How to Patch Holes in Plaster Walls | This Old House

The homeowners are trying to save money by pitching in with the crew. Today Joe is learning to patch holes in the original plaster with painter Mauro Henrique. Mauro shows Joe and Kevin O’Connor how to cut a rectangular hole to fit a patch instead of cutting the patch to fit a hole. He screws in a blueboard patch, covers the edges with a mesh drywall tape and spreads over joint compound. Kevin and Joe get to work covering holes in the front parlor.

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How to Patch Holes in Plaster Walls | This Old House

[sergeybebenin]

1. Should have trimmed edges at 45° with a blade. This way you get more joint compound into the slot... = less likely to crack. Also less likely to have high points.
2. Overlapping the mesh will only create high points. You don't need to do this.

[avalon]

Mauro has a nice way about him. Got the gift to teach.

[Messy_but_magical]

We just purchased a house that was built in 1908, I see alot of this in my future

[TheInroad]

This is nonsense. This is what picture frames are for.

[JoseHernandez-tckl]

I did this work last week and had a hard time. I had a hole 4x4 and a friend told me that I had to get the stud. So the hole had to go bigger 6x10. Then they told me that I had to put a small piece of wood behind to hole the sherock. Even though hard lesson learn I did it and it came out good after sanding and painting

[yomomma]

You haven’t experienced true pain if you haven’t tried finding studs being plaster and lathe

[davcot]

That electrician did a pretty good job making small holes in that old plaster
Usually u end up with a big mess. Lots of plaster wants break off
Great job

[LiveForFreedom]

Ok press the knife a little more.. ahhh.. easy easy.. we don’t want to break what we don’t have too. Lol😂 typical boss

[GD]

Walls made out of chalk and paper. Modern ingenuity at its finest !!!!

[mkl]

You have to water down that mud a little. Also, using hot mud will greatly improve productivity, in reality. Less dry time waiting and less shrinkage.

[SonicOrbStudios]

he put the drywall patch in backwards, there's brown paper facing them

[Reece]

Yeah, I don’t know what kind of plaster you got, but mine ain’t being caught with a utility knife

[tonysaccount]

Over lapping mesh tape is a no no, came here for advise rook

[suzanneglover]

What about 1950’s plaster walls that used a mesh instead of wood lath? How do I fix a hole in that? 😫😫😭😭😭

[damianellis]

Show one where you don't have that backing There how do you place the strap to hold the piece of drywall secure to the wall

[wajlee]

What's the point of blue board if you cover the whole thing with joint compound? Could have just used drywall.

[randypittman]

Check out Vancouver Carpenter for quality drywall patching advice.

[MasterChief-slro]

The trick is use thin coats. And do several after each coat dries. As it will shrink..Then sand it.

And don't make small repairs. As people will only cover the hole up. Then later you can see where it's done..

[TheCrookHook]

Hmm i thought we weren't supposed to overlap mesh tape? Im a newb tho so what do i know lol

[javahead]

The backing music starting at 2:06 sounds a lot like Cake.