Cracks in the ceiling are usually not a cause for great alarm.
If your ceilings are plastered, cracks are often attributed to plaster crumbling. Cracks in drywall can be caused by vibration from appliances such as a ceiling fan.
In some cases, cracks can indicate a serious ceiling problem that needs to be corrected.
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Ceiling cracks can be unsightly and annoying, but repairing them is not as difficult as it might seem. This can be easily done with just a few household tools, just by following the instructions.
Self-repair of cracks in the ceiling, simple and inexpensive Repairing small cracks in a plastered ceiling
Using a putty knife, scrape off any loose plaster around the crack. Press the tool around the crack to loosen other damaged plaster. If the area of damage is large, then the coating must be completely replaced; otherwise it will crack again. Brush off loose plaster, dust and other debris using a brush.
Fill a spray bottle with water. Spray the plaster around the crack to keep it moist. Make a putty mixture according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Apply sealant to cracks and adjacent areas using a putty knife
Wait at least 24 hours for it to dry completely. Rub over the surface with sandpaper to align the repaired surface with the rest of the ceiling.
If the surface is not horizontally leveled, cover all the holes with a large amount of putty, wait a day, then sand the surface again. Apply a coat of primer and then paint over the repaired area.
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How to repair a crack in the ceiling
Fixing a crack in the ceiling
You will need:
- Ready putty
- Putty knife
- Waterproofing tape
- Ladder
- Protective glasses
- Putty tray
- Dye
- Brush
Use a damp cloth to wipe off any debris around the crack. Always wear safety glasses when handling plaster and loose parts.
Apply self-adhesive plasterboard waterproofing tape, glue directly through the crack (do not run at the joints between the ceiling and the wall)
Take about 1 cup from a jar of putty and put it in a special tray, spread the mixture evenly over the tape with a spatula, pressing on the mesh and smoothing the surfaces.
Let it dry completely, then rub over the repaired area with sandpaper. Paint the ceiling or apply a new coat of plaster.
How to fill a cracked ceiling?
Use a brush to remove dirt and dust particles. Load the elastomeric material into the filler syringe. Apply the mixture along the entire length of the crack. It is possible in several rows to cover the edges of the crack.
Repair of cracks in the ceiling Run a spatula along the crack. This will allow you to shove the putty into the crack and scrape off any excess. Remove excess filler with a wet-blade trowel. Wait 24 hours for dry.
If the putty has shrunk to the size of a crack, apply a second coat and leave again for 24 hours. Repeat this procedure until complete shrinkage and an even level of the former damage and the rest of the ceiling.
How to fill a gap in the ceiling with sealant
You can repair small or thin cracks in the ceiling yourself. Fill the gap with silicone sealant, an advanced material that seals the gap and gives the surface a smooth finish.
Available in a variety of colors to match the surface. The waterproof material provides quick and easy fixing of ceiling cracks.
Clean the cracked surface with a soft bristle brush to remove loose parts. Wipe the surface with a damp cloth to remove dirt and residual debris. Dry the area around the crack thoroughly.
Insert a tube of silicone putty into a plastering syringe. Use a utility knife to cut the tip of the disposable tube at a 45-degree angle. Shape a hole in the tube to match the width of the crack.
Place the tip of the gun at an oblique angle over the crack. Squeeze the trigger to release the silicone compound into the crack. Squeeze the trigger continuously and slowly slide your hand along the crack, from end to end.
Using a wet gloved hand, apply light pressure along the putty line to smooth the surface. Leave to harden for 24 hours. Wipe off excess mixture with a damp cloth.
Traditional methods of repairing a ceiling - painting or whitewashing - begin with a thorough preparation of the base. It is good if the surface is flat without defects and flaws. Then it is enough to putty and prime the ceiling. But there are times when the plaster or concrete slab begins to crack, causing a lot of difficulties and inconveniences for further finishing. If you know how to repair a crack in the ceiling on your own, you will be able to mask the flaws and extend the service life of the structure.
Types of cracks and the reasons for their appearance
The cracks in the ceiling are divided into structural and dynamic. Structural ones are formed as a result of excessive loads exceeding the permissible bearing capacity on the ceiling.
Dynamic fractures are classified into the following types:
- developing, which become larger in size as the building is used. Formed as a result of violations during the laying of the foundation or subsidence of the foundation under the influence of an excessive amount of groundwater, faulty water supply, flooding of the basements of buildings;
- stable. They belong to non-developing cracks, appear in new buildings and stop growing 3-4 years after the house has shrunk.
If the composition is incorrectly selected to the operating conditions characteristic of the room, a periodic decrease, and then an increase in the temperature regime, causes overlap defects.
When the cause is found and eliminated, it is not difficult to repair the resulting defect on your own. But in the event that we are not talking about massive damage to floor slabs, which pose a danger to the room and the people in it.
Hair cracks are also called shrinkage cracks. Such defects pose the greatest danger and often lead to deformation of the base of the foundation and the entire building. This affects the strength of the structure. Usually they are formed due to uneven load on the foundation or with incorrect proportions and type of composition for pouring the foundation.
The width of such cracks does not initially exceed 1 mm. Hence their second name is hair. The development of cracks is gradual. First, the ceiling is covered with a "gossamer". If the protective layer is ignored, reinforcement made of steel begins to oxidize under the influence of moisture entering through cracks in the ceiling. Because of this, the metal grows in size and destroys the concrete it comes into contact with.
To prevent unpleasant consequences, it is necessary to exclude contact of moisture with the reinforcement. For this, the floor slab is covered with special compounds that penetrate into the recesses, creating a protective film on the base of the ceiling. These formulations include Sikagard® 680S, Sikagard®-203 W.
If concrete peeling from the reinforcement occurs, the method of solving the problem is chosen taking into account the degree of corrosion of the reinforcement, as well as the area of the defective ceiling. Usually, fiber concrete is used to solve global problems. It completely compensates for wire damage.
In the photo, a destroyed sample of fiber-reinforced concrete On top of the fiber-reinforced concrete, cement-based compounds are applied with a layer of 30 to 50 mm, which provide additional surface protection. Their use will increase the strength of the new shell.
More often, the depth of cracks is limited by a layer of plaster, so such flaws can be repaired with less money and time.
First, the crack is carefully primed. Then, according to the instructions, and fill the groove with the mixture, leveling the surface with a spatula. Leave the ceiling to dry for 24 hours. When the plaster is dry, grout the repaired area with fine-grained sandpaper until the surface is smooth.
If the cracks in the ceiling are large, you will have to act differently. Such gaps are additionally strengthened with a reinforcing mesh-serpyanka, acting according to the following algorithm:
- the cracks are covered with putty;
- stick on a serpyanka mesh;
- when the composition dries, the repaired area is re-covered with a layer of putty.
Sometimes one putty mixture is not enough, so you have to additionally use all kinds of sealants or polyurethane foam.
There is another way to seal cracks using homemade bandages made of linen or cotton fabric. To do this, a strip of material is cut out so wide that when gluing it protrudes 1-2 cm beyond the edges of the gap. The flap is moistened in an adhesive composition, applied to the crack and leveled. After the glue dries, a layer of putty is applied to the fabric with a protrusion.
Even when the shrinkage of the structure is complete, cracks form along the joints of adjacent floor slabs. This is influenced by vibration, frequent temperature changes and other factors.
To extend the operational life of the finish, such cracks are sealed as deep as possible:
- first, the cracks are sewn with a hammer, perforator or chisel, removing the previous solution from the joints;
- then the gaps are blown with an air stream under high pressure, moistened abundantly with water;
- cracks are filled with polyurethane foam to 2/3 of the depth;
- 24 hours after the foam has completely solidified, the excess parts are cut off with a knife so that the cut is recessed 3 cm deep into the gap;
- primer the recess and edges with a latex primer;
- the remaining space of the gap is closed with a cement leveling compound, after having glued the serpyanka mesh;
- when the solution dries out (after 1-2 days), the joints are leveled with a gypsum-based putty, and the ceiling is completely putty if the entire plane is being repaired.
Sealing of cracks in the ceiling between two mating surfaces is carried out in several ways:
- the recess is filled with polyurethane foam or filled with mineral wool. The first option will do better as the foam expands and adheres tightly to adjacent surfaces. After drying of the polyurethane foam, the surface is plastered;
- you can eliminate cracks in the ceiling with plaster or synthetic putty. These are moisture resistant, environmentally friendly and safe materials. For better adhesion of the composition to the surface, the cracks are first moistened abundantly with water. At the end of the repair, the composition is given time to dry, and they proceed to the finishing;
- special putty is another type of material used to seal such cracks. It is sold ready-to-use. The composition is applied to the defective place with a spatula.
If the cracks are not deep and do not pose a danger to the overlap, the repair of the ceiling is carried out in the traditional way using a plaster mixture. The situation is worse when the reinforcement of the floor slab is damaged inside, and the slab is bent, and ordinary fiber-reinforced concrete is not enough. Then reinforcement is the only possible way out, which will restore the integrity of the floor and extend the service life of the base ceiling. This work will have to be entrusted to professional builders.
The repair includes sandwich reinforcement, in which a layer of reinforcement is applied on both sides of the floor slab. The reinforcement is chosen with a cross section of 8-15 mm, depending on the calculated load. The number of layers of reinforcement depends on the thickness of the floor: up to 150 mm, one layer is enough, above this value, two layers are laid.
A reinforcing mesh mounted from reinforcement of the same section is attached to the ceiling. The size of the frame cells is 15x15 mm.
When the first layer of reinforced mesh is laid, the surface is poured with cement mortar. A second reinforcing layer is laid on the cement layer.
When repairing the ceiling, it is necessary to pay attention to the presence and elimination of defects. Even a seemingly small crack will become a global problem and lead to unpredictable consequences if it begins to grow deeper into the floor slab.
How to repair micro cracks on the ceiling and walls, video instruction
Starting renovation in a house or apartment, everyone is faced with the problem of cracks in the ceiling. It is good if they are small and there are not many of them. But how do you repair the cracks in the ceiling? Even a person who does not know how to do anything can easily fix them. Small cracks are repaired using the old old-fashioned method using plaster mortar. The mixture consists of equal parts of crushed chalk and sand. It can also consist of synthetic components.
Such cracks are sealed with plaster mortar, using a metal spatula, leveling the mortar well. Such a seal is called spot putty. Spot putty is used when the ceiling is covered with wallpaper or painted with light water-based paints.
Crack sealing technology
- clean up the cracks, removing all exfoliated parts.
- prime the crack well with a deep-penetrating primer, preferably in two layers,
- prepare a solution and seal the cracks well by filling them with a solution and leveling the crack surface and around it with a spatula,
- let it dry well, about a day,
- sand well to a smooth surface,
- we paint the ceiling or paste over with wallpaper.
Do-it-yourself filling cracks in the ceiling must be done in several stages with the application of small portions of putty.
Advice ! When sealing cracks in the ceiling, dirty work, there will be a lot of debris and dust in the apartment. When starting the renovation, if possible, take out the furniture, and cover the floor with plastic foil. Then it will be much faster to clean up at the end of the repair.
This method is good for repairing small cracks. And if it is deep and large, what to do? In this case, you first need to fill it with some kind of filler. Fabric strips can be used as a simple filler. These strips should be inserted into the crack until they are completely filled. From above, the crack, filled with strips of fabric, is sealed with a separate strip of fabric, 10 centimeters wider and longer than itself. To prevent the fabric from shrinking in the future, the flap must first be washed and ironed. Then the fabric is soaked in glue and applied to the crack and leveled with a spatula. You can also glue it on top with a special painting net. The mesh is more durable and wear-resistant. PVA glue is used as an adhesive.
Also, these cracks can be sealed with a special material - a sealant. When buying a sealant, consult a seller to find the sealant that suits you.
Sealant, as well as polyurethane foam, are good for sealing cracks between the ceiling and the wall. It is also important to use the sealant where there is a possibility of leaks. The sealant adheres well, has waterproofing properties and has a service life of 15-30 years. Polyurethane foam, unlike sealant, increases its volume during use. So that the cracks no longer cause you trouble, you need to find and eliminate the cause of the cracks.
Advice ! Cracks in the ceiling can tell about various problems in the house: leaking sewers, shrinkage of the building, the strength of the floors is broken. Sealing cracks will not solve the problem of new ones, unless the cause of their appearance is eliminated. Having found it, try to determine the cause of its appearance by contacting specialists.
You can prevent the appearance of cracks with the help of a serpyanka. Before gluing it, you need to carefully putty the surfaces so that bubbles do not appear in the future. Serpyanka is glued to the putty surface and putty on top again. This method of processing joints and corners will give you the opportunity to forget about cracks for a long time. This method is time consuming but well worth it. It is better to do prophylaxis once every 5-10 years than to do repairs every year.
And the cracks in the ceiling can be simply decorated.... This can be done easily and beautifully with the help of special ceiling polystyrene foam plates. With the help of these slabs, cracks can be hidden, but it is also possible to visually align the slab differences on the ceiling. To make the drops on the ceiling less visible, it is better to take seamless tiles.
Cracks in the ceiling can also occur after a quality repair on a plasterboard ceiling. Where do the cracks come from on the plasterboard ceiling?
There are several reasons for this:
- subsidence of the building,
- if the room is large and the drywall sheets are mounted without displacement,
- if the dowels from the kit were used during installation, the dowel is a screw, since the dowel in this case expands poorly and sags,
- during installation. U-shaped hangers were not attached correctly,
- when the ceiling is putty, the joints are not pre-filled,
- before the putty, the ceiling was not primed, or maybe the neighbors flooded you.
If cracks appear on the false ceiling, then you must first find out the reason.
Advice ! If you press the suspended ceiling with your hand from below, and it will move, then it makes no sense to repair cracks on such a ceiling - disassemble and remake it again.
If you do decide to patch up the crack, make sure that it does not arise further. To close it up on a plasterboard stream, you first need to embroider it, that is, slightly increase it.
At the edges of this crack, you need to remove everything that crumbles and lies poorly. After that, it must be treated with a brush or a broom so that there is no debris or dust left, after these manipulations, prime the crack and let it dry. After it has dried, you can putty. Some people use ordinary putty, and there is nothing to worry about. Or you can use a special, furenfüller, which is especially suitable for sealing cracks in plasterboard ceilings. After filling with putty, it must be allowed to dry for 24 hours. Furenfüller is dry, now apply a primer. After a few hours, satengips must be passed through the crack site. Satengypsum has a fine structure and after processing, it is not required to additionally clean it with emery paper. After finishing with finishing putty, the ceiling needs to be painted.
Advice ! If your ceiling is not white, but with the addition of color, then so that you do not have to paint the entire ceiling twice, paint over the place where the crack was filled with a layer of paint as close as possible to your ceiling color and let it dry. Once you have painted the entire ceiling, the embedment site will not be visible.
Another frequently asked question is how to close a large crack? A large crack should be repaired with a metal mesh. After that, a layer of plaster is applied. The next layer of plaster is applied after the previous one has dried. After the last layer has dried, the repaired places must be passed through with a special mesh or sandpaper. Further actions are described above.
How to repair a crack in the ceiling between slabs
- It is necessary to clean the crack of the old leveling layer,
- using a perforator, with a special nozzle, to open the crack,
- with a construction knife, thoroughly clean the seam from debris and irregularities,
- using a paint brush, coat the seam inside with a primer well.
Advice ! It is better to choose a primer solution with a deep penetration effect.
Cover the joint depth with polyurethane foam. Let it dry and trim off the excess. Prepare the building mixture. So that the seam does not differ from the rest of the surface, strengthen it with a serpentine. The entire space between the polyurethane foam and the serpyanka must be thoroughly filled with building mixture. After the mortar has dried, the seam is leveled with the ceiling with a finishing putty.
You can fill up the gaps in the concrete ceiling in rooms with high humidity using a moisture-resistant interior putty. You can also use a fine-grained, quick-drying putty. The putty layer cannot exceed four centimeters, otherwise all your work will go to rework.
A video will be a visual aid for you:
In this article, we have covered all aspects of cracks in detail. Using our tips, any of you can independently make repairs in your house or apartment. You can, of course, hire a company or organization that is engaged in repairs, but by doing it yourself, you will save the family budget, which is important in our time. We really hope that this article will help you, and you will learn from it how to deal with cracks in the ceiling.
There are different options for finishing the ceiling surface. Many of them are good at hiding minor base defects and cracks that appear over time. But the main problem with painted and whitewashed ceilings is still cracks of different sizes. Since the ceiling surface in the room is almost completely open to the public, it is important to know how to repair a crack in the ceiling on your own. There are many reasons for this defect to appear in different places. Knowing them will help prevent future problems.
Types of ceiling cracks and where they appear
There are two types of cracks on the ceiling surface - technological and structural. The latter appear due to the effect of loads that exceed the bearing capacity of the floor slabs. This includes earthquakes, explosions, heavy equipment, shock, etc.
According to the dynamic state, such defects are divided into two types:
- stable - after their appearance, they remain in the same form and do not expand over time (they often appear in new buildings due to building shrinkage, their growth stops after 3-4 years);
- developing - continue to increase over time (appear due to subsidence of foundations, violation of the technology of their installation, exposure to groundwater, as a result of flooding, vibrations, etc.).
Technological cracking of the surface occurs due to the polymerization of liquid putties, adhesives or a waterproofing layer. Such defects appear due to the wrong choice of plaster or putty mixture, multiple cycles of thawing and freezing.
Such defects can appear in different places on the ceiling: at the seams between the floor slabs, at the junction of the ceiling and wall surfaces, at the location of the seam on the plasterboard. Cracking of the ceiling surface due to flooding or plaster peeling occurs anywhere.
The causes of cracks
There are various factors that trigger cracking. Moreover, they may differ for surfaces made of different materials.
A crack in the plasterboard ceiling appears for the following reasons:
- Violation of the technology for installing a wooden frame. Since wood products are capable of changing their linear dimensions due to changes in humidity and temperature, you need to leave a gap between the ends of the planks and wall surfaces. Otherwise, due to deformation of the frame, the ceiling surface will crack.
- Incorrect filling of seams between sheets of drywall. Often the use of a putty composition alone is not enough. The seams must be additionally reinforced with a serpentine tape. This is especially true for new buildings, which will shrink in the coming years.
- Sudden changes in temperature and humidity in the room.
Before fixing the cracks in the ceiling between the slabs, you need to find out the reason for their appearance and eliminate it. Only in this case, the filling of cracks in the ceiling will not crack over time.
Reasons for the appearance of defects on concrete and plastered substrates:
- the seam on the ceiling may crack due to sudden changes in temperature and humidity;
- the service life of finishing materials has expired;
- shrinkage of the building causes mixing of floor slabs (their joints on the ceiling most often crack in new buildings);
- violation of the technology of installation of ceiling decoration.
Regardless of what material the structures are made of, before sealing the ceiling, it is important to identify and eliminate the causes of cracking. Only after that repair work is carried out.
Tools and materials for work
Depending on the depth, the location of the cracks and the complexity of the work being carried out, different devices will be needed.
In any case, you should stock up on the following tools and materials:
- spatulas of different sizes;
- spray for water;
- putty composition;
- primer;
- sandpaper or paint float;
- ladder;
- plastic wrap to protect furniture and floors;
- goggles, gloves and headgear;
- a brush for applying a primer;
- container for mixing the solution;
- a vacuum cleaner;
- PVA glue;
- a piece of cotton cloth;
- metal brush;
- hammer, screwdriver;
- sealant for filling voids;
- painting net or serpyanka to strengthen the seam;
- polyurethane foam will be needed for significant voids between the plates.
It is equally important to know how to cover up cracks in the ceiling. For work in rooms with high humidity, acrylic putty is suitable, and for places with normal humidity, gypsum or cement mortar is taken.
Ceiling crack filling technology
At the preparatory stage, you need to assess the scale of the upcoming work. Take care to protect your furniture and floor from dirt, because the processes are dusty and dirty. To do this, take out the furniture if possible, and cover what remains and the floors with plastic wrap.
The finish in places of cracking is cleaned with a spatula. The concrete surface is cleaned with a wire brush to the base. Then inspect the adjacent areas for additional minor cracks. If such defects are found, the finish is considered over a larger area in order to expose even the smallest cracks.
Small cracks up to 1 cm wide are considered small. They are covered with plaster composition. Significant defects require more extensive work and the use of cement putty, paint net and deep penetration soil.
Sealing a crack in a plastered ceiling
Since the plaster layer is applied up to 2 cm thick, the crack in the ceiling surface can be of considerable width.
When repairing them, the following algorithm of actions is adhered to:
- The edges of the gap are carefully cleaned of the old coating so that the crack does not expand and the plaster does not crumble.
- Using a brush or vacuum cleaner, the gap is cleaned of dust and debris.
- After that, the space inside the defect is filled with sealant, polyurethane foam or a piece of cotton cloth. Excess foam after hardening is cut off with a knife.
- Next, on the top of the crack, glue a serpyanka or a strip of fabric using PVA. The width of the glued strip should go a couple of centimeters on each side to the surface of the ceiling.
- After the adhesive mixture has dried, a layer of putty is applied to the glued strip and carefully leveled with a spatula.
- When the putty is dry, sand the surface with sandpaper. Dust is brushed off with a brush and a primer is applied.
Sealing cracks in the putty ceiling
Now let's talk about how to repair cracks in the ceiling before whitewashing, if the ceiling surface is putty. The putty differs from the plaster in its greater strength and finely dispersed composition. Because of this, only small cracks form on the putty ceiling.
To eliminate them, do the following:
- The edges of the slit are cleaned of the finishing layer. To do this, whitewash or paint is cleaned with a spatula. You can use a wire brush.
- Then we wet the place of the defect with water. For this purpose, use a spray or brush.
- After absorbing moisture, apply a layer of putty solution to the cracks. We press it well with a spatula into the void of the crack and level the surface in the same plane with the ceiling.
- In a day, when the putty is dry, we grind the place to be repaired with sandpaper.
- We clean the surface from dust and apply a primer. Then we paint over the place of the defect with a suitable interior paint or whitewash.
In a different way, cracks are repaired on the putty plasterboard ceiling. The cause of this defect is the peeling of the putty or paint, as well as the cracking of the mortar in the seam.
Follow this sequence of actions:
- remove the finish from the defective area with a spatula;
- treat the surface with an abrasive mesh with fine grain and clean it from dust;
- remove the chamfer from the seams of adjacent sheets with a knife;
- prime the cleaned and prepared place, let the soil dry (repeat the procedure twice);
- apply a new thin layer of putty, and lay a serpentine tape on top;
- lightly press the serpyanka with a spatula into the wet putty and apply a thin layer of the putty mixture, carefully level it in the same plane with the ceiling surface;
- let the putty dry for a day;
- sand the ceiling with sandpaper and sweep away the dust;
- apply acrylic primer.
Over time, cracks will certainly form on the surface of the ceiling (if it is not suspended or tensioned). If repairs are brewing in your building, then it's time to pay close attention to this phenomenon. How to repair cracks in the ceiling with your own hands? This is what this article will be about.
Sometimes it also happens that cracks appear after a completely filled ceiling. Then you should remove all the putty exactly in those places where the ceiling is cracked.
First, it is necessary to determine those places on the ceiling where the plaster is about to begin to crumble or is simply cracked.
To seal cracks in the ceiling with their own hands, as a rule, they use a gypsum solution - a specially prepared paste of gypsum and chalk - or a special synthetic industrial putty (sealant). According to experts, such products retain their elasticity much longer and are able to provide the best protection against moisture, in comparison, for example, with a paste of gypsum and chalk.
Traditional method of filling cracks
To repair cracks in the ceiling with your own hands, you will need the following tools:
Spatula-half-trowel scheme (dimensions are given in mm).
- spatula 100 mm and 150 mm;
- painting brush.
Materials:
- putty mixture;
- serpyanka or metal reinforcing mesh (if necessary);
- PVA glue.
After inspecting the entire area of the ceiling, it is necessary to slightly widen the cracks formed, since in order to ensure reliable sealing of cracks on the ceiling, an ideal adhesion of the solution to its surface is necessary.
After that, we thoroughly clean the place where the putty will be applied. Then we moisten this place with water in such a way that it can be well saturated.
Do-it-yourself filling cracks in the ceiling must be done in several stages with the application of small portions of putty.
At the first stage, we put the putty at the very bottom of the gap and spread it over its entire area. Before applying the second portion of the putty, let the first one dry until it hardens completely. The second portion of the putty is applied in such a way that it fills the crack by 2/3. The second portion must also be smeared over the entire area of the gap.
It is only necessary to proceed to the last stage of filling the crack after the second portion of the putty has completely hardened. At this stage, the putty is applied flush with the ceiling surface, after which it is rubbed.
It is not easy for a non-professional to immediately measure out the required portion of putty with his own hands, and in this case, the following can be advised: the first portion is measured using a regular tablespoon. To do this, the putty is scooped up with a spoon with a slide, after which it is sharply applied to the desired place. After that, you can use a spatula or the same spoon to carefully lay the putty and distribute it over the entire area of the gap.
For small cracks and small areas, it is best to use a moisture-resistant, fine-grained filler that dries quickly.
In order for the putty to be more plastic and hold tight, PVA glue can be added during its preparation (proportion 1:10). But then one point should be taken into account - such a mixture must be used as quickly as possible, since the time of its setting significantly decreases from PVA glue.
Also, PVA glue can be used as a primer for the surface of the gap, on which the putty will be applied. To do this, it is diluted with water and applied with a brush, after which it is necessary to immediately apply the first portion of the putty.
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Application of various mixtures and materials
If the gap is deep enough (as, for example, a wide gap between the ceiling tiles), puttying alone is not enough. According to experts, it is necessary to apply a reinforcing mesh to all seams and joints. It can be a serpyanka or a metal reinforcing mesh, on top of which putty is applied.
When performing, which has large cracks, you can apply a special bandage made of cotton or linen fabric. The strip of fabric must be laid in such a way that it not only completely covers the gap, but also extends 2-3 cm beyond the edges of the crack. So that in the process of sealing the gap the strip does not shrink, the flap of fabric must first be washed and then ironed. Then the fabric is moistened in a special glue (you can use ordinary starch paste, carpentry, cellulose or PVA glue), wrung out and applied to the crack being closed. After that, the strip is carefully spread with a spatula and only after complete drying, we apply the putty to the entire surface of the material.
Construction foam is a very convenient and modern material that is used when working with a wide variety of cavities, openings and crevices.
In some cases, ceiling repair can be carried out using not only various fillers and cement mortars, but also using polyurethane foam and a variety of sealants. For example, for sealing cracks and joints between walls and ceilings.
This is especially advisable if there is a risk of leaks. In this case, it is most correct to use a waterproof synthetic sealant based on a rubber-like compound. This tool, in comparison with any other binding materials, has excellent adhesion (adhesion), has waterproofing properties, due to its rubber-like structure, it is not critical to the displacement of load-bearing structures and has a long service life (from 15 to 30 years) without losing its properties.
The sealant differs from the polyurethane foam in that it retains its original volume during hardening (the polyurethane foam significantly increases its initial volume).