Repair Painted Plaster Ceilings

Repair a plaster ceiling with a few basic steps.

Plaster is not seen as much in newer construction because it tends to crack when the house settles. Most homes these days use drywall instead. However if you have a home with a painted plaster ceiling that needs repairing, there is no need for concern. It actually is easily fixed once you get the hang of the technique, and your ceiling problem with be gone before you know it.

Instructions

1. Set up a ladder below the damaged area and climb up.

2. Pull out one small painted plaster chip at least 1 inch square for later.

3. Drill in plaster washers all around the cracked area of the ceiling to secure it and keep it from cracking further or spidering out in other directions. Place them every 2 or 3 inches and encircle the damaged area. Drill additional washers into the crack itself so that the washer presses holds both sides of the crack back in place on the ceiling. The screws will go through the plaster and into the lath behind it. The lath is made up of wooden pieces that hold the plaster to the wall or ceiling. If you don't hit a lath strip, keep trying until you do. Holes are not an issue and will be covered when you patch the area. Use as many as needed to ensure that the cracks will not spread.

4. Smear joint compound on the ceiling in the damaged area. Use enough to barely cover the cracks and washers. A plaster hawk is the tool for this. Smooth over the surface to take off excess.

5. Press a mesh screen into the compound. It needs to be large enough to cover the bulk of the cracks. Screen porch mesh works well for this.

6. Smear on compound again and smooth. Taper the compound as you work away from the cracks to get the level of the compound back down to the rest of the ceiling. Let it dry for at least a day.

7. Sand the surface of the repair with 220 grit paper. Add compound to any uneven areas and let dry again if necessary. Sand one final time.

8. Take the plaster chip to your local home improvement store and have workers match the paint color with the proper type of paint.

9. Paint the repair area with the matching paint and let it dry.

Tags: damaged area, painted plaster, plaster ceiling, plaster chip