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Hello –
I am about to start repairing settlement cracks and other age related cracks in a 1950’s ranch house that has plaster on rocklath walls.
The top coat is finished with swirled sand, and this may make my job a little easier since I don’t have to spend hours smoothing out the repair coats.
I have two questions –
1. The walls don’t appear to have a coat of paint on them and most are fairly grungy, some with stains from roof or ice dam leaks from many years ago.
Is it against standard practice to apply primer/paint over plaster walls ?
(The kitchen seems to be the exception – finished mirror smooth and painted with that awful light green popular in the 1950s.)
Are there potential problems with painting plaster walls ?
2. For patching all the cracks, I am using the technique described in FH #103, pg. 90 – 93 by Mario Rodriguez. (“A new way to repair old plaster.)
It appears the top coat on our wall is the same as his first layer of fortified joint compound with #00 mason’s sand. All I have to do is match the streaks/swirls. (I would still apply the fiberglass mesh tape.)
Where can I find the 3′ wide rolls of fiberglass mesh tape mentioned in the article ? Any online/mail order sources ? No luck with local suppliers. (“Never heard of such a thing.”)
Thanks for your help,
Alan
Replies
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I would was these thoroughly before painting. You could use Sodium triphosphate or a very weak acid wash. The acid might damage surronding woodwork so I lean to the stp
If you still have any moisture migrating through the masonry, it would be a disastor to paint. The continuing efflourescence will flake the paint in short order. Be sure those faults are corrected first.
You may want to consider using a latex bonding agent before patching. I have also used these as a primer/sealer for similar applications. It is compatable with masonry and lays up a bonding barrier between the paint and the alkalii.
Any paint for masonry should be alkyd.
*Alan, Sherwin-Williams stores can get the 3' wide fiberglass for you - it's called PermaGlass Mesh, and comes in 75' long rolls, I'm pretty sure. They will probably need to special order it, but they can all get it. You may have to ask for a manager, because many of the sales help there have never heard of the product.I think this is the stuff in the article, but I haven't read it in a long time. It does work well, though. I have used it on closets with good fast results.Hope this helps. Rich.
*Thanks, Rich -I did end up calling a Sherwin Williams store and it's on order.Around under $30 for a roll.They asked me "how many rolls would you like ?".I hope all I need is one for this project....Take care,Alan
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Hello -
I am about to start repairing settlement cracks and other age related cracks in a 1950's ranch house that has plaster on rocklath walls.
The top coat is finished with swirled sand, and this may make my job a little easier since I don't have to spend hours smoothing out the repair coats.
I have two questions -
1. The walls don't appear to have a coat of paint on them and most are fairly grungy, some with stains from roof or ice dam leaks from many years ago.
Is it against standard practice to apply primer/paint over plaster walls ?
(The kitchen seems to be the exception - finished mirror smooth and painted with that awful light green popular in the 1950s.)
Are there potential problems with painting plaster walls ?
2. For patching all the cracks, I am using the technique described in FH #103, pg. 90 - 93 by Mario Rodriguez. ("A new way to repair old plaster.)
It appears the top coat on our wall is the same as his first layer of fortified joint compound with #00 mason's sand. All I have to do is match the streaks/swirls. (I would still apply the fiberglass mesh tape.)
Where can I find the 3' wide rolls of fiberglass mesh tape mentioned in the article ? Any online/mail order sources ? No luck with local suppliers. ("Never heard of such a thing.")
Thanks for your help,
Alan