Home maintenance and redecorating are great ways to improve the look of your home. However, these tasks can also take a toll on your walls, leaving them with holes and markings that are less than attractive to look at.

Even worse, damp conditions or water leaks can create severe damage to your plaster that is very unpleasant to look at. Luckily, as long as the affected areas are small you should be able to repair the damage with very little effort and a bit of simple filler.

Preparing the Area

Whenever you are going to undertake a home improvement task, it is important that you prepare. Not only will this prevent further damage from occurring, it is also important for your safety.

First, clear the area of any furniture or household items that could encumber you or become damaged during the process.

Next, ensure that all children and pets are kept away from your workspace. Before filling a crack or hole yourself, you should be sure that the damage has been limited to the plaster and that the structural integrity of the wall was not compromised. If you suspect the joints of the wall may have been damaged, you should hire an expert.

The other thing to look for is mould; this is particularly important if the damage has been caused by a flood, leak, or damp. If mould is present, it is important that you deal with the problem and do not simply fill it. Covering mould only provides it with more material to infest.

Filling

As you get ready to fill, survey the damage and mentally plan which areas you will attack first. Prepare the area for filling by removing all loose plaster and giving the wall a good wipe with a damp cloth.

Minor cracks can be filled directly, which makes them a good place to start. Place the filler onto the wall with a filler knife and allow it to dry. After the filler has dried, sand it down with medium sandpaper and then again with fine sandpaper until you have a smooth finish.

If the damage is a small hole or a large crack that cannot be filled directly, you will have to patch it with plasterboard. In order to do so, you will first have to cut around the damaged area to make a neat square opening. Next, cut a piece of scrap plasterboard that is slightly narrower than the hole you have made, but 1 inch longer at each end. Make a small hole in the centre of the plasterboard and secure a piece of string through the hole. Make sure that the string is secure and will not pull though the hole.

A good trick is to tie a washer on the backside. Spread adhesive on the top and bottom 1 inch of your patch and insert it into the hole, pulling forward on the string so that the adhesive spreads and grabs to the inside of the wall. Give the adhesive some time to set and then fill the hole with filler and finish the job with finishing plaster.

The last step is to sand the finish smooth.

Safety

All home improvement projects should be undertaken with a keen eye for safety, and plastering is not an exception. When you are cutting and dealing with drywall, it is important that you use the proper tools and materials, and that you protect your eyes with goggles and your lungs with a mask.

Remember, do-it-yourself work can be very rewarding and a great way to save money on home improvements. However, if the task is too large or beyond your skill-level, you can run the risk of creating even more damage or, worse yet, harming yourself in the process.

If ever you feel that you are unsure of your skill in completing a task, stop immediately and call in a professional.