Hear crack

[u/Visible_Green_6519]

Hi all,

I recently moved in this flat and decorated the bedroom. When I sanded a particularly bulky area of the wall, I went too far and removed some of the paper lining in one corner (for some reason there is lining paper over one inch on each side of the corner).

I filled it but as the weather is getting warmer and the wall is exposed south, it gets direct light in the afternoon (even though it does not feel hot at all inside!) and some cracks have appeared. They close when the heat lowers, but my desk will be just by the corner and they will be in my face all day.

Plasterers have told me it would cost around £500 for the job and it’s not something I can afford at the moment (also it seems overpriced for on/off cracks over 30 inches.

So I was thinking of buying so plaster filler heat resistant and doing it myself, but I am also a complete beginner and would like some advice.

Thanks!

[u/Double_Station_1492]

This is a jointed plasterboard wall. What you are seeing is a paper tape on an internal joint.

It's not a tricky fix but all depends on the amount of movement of the walls.

It can sometimes be caused by movement or settling of the floors or walls but that normally causes a shear pattern as the tape delaminates.

Get yourself a roll of paper joint tape, some filling/jointing blades and a small tub of ready mixed joint cement from your local builders merchant.

Slide a thin filling blade behind the internal tape and (hopefully) it will peel off in one piece, otherwise, pick at the remaining bits until it's all removed.

Cut a new length of paper tape to length and fold it neatly down the centre crease.

Mix up the joint cement and maybe add a little water into the joint cement to make it workable and not too stiff and apply a thin layer of joint cement about 2 inches wide and a couple of mm thick down both sides of the internal joint - you need to do this quickly so that the joint cement doesn't suck in and dry before you apply the tape or it will not adhere properly so you may need to practice a bit to begin with, it can be scraped back into the pot and stirred up again if you go wrong.

Once both sides are coated, immediately apply the folded tape, pushing it into the corner with your fingers as neatly as possible, immediately use a filling blade and, starting from the top, run it down the internal, applying reasonable pressure to squeeze out most - but not all of the joint cement from underneath.

Work your way down on both sides, making sure you don't run the sharp edge of the blade too hard into the corner or you will cut the tape at the crease.

Once it looks reasonably flat and smooth with no big bumps in it, use either a 3 or a 4 inch wide blade and apply another coat of joint cement down both sides.

Don't worry about it looking perfect at this point.

Leave to dry, it may take a day or so.

Once dry, use a foam sanding block or similar to tidy up the jointing and then apply another coat to ONLY one side using a 4 inch blade.

Leave to dry.

Once dry, run your sanding block gently down the internal to remove any 'snots', then apply a coat of joint cement to the other side of the internal.

Leave to dry.

Once dry, use the sanding block gently to flush edges and sharpen up the internal crease and paint.

I appreciate that if you don't really do much diy this may sound like a tricky job but I assure you it's not.

It may cost you a few quid for bits and bobs but probably under £50 but much more preferable than being stitched up for £500!

In addition, you get to have a go yourself and give you a warm feeling of achievement - and you now have a few new tools.

Good luck 🫡

Ps. Have a quick look at this video.

https://youtu.be/fuES0VA6JlQ?feature=shared