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Mike Goebel
Mike Goebel has been involved in the construction and home improvement industry for more than 40 years and is currently the Senior Vice President of the Home Center Division at Star Lumber & Supply Co. Inc. You may contact Mike by e-mail at mgoebel@starlumber.com or by phone at (316) 942-2221.
Home Improvement
2002-08-01 10:47:00
Fixing ‘holy’ plaster walls
Question: During a recent windy day my front door was blown open and drove the door handle into the plaster wall. I've tried patching the hole but the spackle won't stick to the wall and falls out. Any tips?"Answer: There is no reason to wail over your "holy" wall. Lots of patience and a little practice will get you through it.The "spackle" you referred to is known as spackling compound. It's great for small holes like those created from an old picture hanger, but not very good with larger openings. I suspect the spackling compound will not adhere because the wall is most likely drywall and not old-fashioned plaster. Drywall is simply a sandwich of paper and gypsum. The gypsum is a crumbly, chalk-like substance. As you apply spackle to the hole, it simply falls out along with the loose drywall. To properly repair larger holes, you will need to visit your local home improvement store. Your shopping list should include a small bucket of topping compound, a sheet of fine-grit sandpaper, an eight-inch drywall taping knife, and a drywall patch large enough to cover the hole. A drywall patch is a mesh, made of either metal or plastic, with an adhesive backing that is applied directly to the wall covering the hole. With the patch in place, the next step is to stir the topping compound into a mayonnaise-like consistency. This eliminates air and provides for a smoother finish. Armed with your new taping knife, apply compound to the patch and in an area about a foot all around the hole. Be sure to completely embed the patch and make the edges thinner than the middle. This takes a bit of practice. The idea is to take the entire height of the patch and distribute it over a greater area making it much less noticeable. Keep the layer thin to reduce sanding. Clean all of your tools in warm water when you are finished. With your first layer dried, sand the entire area smooth. You probably will not be happy with the results of the first coat. This is normal. Repeat the procedure again, with an eye toward "feathering" the edges for a seamless look. Again, clean your tools and sand when dried. You may need to apply three or four layers to get the desire effect. And don't forget a primer must be used on the raw patch before painting.
 
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