Repairing Plaster Ceiling Cracks

Plaster repair is much.

Repairing plaster ceiling cracks.

A ceiling crack is not an uncommon sight in older homes. If the plaster ceiling feels firmly attached to the lath then you can do the same repair as for the small cracks above. Plaster applied to wood lath is held in place by the keys that form when it squishes through the lath. For more about how plaster walls are built see plaster wall construction over time these.

An overview photo by david carmack. House settling and temperature or moisture fluctuations in an attic which result in the expansion or contraction of framing members. Step 1 remove any loose plaster that s embedded in the crack. Repairing small cracks in plaster is easy compared to plastering a whole room.

To repair small cracks in plaster you ll need patching compound medium and fine grit sandpaper a sanding block a putty knife a masonry chisel a paintbrush a rag and a screwdriver. Be sure to drive screws into wood lath above. Expert advice and detailed instructions on repairing the most common plaster wall and ceiling problems including cracks holes and sagging. Typically plaster ceiling cracks have two causes.

No matter what the cause you can repair the plaster cracks by using drywall tape and joint compound. For larger cracks you may need two coats of spackle because of its tendency to shrink as it dries in large gaps so double check before priming and painting. If it s a small hairline crack you won t have to worry about this but larger deeper cracks will have debris in them. Score the crack with a utility knife to remove any loose plaster or other material that may be inside the crack.

Otherwise the cracks come back no matter how many times you patch over them. To repair a crack in a ceiling. For finishing you ll need primer and paint. Use trowel to spread joint compound onto ceiling covering the repaired area.

What old house owner doesn t have a cracking or sagging plaster ceiling in need of repair somewhere. In this video this old house general contractor tom silva explains how to repair a plaster ceiling. Here tom silva shows how to repair plaster walls to make them look as good as new. He asks us in an e mail.