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How To Patch Plaster

Indoor cricket match that got out of hand? Opened a door with a bit too much gusto? Beers with mates that turned into an impromptu wrestling match?

All of these things can lead to one thing: a hole in your plasterboard! While it’s a bit of a pain, patching up plaster is not a time-consuming, difficult or expensive repair. In fact, if you know what you’re doing, it’s pretty damn easy!

Here, the gurus at Plaster Wholesalers discuss how to patch plaster, and where to get all your top-notch materials to do it.

1) Prep the room

Patching a hole in your plasterboard is a bit like painting. You’ve got to make sure that the plaster goes where you want it, and doesn’t spill onto the skirting boards and floor. Do this by laying drop cloths or newspaper sheets over a selected area of the floor.

2) Remove the damaged plaster

Chip the damaged plaster off the wall by using a cold chisel and a small hammer. Do this carefully, otherwise you could slip and damage the lath, which is the wooden from that supports the plasterboard. Then, use a utility knife to smooth the edges of the hole, preparing it to be patched.

3) Apply a bonding agent

Applying a bonding agent is the next step of patching your plasterboard. We do this so that the lath and the dry plaster doesn’t absorb excess moisture, keeping it dry and structurally sound. Just ask the team at Plaster Wholesalers about which bonding agent is suitable, and then use a paintbrush to spread it around the exposed drywall.

4) Patch it

Now it’s time to patch the plaster. Take your plaster compound and fill the hole with it, using a taping knife. Once you’ve finished the first coat of plaster, cross-scratch it to create little grooves in the layer. This helps your second coat of plaster to stick better, making a secure bond.

5) Apply second layer

After 24 hours, use a spray bottle to dampen lightly and apply the second layer of plaster. Cross-scratch the second layer as it starts to dry.

6) Joint compound

Apply a joint compound, let it dry and then sand it back with fine sandpaper. Apply a second coat of the joint compound, let it dry and sand it back again. Some like to do a third, very thin layer of joint compound, but that’s depending on the job and the desired result. Then, sand it again lightly until it’s smooth, wipe with a damp cloth and you’re ready to prime and paint!

Get your plasterboard looking less like Swiss cheese and more like a proper wall, thanks to Plaster Wholesalers. With 30 years’ experience in plasterboarding, they have all the products you need to patch a hole in your plasterboard. Grab a quote from Plaster Wholesalers and plaster like a pro!

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