How to Refinish Plaster Walls With Wallboard and Wire Mesh

Refinish with Wire Mesh

• 1

  Cut away at the damaged plaster area with the chisel and hammer. Remove the splintered pieces of lathe. Brush away loose debris with a dry paintbrush.

• 2

  Cut a portion of wire mesh that is about 2 to 3 inches larger in diameter than the plaster hole. Loop a long strip of wire in the middle of the mesh so both ends of the wire are through the mesh and facing you.

• 3

  Fold the mesh in half and insert the mesh through the plaster hole. Hold the loop of wire to prevent the mesh from falling back behind the wall.

• 4

  Unfold and tighten the wire mesh up against the back of the plaster wall. Twist the looped wire around a wooden dowel that is longer than the diameter of the plaster hole. Tighten the wire around the dowel until the wire mesh is pressed firmly against the back of the plaster wall and the dowel is tightly pressed against the front of the plaster wall. When you release the wire and dowel, the dowel should continue to hold the wire mesh tightly in place.

• 5

  Apply a thin layer of joint compound to the wire mesh. With one hand, hold the dowel to keep the mesh secure. With your other hand, spread the joint compound onto the mesh so the compound oozes through the holes of the mesh. These small "keys" of joint compound will eventually harden, holding the mesh in place after the dowel is removed. Allow the first coat of compound to dry completely.

• 6

  Remove the dowel and snip the wire with wire cutters. Apply another coat of joint compound to the mesh, taking care to cover the small section of wire that remains embedded in the mesh. Feather the edges of the plaster hole so that the patch appears seamless with the rest of the wall. Allow to dry completely. Apply another coat of compound if necessary.

• 7

  Sand the compound smooth. Apply primer and paint.

• 8

  Cut away any loose chunks of plaster around the hole. For best results, chip the plaster hole into a square or rectangle shape. This will allow you to easily measure and cut a section of wallboard to fit in the hole. Do not cut away or damage any of the wooden lathe strips. Dust loose debris with a dry paintbrush.

• 9

  Measure the size of the hole and cut wallboard according to the measurement.

• 10

  Place the wallboard section into place if the hole retains its lathe. If the lathe is missing, replace the lathe by screwing in two thin furring strips -- one at the top of the hole and one at the bottom of the hole. The furring strips must be screwed to wood, so you might need to enlarge the plaster hole to securely add the furring strips.

• 11

  Screw the wallboard section to the lathe or furring strip pieces. Two screws at the top and bottom of the wallboard section will sufficiently hold the section in place.

• 12

  Secure a strip of fiberglass mesh along each side of the wallboard section. Do not overlap the fiberglass mesh ends, or you will create a bulge when you apply joint compound.

• 13

  Apply a thin coat of joint compound with the 4-inch putty knife. Allow the joint compound to completely dry.

• 14

  Apply a second coat of joint compound with the 4-inch or 6-inch putty knife, depending on the size of the wallboard section. Feather the edges of the plaster hole so that the patch appears seamless with the rest of the wall. Allow to dry completely. Apply another coat of compound if necessary.

• 15

  Sand the compound smooth. Apply primer and paint.