Wall putty cracks can be annoying, particularly after you’ve spent time and energy smoothing the surface. This issue is regrettably widespread, but you can avoid and resolve it if you know why it occurs.
Putty cracking can be caused by a variety of factors, including inadequate preparation and external factors. Finding the right solution—whether it’s modifying your method or taking care of underlying wall problems—requires determining the root cause.
This post will explain the causes of putty cracks and provide helpful tips on how to fix them so your walls continue to look perfect for many years to come.
- What causes the screed to crack
- Failure to comply with temperature and humidity conditions
- Video on the topic
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- 6 Critical errors when puttying. Or why putty swells and cracks.
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What causes the screed to crack
That being said, we are trying to figure out why the putty cracks. There are numerous causes behind this phenomenon. The majority of them stem from both the urge to save money at all costs and technological process violations.
- We are not the first to notice that "a miser pays twice" – this is folk wisdom. Indeed, this is true: too low a price for a material indicates the use of low-quality raw materials in its production.
- And this is the number one reason explaining why the putty cracks on the walls. Even if the plaster mixture is of normal quality, such disastrous consequences can be caused by non-observance of the water balance in the solution, as well as its poor dilution (see. How to dilute putty when doing repairs yourself).
- When it comes to dry mixtures of the factory manufacture, the manufacturer"s instructions clearly regulate the amount of water, which must be added per unit volume of the solution. It is much more difficult to comply with the recipe, if you mix a solution from individual ingredients yourself.
- In different kneaders, the solution may differ in composition, which leads to exfoliation of the screed. Therefore, we advise you not to try to make plaster with your own hands in order to save money, especially gypsum. To make a quality composition at home is almost unrealistic.
The manufacturer considered everything and included a variety of additives in the factory mixtures to enhance layer adhesion, increase the plasticity of the solution, and slow down the hardening process.
When using a particular composition, the contractor’s primary responsibilities are to properly mix the material, apply it to the surface, and keep the temperature and humidity levels stable. You don’t need to mix anything if you use premade putty.
Failure to comply with temperature and humidity conditions
It is incomprehensible to those who are unfamiliar with these issues why the putty breaks. The walls appear to have been puttied evenly and thinly with high-quality material, but the screed started to crack on the second day. What’s the issue?
- One of the possible reasons for cracking of the plaster screed is the temperature regime that does not meet the standards – and it does not matter what types of work we are talking about: internal or facade. If the air temperature is too high, then the humidity is usually too low.
- In such conditions, moisture from the solution evaporates very actively and cracks appear already in the process of gaining strength of the screed. There is only one way out: during the first 24 hours after plastering, especially if it was done in the hot summer, the surface will have to be moistened using a spray bottle.
Kindly take note! Plastered walls should never be force-dried, for example, with a hair dryer. New putty and drafts don’t get along.
- To maintain the humidity conditions of the plaster screed, it is very important not to apply it to a dry base. Water evaporates quite quickly, so special soil compounds are used to moisturize hydrophilic (highly absorbent) substrates.
- They not only moisturize the surface, but create a thin film on it that prevents the absorption of moisture from the solution into the base. If the amount of work is large and you do not want to spend money on purchasing a specialized composition, you can prime the surface with the same solution that will be used for application, only very diluted.
This, incidentally, holds true for painting as well as plastering. Paint diluted to a liquid state can be used to prime a plastered wall before painting (see Primer for walls for painting – types and tasks).
Just remember that it must be diluted using the same material that is used to make it. Only when the paint is water-dispersion is water utilized for this purpose.
- If it so happened that you forgot about the primer or simply did not consider it necessary to spend time on this work, you can try to correct the situation by intensively moistening the surface of the screed in the first day. All this time you need to observe the changes occurring in it.
- Let"s say the screed is cement and cracks have appeared on it. In this case, you can try to rub them with liquid cement mortar. If after three days small particles of sand and cement are removed from the mortar, the layer will have to be removed and plastered again. Gypsum screed applied without a primer, if it is cracked, cannot be revived at all – only removed.
- So, take the issue of surface preparation with all responsibility. This concerns not only the moistening process, but also a thorough cleaning of the base from mortar drips, dust, soot stains, rust.
When plaster is applied to a dirty surface, it will undoubtedly swell and create voids before cracks eventually show up. In an instance like this, plastering will need to be done once more, if not right away.
A number of things, including incorrect application, insufficient surface preparation, and variations in temperature and humidity, can cause putty to crack on walls. It’s essential to comprehend these causes in order to avoid problems in the future. You can guarantee a smooth, durable wall finish by locating the source of the issue and implementing the appropriate fixes.
Causes of Cracking | Ways to Eliminate |
Incorrect mixing of putty | Follow manufacturer"s instructions for mixing |
Application of too thick layers | Apply in thin, even coats |
Poor surface preparation | Ensure the wall is clean and dry before applying putty |
Temperature or humidity fluctuations | Maintain stable conditions during drying |
Using low-quality materials | Choose high-quality putty and tools |
While wall putty cracking is a common and annoying problem, knowing the reasons behind it can help you avoid it in the future. Every factor affects the outcome, whether it’s because of poor mixing, an excessively thick layer, or insufficient drying time between coats.
Early detection of these possible issues will allow you to take the appropriate action to guarantee a smooth and long-lasting finish. The secret to preventing cracks is to prepare the surface properly, use high-quality materials, and apply the material according to the recommended methods.
If cracks do occur, maintaining the integrity of your walls and preventing additional damage can be achieved by promptly and correctly addressing them. You can achieve a finish that looks professional and lasts for a long time with the right technique.