How To Repair Plaster Ceiling Hole

Gently tap around the edges to shake down the dust and debris.

How to repair plaster ceiling hole.

Using the enclosed 3 16 masonry drill bit drill holes 1 to 2 from the crack when you hit the lath stop don t drill thru the lath. Drill additional holes about 3 to 4 apart across the area that is loose or bulging. If the lath backing is fine you can mix joint compound with plaster of paris for the patch. Whichever is the case plaster hole repair is a bit more complicated.

Use a fine mist spray bottle or wet rag to add moisture to the edges of the hole if necessary. First brush away loose plaster and dust. The frustrating thing about repairing a ceiling be it mending holes in plaster ceilings or lath and plaster ceilings you always have to make the hole bigger before you can repair it. This method can also be used for inserting a new timber into a ceiling for screwing a light fitting to if required.

Snap off the temporary tabs from the repair clips. Cut a rectangle around the damaged area. Insert the wallboard patch into the hole and drive screws through the wallboard patch into each wallboard repair clip. Spread a layer of putty across the hole and push it into the hole using a putty knife and smoothing.

On the plaster side scrape off the dried adhesive residue with a drywall or putty knife then use the corner of a putty knife to gently scallop out excess adhesive showing from the hole. Fill the injection screw holes as with all good restorations a successful repair is hard to see. Add wooden cleats behind each side for support. You will need to cut or score the hole at a point away from the hole where the ceiling is stable.

Working from the edges inward push the plaster mixture into and through the lath for a good bond. Cut completely around the hole and gently pull down the plaster around the hole. Attach a patch piece to the cleats. Drill holes mark any holes that missed the lath to note them for later.

Apply wallboard tape and wallboard compound to all four sides of the patch. Ask this old house general contractor tom silva helps a homeowner repair a cracked plaster ceiling in an older home. It s relatively easy to repair small holes in plaster if the lath backing that grips the plaster is intact.