“House Smarts” host Lou Manfredini answers viewer questions on household repairs, such as how to fix a crack in the wall, and how to cut crown molding. “House Smarts” host Lou Manfredini answers ...

A: It depends on the type and size of the crack. Hairline cracks take only a little patching plaster. Larger cracks require reinforcement with mesh tape. Cracks larger still, where the plaster keys ...

Dear James: I have an old house with plaster walls and many cracks that need to be repaired. How can I fix these so they stay fixed and are invisible? — Julianne T. Dear Julianne: Many older houses ...

A crack in a plaster wall can look intimidating, and even be a cause for concern. While the sudden appearance of a crack in a previously pristine wall should always be approached with caution, they ...

Plaster, a decorative wall coating of lime, sand, and sometimes fibers, has been around since the beginning of time—and so has plaster repair. Although subject to cracks and bubbles, it's a durable ...

Q:We are getting ready to repaint our home office. The walls and ceiling were cracked during the 1989 quake and poorly patched before we moved in. We had the roof redone this summer, and the banging ...

Cracks in drywall are not uncommon and in many cases are nothing to be concerned about. There's plenty of mundane reasons for them — a house's foundations settle over a period of time, or the ...

Concrete volume changes due to changes in moisture and temperature. As concrete dries, it shrinks. Length change related to drying shrinkage for unreinforced concrete can range up to 0.08% whereas ...

Wall cracks are often brushed off as minor cosmetic issues, especially in older homes or buildings. However, not all cracks are harmless. Some are early warnings of underlying structural issues that ...

If you find yourself staring at damaged walls and ceilings in your home, it might be time for a little TLC and an update. The interiors of most homes are covered with gypsum wallboard, which is ...

Ashlyn is one of Forbes Home's in-house writers and a former civil engineer-turned content writer with over six years experience. Until recently, Ashlyn focused on creating content for Forbes Home as ...