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. Drive screws into both sides of the stud the nail is in. For finishing you ll need primer and paint. If there s an issue with the trusses that could create a crack between the ceiling and the interior wall. If the crack is discolored you could have moisture problems.

Plaster repair is much. Be sure to drive screws into wood lath above. You want to open up the v notch so that it is approximately 1 4 to 1 2 wide at the opening and as narrow as possible next to the substrate material. In this video this old house general contractor tom silva explains how to repair a plaster ceiling.

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. House settling and temperature or moisture fluctuations in an attic which result in the expansion or contraction of framing members. 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. Apply mesh tape over the crack.

Ask this old house general contractor tom silva helps a homeowner repair a cracked plaster ceiling in an older home. Repairing small cracks in plaster is easy compared to plastering a whole room. No matter what the cause you can repair the plaster cracks by using drywall tape and joint compound. Expert advice and detailed instructions on repairing the most common plaster wall and ceiling problems including cracks holes and sagging.

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. Screw plaster washers to ceiling along and around cracked area. Subscribe to this old house. Spread joint compound over the tape and smooth it out.

Sand away any loose paint and drywall. Use trowel to spread joint compound onto ceiling covering the repaired area. Follow these easy tips along with the video to make quick work of repairing your ceiling from cracks nail pops or large holes. Plaster applied to wood lath is held in place by the keys that form when it squishes through the lath.