It may seem counterintuitive, but the best thing you can do is to make the crack slightly wider. How to repair cracks and holes in a plaster ceilingĬosmetic issues such as repairing nail holes and gouges caused by DIY work and fixing ceiling cracks that are fine in a plaster ceiling are relatively easy to deal with. Cover walls and furniture with plastic and lay down drop cloths so any dust and scrapings can be easily cleaned up afterwards. Regardless of the extent of repair work necessary, you’ll need to wear protective gear including a face mask and goggles, particularly when working with old plaster. Only once you’ve established the cause – and resolved any issues – are you in a position to think about how to repair a plaster ceiling.
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If the crack in question traverses the wall as well as the ceiling, you will want to know what causes cracks in walls to help solve the problem. In this case, you should bring in a professional to inspect in more detail’, says Ash Reed, interiors expert at Living Cozy. ‘While minor cracks are usually nothing to worry about, thicker ones (anything more than 1/10 of an inch) can be a warning sign that structural problems may be afoot. The cause of a crack in a plaster ceiling is more than likely cosmetic, occurring due to changes in temperature or as a result of DIY work, for example. Sometimes it’s obvious unsightly yellow stains are a clear sign of a moisture problem, so you’d be best off researching how to fix a ceiling with water damage for example. Track down the cause of the problemīefore you start any repair work on your ceiling, you’ll need to work out what caused the damage in the first place. Whether the damage has come as a result of fixing a ceiling leak, shoddy DIY work, simple wear and tear or something a little more serious, we’ve put together an easy guide to help you recognize the warning signs and know how to repair a plaster ceiling accordingly.