In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains how to repair a plaster ceiling. They seldom mean the ceiling is falling down.

Cracks in the ceiling can be cosmetic or indicative of a serious structural problem.

Hairline cracks in the plasterboard of a refurbished mid-terrace.

Plaster ceiling cracks are most often due to building movement, water damage or just plain age.

(For more about how plaster walls are built, see Plaster Wall Construction.)

hairline cracks appearing in new plaster and pantwork. Small cracks in plaster should first be widened so that filler can be pushed right in and has something to key on to. Repairing cracks. Hairline cracks in new plaster. Plaster applied to wood lath is held in place by the “keys” that form when it squishes through the lath. The forces that created the crack are still at work, so any repairs made with plaster are likely to crack again, and very quickly. and wear goggles as plaster in the eyes isn't fun. In January 2013 I … Old houses have wonderful plaster ceilings and walls, but foundations shift over time and this leads to large cracks in the plaster. Steps: Screw plaster washers to ceiling along and around cracked area; be sure to drive screws into wood lath above. Repairing these cracks can be a problem. Expert advice and detailed instructions on repairing the most common plaster wall and ceiling problems, including cracks, holes, and sagging. i have seen hairlines open up in new plaster in the summer which in turn have been filled and as soon as the suns gone down the house as settled and the hair line cracks exploded. Fix cracks and skim coat entire ceiling. Use trowel to spread joint compound onto ceiling, covering the repaired area. Here's how to determine the cause of your ceiling cracks—and fix them. When hairline cracks start showing up in old ceilings, most old-house owners fear the ceiling is going to cave in. Try to undercut the crack with the corner of the scraper to give a better key for the filler.

Discussion in 'Builders' Talk' started by shefmarkh, Nov 29, 2017.

Plaster applied to wood lath is held in place by the "keys" that form when it squishes through the lath. Expert advice and detailed instructions on repairing the most common plaster wall and ceiling problems, including cracks, holes, and sagging. The corner of a scraper or filling knife is ideal for removing any loose plaster and for opening up and deepening the crack. Take down and redo. 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 … I don't know if that is even feasible without damaging the existing ceiling and/or heating element(s).

... yes you can get fine hairline cracks, but those ain't,background has sucked the moisture out of the plaster too quickly, drying too quickly due to heat,even using out of date plaster can causes problems.

Fix cracks and respray entire ceiling with texture. They don't mind the texture and could probably hire a professional to respray the ceiling to uniformity.