Patching Plaster Ceiling Cracks

The cause of your ceiling crack depends on various factors such as the ceiling material and the home s age.

Patching plaster ceiling cracks. Ask this old house general contractor tom silva helps a homeowner repair a cracked plaster ceiling in an older home. In this video this old house general contractor tom silva explains how to repair a plaster ceiling. Use trowel to spread joint compound onto ceiling covering the repaired area. 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.

Following the crack create a v notch by removing the plaster along both sides of the crack cutting at an angle until you see the substrate. Repairing small cracks in plaster is easy compared to plastering a whole room. Plaster repair is much. Screw plaster washers to ceiling along and around cracked area.

Be sure to drive screws into wood lath above. For finishing you ll need primer and paint. Follow these easy tips along with the video to make quick work of repairing your ceiling from cracks nail pops or large holes. 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. House settling and temperature or moisture fluctuations in an attic which result in the expansion or contraction of framing members. If the crack is discolored you could have moisture problems. Sand away any loose paint and drywall.

The plaster keys holding it to the underlying lath can also crack and break over time causing the plaster to partially separate from the wall. If there s an issue with the trusses that could create a crack between the ceiling and the interior wall. Drive screws into both sides of the stud the nail is in. Spread joint compound over the tape and smooth it out.

Plaster applied to wood lath is held in place by the keys that form when it squishes through the lath. Apply mesh tape over the crack. 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. Subscribe to this old house.