Roof Sagging Some Cracks In The Plaster

Left untreated ceiling cracks will enlarge or the weight of a sagging plaster ceiling can pull the surrounding ceiling down with it.

Roof sagging some cracks in the plaster.

If the ceiling joists or trusses supporting the ceiling drywall is spaced too far apart then sagging may result and the stress from this may create cracks. Spacing of ceiling joist or trusses. Earthquakes are unkind to plaster walls as evidenced by this deep crack. Insert a 1 5 8 inch drywall screw through the center of a plaster washer.

However the ceiling will need to be replaced if the entire section is sagging. Settlement cracks if a part of the house is sagging you may find converging cracks running across your plaster walls. Whether you patch or replace the sagging plaster depends on the extent of the damage. 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.

A group of cracks converging in one direction are often signs of settling. Some plaster is of poor quality and this may cause the plaster to crack and crumble. 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. Yes you ll want to patch and fill these cracks but address the bigger issue of foundation problems first.

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. 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. If a ceiling is bowed sagging or dropped down then the reason may relate to a structural issues. If the plaster feels spongy or gives under your hand pressure it s a sign that the key strength has been lost.

If you have sags in a plaster ceiling press upward on the area with the flat of your hand. 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. Again the size of the. If it s not repaired the plaster ceiling can collapse.

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. A sagging plaster ceiling typically indicates damage behind the plaster at the base of the roof itself. Spread drop cloths on the floor and set a sturdy stepladder under the section of the ceiling you want to repair.