Water Damaged Plaster Got You Down?

Water damaged plaster, unfortunately, is a pretty common problem facing homeowners. Rather than instantly calling in a professional, you might think of repairing the plaster yourself. In some cases, the fix is pretty simple, within the competence of motivated homeowners.

Here are some basic pointers to get you going.

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One night while lying in bed I heard an unpleasant sound, a steady drip, drip, drip. I turned on the light and discovered a puddle of water on my dresser top, and just above on the ceiling, a bulge in the plaster, with a drop of water hanging there ready to fall.

Now, I live in the rainy western side of Oregon (USA). The abundant rainfall in the autumn, winter and spring make for a beautiful green landscape. However, like most homeowners I know, we prefer the rain to stay out of doors and we tend to resent its intrusion into our living space. Yes, we are rather odd that way.

And, whether the water is coming from a leaky roof, or a plumbing problem, plaster (once applied, hardened and painted) doesn’t much like water either. It starts showing its displeasure by such symptoms as flaking paint, bulging texture, brown stain or even fresh cracks.

The integrity of that plaster ceiling or wall has been compromised and begs for a remedy.

Here’s where you, the conscientious homeowner, come in. The quickest way to deal with water damage to the plaster is to call in the experienced professional repair person. Chop, chop - done.

But ... maybe you don’t want to pay the money, or would just like to see what you can do yourself. You are an adventurous person.

I say, Go for it! But get some professional advice before you plunge in. It will make your job a lot easier and the result is more likely to please you in the long run if you know what you are doing.

I have been working as a interior wall and ceiling professional for over 37 years, and repairing water damaged plaster and drywall provides a substantial part of my business. I still enjoy seeing the damaged plaster disappear - and so do my clients.

But sometimes I get a client who is adventurous and a hands-on kind of person, and I end up acting as a coach. And I can honestly say I have been pleasantly surprised at seeing how some people can take some minimal instruction and do a really great repair job.

If you are that kind of person, here are some basic pointers for dealing with plaster walls or ceilings where water has done its dirty work.

So ... how DO I fix that plaster?

You will be using drywall finishing materials to repair your plaster problems. These materials are easy to manage. You don’t need real plaster to repair plaster. The real stuff is tricky to use and is difficult to get to blend in with the existing plaster, in my experience. So, make it easy on yourself.

Everything that follows assumes you have first dealt with the leaks and have allowed time for the damaged plaster to dry completely.

Stains and peeling paint are simple to remedy. Scrape or wire brush the area, and then wipe down with a damp sponge or cloth. You have to remove all scaling material and powder. When that has dried thoroughly, paint on a stain killer to lock in the stain and provide a tight surface for the compound to stick to.

Apply paper drywall tape to any cracks and give them two successive coats, at a minimum. The last step is to try to match the texture so your repair blends in. This is true for all plaster repairs.

If your plaster is sagging or bulging, you may have to remove it and replace it with drywall, if the damaged area is very large. Small plaster blister can be removed and the gap filled with hot mud or plaster of paris.

If the plaster is over wood lath, then removal will expose the lath and give you a backing to attach your drywall patch material to. You can glue it into place, or attach it with drywall screws.

Most old plaster over wood lath is about a quarter to three-eighths inch thick. So you will need some thin drywall to fit into the gap. If you can’t find any thin drywall in your area, then you could use plaster of paris or hot mud to fill in, although that only makes sense on relatively small holes.

If you have to cut out a large section of plaster, and no backing is present, then you will have to put that in. 1 X 4 boards or plywood strips can be screwed in place and drywall screwed to it.

Shim if necessary first so the drywall is level with the surrounding plaster. Fill around the edges with hot mud and tape the whole perimeter. Skim coat the taped edges until all is flat.

The various kinds of repairs needed for water damaged plaster are discussed in more detail on this website.

Check out HOLES and CRACKS.

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