wet area, along the length of the crack. This is ordinary drywall tape. Many people believe that plaster wall repair is an oxymoron. They feel that plaster walls cannot be repaired. It is true that plaster walls can be difficult to. Historic plaster may first appear so fraught with problems that its total removal seems the only alternative. But there are practical and historical reasons for. UEF0pUWaz8/hqdefault.jpg' alt='Plaster Crack Repair Tape' title='Plaster Crack Repair Tape' />You do not need to purchase any special plaster repair tape. Curing, Feathering. Let fully dry. Feather joint compound over taped area so that the compound extends two or three inches past the taped area. Second Curing. Let the joint compound dry. Lightly sand it down with fine sandpaper to get rid of any bumps or ridges. Do not sand so hard that you dig into the tape. Second Feathering. Feather a second layer of joint compound, this time extending the edges even farther to about six to eight inches. Let dry. Sand. 7. Finish Coat. Finally, your third coat of joint compound takes the edges out to twelve inches. Horse Handicapping Software Ratings more. Since this is your last chance to get the sanding right, be careful to make it smooth.