Struggling to cover a hole in plaster walls – any advice on how to tackle this challenge effectively?
Asked by José Carlos Hernádez 
4 months ago
Last Updated: July 28, 2024
Got any ideas on how to patch up this hole? The walls are plaster, so it might be a bit tricky.
I would recommend adding insulation and sheetrock on top of the wood lathe, then finishing off with compound and tape.
Hey, Sanchez, you never want to use compound on a plaster wall. You should always stick with plaster. Compound and plaster just don’t work well together. Compound is too soft to apply to plaster or shape around it. The textures are completely different.
Make sure to bevel all four joints to prevent cracking. Just smooth it over the existing plaster on the joints to avoid any cracks. If you do end up with cracks, use sand caulk for plaster. Apply it to the cracks and then use a damp sponge to smooth it out. Feel free to message me if you have any questions! 👌
I’ve done this plenty of times, and once it’s sanded down well, you won’t even notice the patch.
It’s actually pretty easy! Just grab some 3.4 diamond mesh with a paper back, plaster it on, and shape the lath to fit. If you don’t have anything to nail it on, throw in a couple of 2x1s before applying the plaster. Start with a scratch coat, then add a second coat and use a damp sponge to smooth out any cracks.
Hey, so here’s an idea – it’s not the perfect DIY solution, but I’ve tried it before and it might do the trick depending on where the hole is. You can use plain white contact paper to cover up a hole in drywall, then spray some texture over it to match the wall as closely as possible. Once it dries, just paint over the patch with the same color as the rest of the wall. It’s a quick and inexpensive fix for making the hole less noticeable, but keep in mind it’s not super durable if it’s in a high-traffic area. Just a suggestion for a temporary aesthetic improvement!