joint compound cracking

[sandyd]

Hi. I am redoing my bathroom walls using joint compound as a textured paint. But I have noticed that the joint compound has cracked in several places. What did I do wrong? Will I have to remove all of it or just where it has cracked? My house has plaster walls and is around 65 yrs. old. Any help/advice is GREATLY appreciated.
Sandy

[Todd]

If you let the joint compound dry and then primmed and painted it, it really shouldn't crack. It is best to use the products that are made for texturing. I have used the ones made by Behr.

I have seen some really nice joint compound texturing jobs. One in particular, this guy smoothed on a layer of jc, let it dry, then put another and another, then one final layer kinda rough and then took a hammer and carefully chipped some of it away. Gave it that old italian look.