How To Repair Texture Ceiling

The Do's and Don'ts of Ceiling Repair

Unsightly ceiling cracks detract from any room's look, but, fortunately, repairing them is often a DIY projection.

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Cracks appear in drywall and plaster for several reasons, from normal settling of the house, to faulty workmanship, roof truss uplift, or water leaks. While repairing cracks on walls is pretty straightforward, it'southward a bit more complicated with ceilings, which typically accept some type of texture applied and are overhead, making the repairs a (literal) pain in the neck. Past post-obit a few time-honored techniques, a savvy homeowner can often successfully repair cracks in ceilings without too much problem. The trick is knowing what to practice first, what tools to use, and recognizing whether it's time to telephone call in the professionals.

Practice pinpoint the cause of the crack.

Sometimes, the cause of a ceiling fissure is apparent, such as visible water stains on the ceiling, which indicates a leak acquired the joint compound to soften and cleft. A delicate spider web of hairline cracks is often the result of applying joint compound as well thickly, which resulted in shrinkage and the evolution of cracks as information technology dried. Before tackling this ceiling repair, right the cause of the cracks, such as fixing leaks to prevent cracks from recurring.

DON'T go on without a plan.

Depending on the type of ceiling texture and the extent of the crack, ceiling repairs might involve removing some of the texture to brand the repair and then patching the ceiling with a product that matches the remainder of its surface. Rather than smearing some spackle into the crack with a finger (which sometimes works!), consider whether retexturing or painting will be necessary to requite the ceiling a finished expect after the fissure repairs are complete. For the best results, consider all aspects of the project and the desired outcome.

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DO consider popcorn ceiling removal.

All the rage in the 1960s and 70s, popcorn ceilings that still survive today are frequently grit and crud collectors, and any type of crack repair is probable to stick out like a sore pollex. Since this blazon of ceiling can actually reduce a home's market value, this may exist an excellent fourth dimension to get rid of the texture or cover it up with drywall panels or rigid foam panels. Popcorn ceilings installed before 1978 may contain asbestos, so it's vital to discover out what type of popcorn texture is on your ceiling before making repairs. Information technology'due south usually better to take an asbestos-remediation expert remove a popcorn ceiling that contains asbestos.

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If the fissure is a very thin hairline—and it's been in that location for a while—odds are y'all can merely put a niggling spackling on a finger and smear it carefully into the crack, taking care to wipe away remainder from the surface. More oftentimes, however, the crevice will be larger, or the ceiling will have multiple cracks. When this is the case, using the right tools and materials will provide the best results. A 6-inch taping knife works well for removing loose ceiling texture and peeling paper. A small tub of premixed drywall mud is necessary for filling the cracks, and using mesh or paper drywall tape to reinforce the chemical compound is helpful. A drywall sanding sponge comes in handy for smoothing the surface after the mixture dries.

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Practice protect the walls and floor.

Wet drywall chemical compound has a style of dripping everywhere when you're working overhead, then accept steps to protect walls, the floor, and whatever other items in the room. Lay down a sheet tarp on the floor (plastic drop cloths can go wet and dangerously slippery), and cover any furniture with lightweight plastic drop cloths to avoid ruining them. If the ceiling crack is almost a wall, consider covering the wall with a plastic driblet fabric to go along splatters off.

DON'T shorten time for drying.

Ceiling crack repairs fabricated with wet drywall compound should be completely dry before another blanket is practical. The full general dominion-of-thumb here is to apply the mixture in the thinnest glaze possible, making sure to remove backlog with a taping knife. When completely dry out, the chemical compound will turn a bright white color. At that signal, information technology tin can be sanded down and recoated.

DO try a flexible patching compound.

If you've repaired a crevice in ceiling drywall before, simply to have the crack reappear a few weeks or months later, consider sealing the ceiling repair with a flexible product such as Elastopatch Smooth Flexible Patching Compound (available from Amazon). Rather than applying standard paper or mesh drywall record to the crack, castor on a thin coat of Elastopatch with a pocket-size brush—direct over a crack that's been filled with chemical compound or spackling and so sanded shine. One or ii coats of Elastopatch is all it takes to form a flexible seal over the repaired fissure.

DON'T forget to stay condom.

Sanding drywall chemical compound tin create billows of dust, and a DIYer should vesture a grit mask in improver to eye protection before tackling the chore. In addition, when working overhead, use just a sturdy step ladder (no wobbly chairs or stools) in gild to reach the ceiling.

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Practise add together a finishing touch.

Repaired cracks tin can wait nigh as bad as the cracks themselves if the repairs don't match the residue of the ceiling. Ceiling patch repair products are available in sprays and semi-liquids for applying with a sponge—be sure to get 1 that matches the ceiling's texture. Painting the ceiling is besides an option, in which case, look for a high-hiding ceiling paint in a neutral color.

DON'T skip other ceiling updates.

Once the ceiling repair is consummate and the ceiling texture has been patched, a dated light fixture or a rusty render-air vent tin can mar the new look. Consider replacing an old lite fixture with a new one, and replace an old vent—or at least clean it and requite information technology a fresh coat of pigment—to give the whole room a fresh new look.

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Source: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/ceiling-repair/

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