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Wide cracks: A crack of 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch in width is problematic it's a sign of something going on that is more serious than a house settling or climate control issues. To fix a bulge or hole in a lathe and plaster wall, we need to pay special attention to two things: limit the damage as we remove the loose plaster, and make sure the new plaster sticks solidly to the old lathe.They are most common in the first 10 years of plaster installation. Diagonal, horizontal, or vertical cracks: These streak-like cracks are structural cracks caused by foundation movement, moisture expansion, or plaster drying and shrinking.This is a sign of a bigger problem that should be remedied immediately.
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It could be from outside water getting in or a pipe in the walls that has sprung a leak. Bubbling or discoloration of plaster: If you notice cracks that include bubbling, wetness, discoloration, or water stains, you likely have water seeping into the wall.The lathe strips are typically 2 inches wide, therefore one should find a nail head spaced about every 2.5 -3 inches apart. Note that the plaster may be upwards of an inch in thickness behind which lies the nail heads. The outer layer may only need removal and replastering. Dedicated metal scanners may be used to locate nails fastening wood lath to the studs. Bulging is usually caused by a simple problem like the outer layer separated from the inner layer of plaster, called delamination. You need to find the leak and seal it up before things get worse. The easy way to solve them is with a stain blocking primer, but that won’t do anything to resolve the water issue. Brown water stains will begin to show up soon after a leak begins. Bulging: Bulges in plaster create small cracks emanating from them. This is the early signs of water damage to plaster.Hairline cracks are usually caused by plaster drying, expanding, and contracting. There is no need to bother with them unless you want to clean them up cosmetically. Hairline or spiderweb cracks: These cracks are benign they are so small that you can hardly fit a fingernail in them.PVA also acts as a bonding agent, so applying a coat of PVA before plastering helps bond plaster to walls. The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board In extreme circumstances, lumps of the plaster can fall off the wall Applying PVA as a primer seals the wall surface and lowers the suction rate.