To avoid marking the wall or ceiling itself, Alexandra Cooper, an architect and interior designer at Planner 5D, suggests placing a piece of transparent tape over the crack first. "This can help ...

If the crack is noticeably deeper than the plaster or paint, that could also be problematic, as could cracks close to windows or doors, or spanning form where the wall meets the ceiling.

There are two kinds of cracks in old lath and plaster walls. Both can be repaired, but one is a much more serious problem. By Ronda Kaysen Q: Our Gramercy co-op was built in 1929. The thick ...

Step 13: Once the patch is dry, usually within an hour, prime the area with a good latex primer and paint to match the surrounding surface. — Have a home improvement question for the Fix-It Chick?