| Location | Rogers Forge, MD |
|---|---|
| Service | Plaster ceiling repair |
| Property | Rowhouse-style home in the Rogers Forge neighborhood near Towson |
What we found
The living room ceiling in this Rogers Forge home had two problems at once. Some areas were sagging, and the ceiling was crossed with hairline cracks. A sag in a plaster ceiling means the plaster "keys," the bits of plaster pushed through the gaps in the wood lath that hold the ceiling up, have broken. A few sections had also come loose completely and could not be saved.
Why we did not tear the whole ceiling down
A sagging ceiling does not automatically mean demolition. If most of the plaster is still sound, it can be pulled back up against the lath and held there with plaster washers: thin perforated discs driven in with screws into the lath and joists. The washers are then buried under the repair coats and disappear. That keeps the original ceiling, and it is far less mess in a lived-in room than gutting it to the joists.
What we did
- Removed the plaster that was loose, delaminated or too far gone to save.
- V-grooved every hairline crack, opening it into a shallow channel so the new plaster has something to grip. A crack that is only filled at the surface comes back.
- Installed plaster washers to pull the sagging areas back up and re-secure them.
- Applied a bonding agent to all repair surfaces.
- Rebuilt the openings in three coats: scratch, brown and finish.
- Feathered every repair into the surrounding ceiling.
- Primed the new plaster, then painted the entire living room ceiling, not just the patches, so the finish is even from wall to wall.
Signs your ceiling is heading this way
Look for a crack that has started to open wider at one end, a section that looks lower than the rest when you sight across the room, or a hollow sound when you press gently near a crack. Washers work when the plaster is still mostly in one piece. Once a section drops, it has to be rebuilt instead. Our ceiling plaster repair guide goes into the warning signs.
Have a similar problem?
Call or text (443) 806-8077 for a written estimate. We will look at the job, explain what is going on and give you a clear price before any work starts.
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