How best to fill these ceiling/freeze cracks (pics inc.)

[roughcaster]

I agree with you and Richard if it was my wall I'd re-plaster them myself too ..
I just assumed from gille's post here in the painting & decorating section a cheap/quick 'decorators fix ' was sought...

No probs LJ mucca,,,, I know you're quite rightly looking at it from a decorators point of view.

 

[Richard C]

..Isnt that what he was asking for otherwise it'd be in the plastering section?

I took Gille’s posts to indicate the oposite & that he’s looking for a permanent solution not just a quick fix; but only he knows

Where OP’s post sometimes depends how much knowledge & experience that person has; my future son-in-law has a job telling one end of a paintbrush from the other despite my best attempts but I sometimes think there is an agenda to his apparent total incompetence to do anything practical; like I always end up doing it!

Thanks Richard, advice is appreciated and apologies if I ask any daft questions.

No apology necessary.

If I decide not to take everything back to brick/block and just go for a repair what is the best approach for patching up? I have checked the rest of the wall and all seems solid, I could open the cracks a bit wider as you descibed to take them back to a solid section but what materials are best to patch up?

The method of repair would be as I described in my 1st post & after fitting the metal reinforcing lath I bring out to the level of the surrounding plaster. I use a sand/cement/lime render for the initial repairs & then fill out to the surrounding wall with Bonding plaster but you could use Bonding plaster in 2 coats for the lot which would be easier for you to use; I then tape the joins & re-skim the whole wall.

This picture shows a full height crack immediately to the left of the steps where I've hacked back the plaster to confirm if the blockwork is cracked; you can also just about see some metal lath fixed over a lintel repair & crack on the far left hand side.
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This picture shows 2 repaired cracks (not the same crack) after render repairs prior to filling out with Bonding, taping & skimming.
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In all honesty if you’ve not done anything similar before, it may be a lot for you to take on & there is no guarantee some plasterers will know how to approach it either; you need someone who is specifically experienced in renovation repairs, not just a skimmer. It would be possible to do the repairs yourself & get someone in to re-skim the wall as this is where your most likely to mess it up but it’s important to get the reinforcing right or it won’t work & the spread must know how to approach skimming a mixture of backgrounds.

An easier option for you may be to strip the entire wall back to ensure a solid base, dot & dab some plasterboard on there & call in a spread to skim it.

 

[Gille]

thanks for all the replies, i was looking for a permanent solution but did not think it would involve so much work, i need to decide which way to take things forward - a quick fix and hope to limit the cracks appearing again or a more radical fix