Roof Sagging Some Cracks In The Plaster

A sagging plaster ceiling typically indicates damage behind the plaster at the base of the roof itself.

Roof sagging some cracks in the plaster.

Spread drop cloths on the floor and set a sturdy stepladder under the section of the ceiling you want to repair. Yes you ll want to patch and fill these cracks but address the bigger issue of foundation problems first. This is a sign of structural damage usually related to a weak wall stud or perhaps something that was jarred loose in an earthquake or the settling of the home over time. Cracks on a sagging or bowed ceiling.

Use your drill to drive the screw into the sagging plaster a few inches from the edge of any holes you created in step 1. Some plaster is of poor quality and this may cause the plaster to crack and crumble. Broken lath and other such damage also allow plaster sections to pull away from the ceiling. If it s not repaired the plaster ceiling can collapse.

Spacing of ceiling joist or trusses. A group of cracks converging in one direction are often signs of settling. If the plaster feels spongy or gives under your hand pressure it s a sign that the key strength has been lost. Left untreated ceiling cracks will enlarge or the weight of a sagging plaster ceiling can pull the surrounding ceiling down with it.

If you have wider cracks or sections of loose plaster the lath system beneath the plaster is likely failing in which case the plaster should be removed and replaced with drywall. However the ceiling will need to be replaced if the entire section is sagging. In addition water damage from roof or plumbing leaks can discolor plaster and cause peeling or efflorescence the leaching of salts and minerals to the surface. Water leaks will cause the wood of the lath that holds plaster to become soft and then cup and bow allowing the plaster to sag.

Whether you patch or replace the sagging plaster depends on the extent of the damage. If you have a rough texture or sanded plaster you can add some sand to your spackle or use a sponge to match the texture as closely as possible. If you have sags in a plaster ceiling press upward on the area with the flat of your hand. Insert a 1 5 8 inch drywall screw through the center of a plaster washer.

If a ceiling is bowed sagging or dropped down then the reason may relate to a structural issues. Settlement cracks if a part of the house is sagging you may find converging cracks running across your plaster walls. For these small cracks the easiest solution is to use a 5 in 1 tool to dig any loose plaster out of the cracks very gently and then fill them with a spackling paste or joint compound.