It is normal for walls and ceilings to start deteriorating and have cracks. Whether interior or exterior walls, concrete, plaster or drywall, there is no guarantee that they will remain without having a crack.
Walls are easily damaged due to human and pet activities or natural causes or because they can no longer stand the test of time.
Wall damages can come in the form of dents, holes, cracks, and more. These spots make the application of paints difficult and deface the walls. The good news is that despite how unsightly they can be, they are easy and quick to repair. You only need knowledge on how to carry out flawless spot-patching.
If you know some tricks of the task, have the right tools and materials, you will get your wall repairs done in no time.
In this article, we’ll teach you how to carry out flawless spot-patching. Here, you will learn using an easy step by step guide how to fix common wall problems such as cracks in ceilings, doorknob damages, and cracks under the window. This cuts across drywall, plaster, and concrete walls.
But before you begin to spot-patch your walls, carefully pay attention to these safety guidelines.
Safety Guidelines Before Spot-Patching
Lift Carefully
Be careful when lifting heavy objects in the course of spot-patching.
Look for someone to help you lift heavy objects. If possible, opt for lighter objects instead, so you won’t have to strain your back.
Also, lift objects with the weight in your knees, not your back.
Empty Buckets of water
If you used a bucket to carry water, empty it as soon as you’re through to avoid kids creating a mess with them or climbing inside.
Clean Up Dust
Whether you’re working on drywall, plaster or concrete walls, you can not rule out the possibility of dust filling the air and settling on floors and other surfaces.
Therefore, wear a face mask or a dual-cartridge respirator, then mop the floor and clean surfaces when you’re through.
Another way to reduce dust is to lay a cloth on the floor where you’re working on. That way, the dust particles will fall on the cloth. When you’re done working, wipe off the dust with a damp sponge. Then clean the floor with a vacuum cleaner, or carefully sweep, then mop it.
How to Spot-Patch Different Walls
Now, on to how to carry out flawless spot-patching. Here’s our step by step guide on how to repair drywalls, plaster walls and concrete walls that are damaged.
How to Spot-Patch Drywall
A cracked drywall is easier to fix than concrete and plaster walls.
- To fix drywall, use a knife and cut a V-notch (⅛ inch to ¼ inch) along the crack. Let the cut follow the length of the crack.
- Remove any loose material. Use a mesh joint type or a joint compound plus a paper tape to cover the crack. Add a thin layer of joint compound, it should extend 2 inches on both edges of the tape. Let it dry.
- Apply another joint compound on each edge of the crack, about 6 to 7 inches. Let it dry overnight.
- Then sand it lightly until it’s smooth. After that, it’s fit for painting or wallpaper.
How to Spot-Patch Plaster Wall
This is similar to drywall repair with the use of joint compound in spot-patching plaster walls.
However, if you notice the plaster pulling off the lath, you will need to fortify the wall first. This is done with a two-step process by simply using a conditioner spray first, then an adhesive.
Here is a step by step guide on how to spot-patch a plaster wall:
- First, use a 3/16 masonry bit to drill holes. This should make a hole through the master, but should not touch the wood lath. Let it run every 3 inches along the length of the crack.
- Clear particles and dust from the holes.
- Spray all holes with the adhesive conditioner. Let it stay for some time according to the package instructions.
- Now, insert the adhesive into all the holes. Start from the bottom part of the wall.
- Wipe off excess adhesive with a wet sponge. Without wasting time, use a drill to fix plaster rings so you can attach the plaster strong on the wall.
- Leave it to dry according to the package instructions.
- Pull out the plaster rings.
- Conceal the holes by applying a joint compound.
- Faintly sand it; coat with joint compound again.
- When it gets dry, sand it smooth.
How to Spot-Patch Concrete Walls
An important tool for patching a concrete wall is an epoxy repair kit. An epoxy helps make the crack watertight sealed.
Here is how to spot-patch a concrete wall:
- Partially tap finish nails (3-inches) into the crack. Do this at every 12 inches. The nails will join injection ports.
- Use a palette knife to mix equal amounts of the epoxy on a piece of wood. Please note that epoxy has two parts (A and B). You need to mix them before using them.
- Now, put a little portion of the epoxy on the tab of the injection port.
- Attach all the ports against the wall, cover all the finish nails with one port each.
- Layout the epoxy too on the crack, let it extend 1 inch on all the sides of the crack.
- Cover the flange of all the injection ports with the epoxy.
- You can also dip a paintbrush in mineral spirits, brush the epoxy at the sides.
- Leave it for 6-10 hours. After that, use a caulk gun to inject liquid concrete work into the ports. Start from the bottom. Do this until the liquid discharges from the port.
- Ensure you seal each port before proceeding to other ports.
- Leave it for no less than 5 days. Use a hacksaw to chop off the flush of the port with the wall.
How to Spot-Patch Deep Cracks
Cracks in plaster or drywall that are deeper than ¼ inches should be filled up with a filler compound first before you tab it with a joint compound.
Combine the compound according to the package instructions.
Fill up the crack until it balances with the wall. To have a smooth wall, use tape and joint compound to cover it as mentioned earlier.
As mentioned earlier, spot-patching is not difficult if you follow the due process. With the guide above, you can confidently try your hand at spot-patching. All you need is a good look at the guidelines, the right tools, and enough time to carry out the task.
