Patching a Plaster Wall

Fix a hole in the wall with a few common tools and some drywall supplies. Practice your technique!

From the OHJ archives

MAKING THE PATCH Remove any crumbling plaster around the area to be patched. Cut the hole opening to a regular shape, preferably back to the nearest stud. A regular shape makes the drywall patch easier to cut; exposing studs lets you nail the patch directly to the studs. Secure edges of the old plaster with wood screws. If the plaster is sound but the plaster keys holding it to lath have broken, use screws along with plaster washers to stabilize the plaster. Cut a drywall patch to fit neatly in the opening. The gap between patch and plaster should be minimal so that the tape will span the joint. Shim the drywall patch as needed to bring it flush with the surface of the plaster. Nail or screw the drywall in place,…

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Old House Journal (Digital) - 1 Issue, September/October 2024

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