Plaster Repair Strategies

I love the look and feel of old plaster, so when the inevitable cracks and crumbles appear, my goal is to preserve as much as possible. But I'm not a purist. Unless I'm working on a historically significant house, I rely on modern methods and materials to make efficient and invisible repairs. Materials and techniques vary depending on the degree of damage and its location.

I start every plaster repair job by identifying all of the damaged spots and circling them with a pencil. Then I prep the area by cutting open each crack and flaring the edges. Intact plaster is tough stuff, so it's easy to know when and where to stop cutting. When the demo is done, I vacuum the debris from the crevice, then apply firm hand...