Old homes oftentimes have thick plaster ceilings. This was a common building material dorsum in the day that has been largely replaced by gypsum board, likewise known as drywall. Over time, plaster can bit, crack and form holes. These deformities are normally nada to worry about, but they tin can exist a worrying eyesore. Luckily, in most cases, they tin easily be patched.
For the virtually part, drywall does non fissure or bit like plaster, so if you are seeing new cracks appearing in your ceiling, there is a skillful risk that information technology is plaster. This is especially truthful in older homes built before 1980.
Here is how you tin can easily patch a plaster ceiling in nine steps.
Ceiling Preparation
Before kickoff, inspect the ceiling. This article is designed to aid people patch a plaster ceiling, not repair information technology outright. Signs of advanced damage that will need a more than advanced repair or the assist of professionals include sagging. Be certain that the ceiling is mainly in identify. If there are areas where sagging is observed or where large parts of the ceiling appear to be floating or bulging, that could hateful a comprehensive repair where the plaster is reattached to the lathe underneath. That is not what this article sets out to do.
This article volition aid homeowners patch big and small cracks and modest holes.
In order to complete the repairs, you will need the following items:
A ladder or stepladder
A razor or flathead screwdriver
Joint compound
A trowel
A rag
Sandpaper
Optional: paint or primer
Optional: metal board
If everything goes well, the repair should take three hours or less and cost less than $l.
Paradigm Credit: Dmitry Kalinovsky, Shutterstock
How To Patch a Plaster Ceiling (9 Steps)
1. Identify Cracks or Holes
Kickoff, identify the cracks and holes that you lot desire to repair. The patch can be practical to pocket-size hairline cracks and cracks upward to half an inch in width. Whatever large cracks that are more than half an inch broad, especially ones that run parallel to one another, could be signs of advanced damage that will need closer inspection.
Make a note of the cracks or holes that demand patching and get gear up to gear up your ladder beneath them.
2. Widen Cracks
Image Credit: zlikovec, Shutterstock
Second, widen the cracks. Using your finger, a razor, or a flathead screwdriver, gently pry the gap apart slightly. This will allow the loose and bad plaster to be able to be worked costless. Yous do non desire to put new joint compound over bad plaster that will undermine the repair.
Work slowly and carefully. You do not want to damage the adept plaster around the cracks accidentally. The goal hither is to create a better surface for the articulation compound to adhere to later in the process.
3. Clean Cracks
Next, clean out the cracks. Using a rag, work out whatever old plaster that is in the crack. For the joint compound to adhere properly, the scissure needs to exist make clean and prepare to have new material. Be sure to clear the crack or hole of any dirt, dust, and crud that might be nowadays.
If y'all are working on a hole, be certain that the expanse'due south perimeter is firm. Knock costless whatever loose and cracked plaster around the site, so you accept an accurate measurement of the size of the hole gratuitous from any debris.
4. Mix Joint Chemical compound
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At present yous'll want to mix the joint chemical compound. There are various types and brands of joint compounds. Follow the instructions based on the kind of compound you purchased. The instructions will be on the packaging and will be clear. For plaster repair, yous want the consistency to exist thick like cream cheese. You do non want the compound to be besides runny or watery. Information technology needs to stick to the ceiling.
five. Add Lath
If you are working on patching a hole, yous will need to larn some lath. Metal board is a screen that is used to hold joint compound. Yous can find the metal lath at your local home comeback store. Cutting the lath to size and place information technology over the hole, putting the edges under the surrounding solid plaster.
Without lath, the articulation chemical compound will non stick to a big area, and it will come costless, nullifying the patch job. Once the board is in place, you are ready for the next step. Cracks exercise non demand lath to be patched.
6. Use Compound
Now, climb upwards onto the ladder with your mixed joint chemical compound and your trowel. Apply the chemical compound to the cracks being sure to push the compound into the crack. If working on a hole, spread the compound evenly over the lath. Wipe the compound smooth with long even strokes using your trowel.
After a few passes, the compound will begin to make full the cracks and holes until they gradually disappear. Do not put too much chemical compound on the ceiling because it will come down. Exist sure to go along a thin, even layer.
7. Let Dry out, Then Sand
In one case yous are happy that all of the cracks are filled and that the compound has covered the lath in your holes appropriately, it is time to let it dry. Consult the drying time on your item chemical compound. Some compounds can dry in equally footling as fifteen minutes, while others accept up to 90 minutes or more to dry out. Wait the allotted time and come up back. Do not poke the chemical compound when it is drying to see if information technology is dry out.
After the chemical compound is dried, it is fourth dimension for a quick sanding. Using a slice of sandpaper, sand the cracks to make them smoothen. Sanding is what makes a patch smooth and even with the surrounding plaster. Without even a calorie-free sanding the patched surface area might stand out to the naked center.
Information technology should not have too much sanding to become the expanse to lucifer the surrounding plaster. If you put likewise much compound into the cracks, you will demand to do more sanding.
8. Inspect, Reapply If Needed
After you lot are happy with the sanding, stride back and audit the area. It should await shine and even. The cracks should be gone. The hole should be completely covered. The colour might not exist the same, only that is okay. We are just looking for uniformity at this point.
Sometimes, a second application of joint compound might be necessary. This is specially true while patching holes. If the cracks are still visible or if the hole was not completely covered, repeat steps half-dozen and seven until you are happy with the result.
See As well: How to Fix a Popcorn Ceiling in 6 Steps (with Pictures)
ix. Paint
Lastly, you can paint the area to become it to match. This is not necessary for every ceiling only some people similar to paint over a patch to hibernate it fifty-fifty further. In some cases, a single layer of primer volition do the trick. This is merely to get the color to match the surrounding area.
Just a lite covering of paint should be enough. Do non apply likewise much. Look for dripping. Use a drop cloth to protect the floor under the patch just in case of dripping.
Allow the paint dry and inspect the results. If y'all followed all the steps and did not meet whatever unforeseen issues, the ceiling should await fresh and uniform. The cracks and holes will be gone.
Determination
There you lot take it, a clean patched ceiling in iii hours or less. Throughout the procedure, be sure to go along an eye out for sagging. A sagging plaster ceiling needs a full repair and reattachment to the wooden lath and lattice underneath. A sagging ceiling should not be ignored.
This method will work every time for pocket-size cracks, large cracks, and holes in former plaster ceilings.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
Contents
ane Ceiling Preparation
two How To Patch a Plaster Ceiling (9 Steps)
two.1 1. Place Cracks or Holes
two.ii 2. Widen Cracks
2.3 iii. Clean Cracks
2.4 4. Mix Joint Compound
2.v 5. Add together Board
two.6 6. Apply Compound
ii.7 7. Allow Dry out, And then Sand
2.8 viii. Inspect, Reapply If Needed
2.9 9. Paint
three Conclusion
How To Repair Plaster Ceiling With Compound Swirls,
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