Found A Hole In Ceiling - Diy Help

- Patching holes in walls - Filling odd gaps and holes in the wall - Types of fillers

Small cavities, cracks, holes or gashes in plaster walls or ceiling can be repaired with interior filler.

Start job:

1. With a filling knife scrape out the crack. If torn - that is if the hole is in plaster board, use a sharp trimming knife to snip off jagged edges. Run your knife along the crack pointing into the wall first to the left then to the right. This will create an inverted V shape which, when filled, will hold itself in place far better.

2. Any dust will need to be brushed out of the crack in the wall with a brush.

3. Mix filler into an easily workable paste - not sloppy. Using an old cup or similar container is far easier than mixing on a flat surface. Pour in a little powder and add water whilst stirring to create a smooth paste. Alternatively, take the easy route and use filler that is ready mixed to fill the crack in wall. To save yourself a lot of sanding down and time, follow the technique below rather than the common one of over-filling to allow for shrinkage, and sanding back smooth.

4. Load filler onto the end of the filling knife blade and draw the blade across the crack. After scraping the reminder off the blade, draw it pull it down the crack or hole in wall. This will remove unwanted filler from the wall and smooth the surface.

5. For deeper cracks in wall which are more like larger holes, build up the surface in layers, working from the edges. Wait about two hours for each layer to dry before putting the next layer onto the hole in the wall.

6. After you have filled the crack in wall and the filler is completely dry, smooth it to the level of the surrounding surface with medium or fine abrasive paper wrapped round a wooden block, or use a power sander with fine-grade sandpaper so that the crack in wall will no longer be visible and the wall will be smooth. You can now paint if necessary.

Advice & Tips

When filling a crack in wall, if the filler draws away from the wall as you smother it with you filling knife, try wetting the blade.

Filling odd gaps and holes in wall or ceiling

Sometimes there are holes in wall that just can't be filled correctly with standard interior fillers. Simply buy special fillers to fill them up. Odd gaps and holes will include the long cracks in wall running from the top to the bottom of a wall, particularly in stairwells. These can be filled, but if they open up again, this could be an indication of a structural problem. It is advisable that you contact your local builder or surveyor for some advice.Cracks often occur at wall joints or wall and ceiling joints and between wall and woodwork. All these can be filled with flexible mastic.

Foam Filler

Deep cracks or holes, for example those around a pipe through a wall, can be more complicated to fill but the job is simpler if you use foam filler. Wear the gloves supplied as the foam is very gluey until it sets.

It is important to experiment with the filler to see how fast the foam comes out of the nozzle and how much it expands.

1. Firstly use a brush to get any dirt or loose pieces of debris out ot the hole or crack in wall and wet the surface making it damp.

2. Release foam into the hole in wall and remember to allow for it's expansion. You may only need a thin bead of the foam filler to fill the crack in wall.

3. Leave the foam for 1 to 2 hrs. When it has set, cut any excess away with a hacksaw blade or a sharp knife. Wear a mask to avoid inhaling the dust.

Flexible Mastic

The gaps flanked by walls and window frames, skirting boards, door frames and staircases, move. Therefore flexible mastic would be the best option and most suitable as it sticks well and resists cracking. The mastic is applied with a cartridge gun.

- For deep cracks, fill them with thin strips of alreadyexpanded polystyrene before applying the sealant - You will need to ensure that the sealant reaches both sides of the gap. Press it in and smooth the surface with a wetted fingertip.

Advice & Tips

Some people lick their finger and pastes it along the bead of sealant but this is not advised. Instead dip finger in a solution of 50:50 water and washing - up liquid. If you have sensitive skin, use the back of a wetted teaspoon instead.

Tools: Old paintbrush; filling knife; abrasive paper and clock, or power sander. Possibly also: trimming knife: Large paintbrush; cold chisel; garden spray gun; length of wood Materials: Suitable filler


Copyright (c) 2010 Anayo Keane Etumnu