DIY repair of old walls

In detail: do-it-yourself repair of old walls from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

Repairing walls in an apartment is a rather complicated procedure that requires diligence and accuracy. A wide variety of finishing materials allows you to choose an option that is suitable for both cost and quality. Different coatings will help create an attractive interior in the rooms. This article will look at how do-it-yourself wall decoration is done and what materials can be used for this.

DIY wall repair is carried out in stages:

  • assessment of the condition of the walls;
  • removal of old finishes;
  • elimination of various defects;
  • leveling the surface.

After all these actions, the walls in the apartment are finished with new materials.

Often, when purchasing apartments on the secondary markets, you can run into strongly curved walls. The curvature of surfaces can reach 15 cm. In this case, it is almost impossible to repair old walls, and even unnecessary. It would be better to completely get rid of the plaster, which will save materials and expand the space of the room.

In addition, any work on wall decoration can be carried out only if they are of high strength. If the plaster is outdated and is moving away from the surface in some areas, it would be better to get rid of it. To test the strength, it will be enough to tap the wall with a mallet or other tool.

If a dull sound is heard or slight vibration is felt, such trim should be removed.

The preparation of walls for repairs always begins with the dismantling of the old coating. Since there are a lot of finishing materials, each of them has its own nuances of removal:

Video (click to play).

  • Wallpaper. Dismantling wallpaper is the simplest procedure, which does not require special tools. Problems can only arise when removing thin webs. They will need to be pre-moistened with water and wait until the moisture is absorbed. The wet coating is removed with a scraper or a regular knife. You can also use a special solution to dissolve wallpaper glue.
  • Plaster. Various plastering solutions have become very popular. Regular plaster can be removed with a wet sponge, but the decorative mortar is protected from moisture, so you will need to use a construction scraper.
  • Dye. Peeling trim can be removed with a knife. If the paint holds well, you will need to use a building hair dryer. After heating, the coating will easily come off the surface. However, a hairdryer must be used by a professional.
  • Tile. To remove it, you will need to use a jackhammer or perforator. Since the cost of such devices is quite high, it is recommended to rent them.

Image - DIY repair of old walls

Wallpaper removal procedure

Often, various damages in the form of cracks are formed on the walls. They can be found after removing the trim. To repair cracks, you will need to perform the following procedures:

  1. Free the damaged area and clean it from dirt and dust.
  2. The crack is wetted with water, a reinforced tape is laid inside and about 2 mm of putty mortar is applied.
  3. The putty is applied to the crack until it is completely closed.
  4. Drying time of the solution will be approximately 2 hours, after which the area is cleaned with a grinder or a bar.

During work, the putty should be applied not only to the damaged area, but also to the plastered coating near it.

To repair cracks in brick walls, you need to use a scraper, a block and a grout brush.

The building is insulated at the construction stage.To replace the insulation, you will need to remove not only the finishing materials, but also the plaster.

Do-it-yourself wall repair in an apartment is not complete without prior alignment. This process consists of the following steps:

  1. First, a primer is applied to increase the adhesion level of the surface. Also, this treatment will strengthen the base and prevent the formation of mold or mildew.
  2. Plastered walls. The mixture is applied in at least 3 layers. Drying time for each of them is at least 12 hours.
  3. Plastering is carried out. It is this cladding that allows you to create smooth walls for further wallpapering, painting or other finishing.

To check the evenness of the coating, a 2 m rule must be applied to it. If the work has been done correctly, a gap of no more than 2 mm remains between the wall and the tool.

You can learn more about wall repairs from the following video.

You can also perform the alignment procedure using drywall. This method is becoming more and more popular as it avoids working with different mixtures. Therefore, you do not need to wait for each layer to dry and there will be much less pollution from such a procedure. Plasterboard sheets are used in the following cases:

  • If necessary, internal insulation of surfaces.
  • If the walls are too crooked.
  • If you need to cover the pipes for repairs in the kitchen or bathroom.
  • To create complex structures: arches, columns or niches.
  • When repairs need to be completed as quickly as possible.

First, you need to identify areas on the surface where heavy objects will hang. These places will need to be pre-strengthened.

It is also necessary to correctly mark the placement of profiles. After marking, the installation of profiles and drywall sheets is carried out. This procedure is quite simple, but there are a number of essential nuances:

  • Profiles with a width of 27 mm act as guides.
  • The rest of the construction details are made from a profile with a width of 60 mm.
  • Installation of large figured structures will require skills and experience from the employee.
  • In areas where heavy objects will be placed, it will be necessary to install horizontal jumpers between the profiles and strengthen them. For this, a section of a profile is used, the width and length of which is 60 mm. It is installed using self-tapping screws at a given height. Strengthening the profile is carried out by installing a wooden beam of the required size. To ensure high strength, in addition to the horizontal lintel, it is necessary to install vertical profiles to which it is attached.
  • Also jumpers should be installed at the horizontal joints of the material.
  • If further plasterboard cladding is planned, it is recommended to install the profiles at intervals of 40 cm from each other. This will strengthen the structure, and the joints of the sheets will in any case fall exactly on the profile.

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Plasterboard installation procedure

The interval between profiles should be measured from the center of one product to the center of another, and not between the edges.

Repairing a wall in an apartment can be done using various materials. The most popular ones are:

  • wallpapers of various types;
  • frescoes;
  • decorative plaster;
  • dye;

Some people think that wallpaper is a long outdated way of wall cladding, but this is not so. The possibilities of such coverage are simply enormous. Canvases with a variety of designs and patterns are updated every season. Most often, the following types of wallpaper are used:

  • paper or non-woven;
  • vinyl;
  • washable.

A variety of coatings will allow you to choose an option according to personal preferences. Non-woven fabrics are of high quality and density, they can hide small wall irregularities due to their thickness. Paper coatings are inexpensive, but their durability is rather low.It is highly discouraged to use them for cladding in the kitchen or bathroom, since they do not have protection against moisture.

Vinyl and washable wallpapers are a good solution for wall cladding in your home. They have an average cost, but they are of good quality and moisture protection.

A fresco is a hand-made work that includes wall cladding with water-based paints on not yet dried plaster. The only drawback of such processing can be considered a high cost, but its appearance will fully pay off all costs. The fresco is perfect for creating almost any style, especially for bohemian interiors.

Decorative mixes are a more modern way of cladding. The composition of such a plaster includes the following components:

  • marble stone chips;
  • synthetic additives;
  • nylon fibers or cellulose.

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Effect of decorative plaster cladding

Various additives can significantly change the result of wall cladding in an apartment, so the composition of the solution must be taken into account at the time of purchase.

Apartment renovation is rarely complete without paint. The combination of painted surfaces looks attractive and stylish. Designers often experiment with a palette of colors, creating unique interior paintings. The most popular options are to highlight one wall with an unusual shade or to paint the surface with a stencil.

As you can see from the article, wall renovation is an extremely important procedure. It is on the quality of this work that the possibility of further surface finishing will depend. With the help of the photos used in the article, it will be possible to see in practice each stage of the work.

Self-repair is a complex, time-consuming and costly process. In order for all the stages to pass relatively quickly, without overlaps and problems, it is necessary to foresee all the difficulties in advance and have several methods of getting rid of them in stock. One of the most difficult stages is the renovation of walls, because they occupy the lion's share of the entire surface area and in many ways form the impression of the interior.

Wall repairs are always carried out in a technological order: condition assessment, surface cleaning, repair work, finishing.

Any repairs must obey certain rules and be carried out in accordance with the plan. This will help you to correctly and rationally allocate time so that long downtime does not occur between the main stages. Wall decoration in a new building differs from similar work in an apartment in which repairs have already been made. The work plan is not always final, but it is important to maintain order.

So, wall repair consists of the following stages:

  • condition assessments;
  • surface cleaning;
  • "Wet" works: plastering and filling;
  • final finishing.

In some cases, intermediate steps can be replaced by partial leveling, the so-called putty repair.

You cannot glue and paint on old wallpaper, paint or plaster, so the old coating is removed.

Before proceeding with the main stages, it is necessary to objectively assess the condition of the coating. If there are no cracks on the surface of the plaster, the curvature is acceptable, you can skip the dismantling step. In other cases, it is better to remove the old coating. When assessing the condition of the walls, and it must be carried out after removing the wallpaper, you must pay attention to the following subtleties:

  1. Curvature of the walls. Surprisingly, in houses built 30-40 years ago, deviations of up to 10 cm can be noted. It is almost impossible to hide such unevenness with the help of decoration and furniture, in which case it is worth replacing the entire layer.
  2. Insecurity. It so happens that the plaster continues to adhere to the wall, but at the same time it "walks", that is, it does not fit snugly against the vertical surface. It must be removed, otherwise, in the process of layering finishing materials, the entire layer may collapse.To check if there is a problem, it is easy enough to knock on a suspicious place with your knuckles or any other object at hand. If a characteristic dull sound is heard, there is a cavity under the plaster and the entire layer must be dismantled.

If you find significant curvature, you should not be tempted to hide flaws with drywall. This technique will significantly reduce the area of ​​the room. It is better to remove the coating and make quality wall repairs.

Dismantling tiles or plaster is done with a hammer and chisel.

After the condition of the walls has been assessed, you can begin to dismantle the old coating. Removal of old wallpaper also belongs to this stage, but after carrying out these works it is necessary to re-evaluate the surfaces.

When dismantling, you must use personal protective equipment: goggles and a respirator.

To remove wallpaper, it is better to use a trowel, carefully pry the edge of the canvas with it and remove. If the wallpaper does not come off well, you can moisten it with water and let it swell for a few minutes. The same method helps to remove layered wallpaper.

It is better to wash off old whitewash with water. To do this, it is necessary to thoroughly moisten the surface, for example, using a spray bottle, let the water soak a little and scrape off the chalk layer with a spatula. After rough cleaning, the areas can be finished with a damp sponge. If the layer of whitewash is significant, it is better to remove it, like wallpaper, using a trowel.

Plaster is usually removed with a chisel and hammer. The easiest way to start work is from areas where the material does not hold well, gradually moving towards the corners.

With plaster, the walls are leveled and all depressions are smoothed out.

In some cases, you have to face the need to remove oil paint from the walls. To clean the surface of the walls with your own hands, it is better to use a punch with a special nozzle.

After thorough removal of old finishing materials, you can proceed to "wet" work.

The best wall finishing methods are plastering and filler. Correct and consistent use of materials allows you to get smooth and reliable walls, ready for decoration.

A set of tools for plastering walls.

Plastering is the initial stage of work. With its help, the walls are leveled, all depressions are smoothed out. This type of work is ideal for leveling walls cleaned to masonry. If there are many irregularities on the surface of the wall, for example, the joints of bricks, it is necessary to purchase metal guides, the so-called "perforated corners". They are attached to the wall with a plaster mix, carefully checking the verticality using a building level. Then 3-4 threads are pulled between the guides at a distance of 1-1.5 m from each other. Each thread, also known as a beacon, must touch 3 guides. According to these landmarks, it is worth plastering, only in this case the wall will turn out to be even. After installing the beacons, you should treat the wall with a primer and let it dry.

To carry out plastering work you will need:

  • plaster mix;
  • mixing container;
  • Master OK;
  • a bucket for throwing the mixture;
  • grater;
  • rule (can be replaced with a flat board 1.5 m long).

When using grout, it must be thrown in with a scoop. If plastering is applied, only a spatula can be used.

Filling direction diagram.

The cement mixture is usually poured onto the wall and then leveled with a leveler. If a non-professional is working, you can apply the composition to the leveling devices and then transfer it to the wall. Do-it-yourself wall alignment is done from the bottom up, onto a damp surface, taking into account all the irregularities. After applying a layer of the mixture, using the rule, remove the excess and adjust the application.In case of the formation of bubbles and layers, part of the cement mixture must be removed and the work repeated, otherwise the repair of the wall will not be durable.

When working with lighthouses, it is important to apply the plaster in stages. After the main layer of the material hardens slightly, you need to apply a thin additional layer and use a float to make the surface of the wall smooth.

If the plastering work has been carried out correctly, a small layer of putty is sufficient. With its help, all the irregularities will be smoothed out, and the do-it-yourself repair will come close to completion, only finishing work will remain.

  • capacity;
  • construction mixer;
  • a set of spatulas;
  • a set of grinding nets.

You need to knead the putty in a clean container until it is completely homogeneous, the consistency of thick sour cream. Before starting work, the walls must be primed.

After that, a portion of the putty is collected with a small spatula and applied to the edge of the large one. And with its help it is transferred to the wall, you need to hold the tool at an angle. It is better to apply several thin layers of the mixture, with the first applied vertically, the second horizontally. After that, the wall needs to dry out.