Plaster Ceiling Repairs
At Carrigan Painting we specialize in plaster repair. We also prime and paint our repair-work. Because of this, we have had the unique opportunity to see our plaster repairs all the way through to completion. This has provided us valuable insights into refining our technique to provide the most seamless repair possible.
Professional Plaster Repair
The restoration of plaster ceilings presents unique challenges for contractors to contend with not found in modern building systems. Most will attempt to adapt modern building techniques with old plastering systems often with sub optimal results. (Why removing the wood-lath and installing drywall to repair plaster is a bad idea.)
However at Carrigan Painting we use real plaster whenever possible. A traditional plaster patch is superior to a drywall patch in every way - except dry time. It requires 3-14 days to dry depending upon thickness.
If your home was built prior to the 1950's your walls and ceilings are most likely lath, in which case the plaster can be an inch thick or more. Where as homes built from 1945 - 1965 are generally built with rocklath (often mistaken for drywall), the plaster averages out to be around 1/2" thick. After 1965 all new home construction was/is drywall.
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Plaster is finished by hand. The entire surface is trowelled and polished using special finishing trowels. While finishing plaster with drywall knives may be possible, its not practical given the fact that plaster is not sticky.
A Third Generation Plasterer.
My father taught me how to repair plaster ceilings not YouTube. He owned Carrigan Plastering. After settling my father's estate, I created Carrigan Painting in 2010. Repairing plaster ceilings is our specialty, we actually find it enjoyable. Few careers provide the opportunity to restore the beauty of a plaster ceiling. About half of our projects involve plaster ceiling repair. As a result we have become very efficient at repairing plaster and painting.
Our approach has been refined over decades of experience, making us one of the few contractors specializing in historical restoration techniques in WNY.
Plaster ceiling problems?
Plaster Crack Repair Service
There is a trick to successfully repairing plaster cracks. Small cracks, hairline cracks are typically the result of natural movement of the structure (Buffalo NY winters). These may or may not come back. Large open cracks such as those over 1/8" wide however signify substantial movement, and point to a possible structural issue.
Cracks around fireplaces are common as a chimney is a separate structure from your home. So one will move and the other won't (frost) causing ceiling and wall cracks. We see this fairly often. Our method of repairing plaster cracks has a 95% success rate. We use a time tested method passed down from my grandfather to repair plaster cracks.
There is a right way to repair cracks, and a wrong way. If you want the repair to last, you must do it right.
Below is an example of how we repair cracks versus the competition.
Plaster Repair
At Carrigan Painting we prime all of our repairs. We do this because it shows us the imperfections in our patches and allows us the opportunity to fix those imperfections while still on site.
The art of plaster repair is one that takes years of practice. It is a very niche trade with unique specilizations, such as ornamental plaster repair, and historical restorations (churches).
We focus on flat work- walls and ceilings, however we will take on plaster cornice repair on a case by case basis. It is very easy to get in over your head, when it comes to plaster.
However we offer a more comprehensive and affordable option for homeowners in Western New York when compared to other local plastering companies.
Looking for more information?
A detailed analysis of Plaster Repair in Western New York discussing the history and common issues.
Have a water damaged ceiling?
Portfolios
We also have and maintain a Youtube Channel with around 30 videos.
I also maintain a blog- The Painter's Plastering blog Which is updated regularly.
