Repairing an old plaster ceiling that is falling may require some extensive repairs, or you may need to completely replace the old gypsum plasterboard. First, you have to evaluate the extent of damage and determine if there is a leak or moisture problem in the attic.

Instructions

How to repair a plaster ceiling that is falling

1. Make sure there are no leaks in the roof that are causing the plaster come down. No matter what you need to do next, any repairs should be required on the roof to ensure that anything above the roof is dry. Sometimes old leaks or simply the passage of time is causing the plaster to fall. Hire a handyman if you need to do some repairs on the roof.
2. Understands how the old lath and plaster cover were originally made. Thin strips of wood called battens were nailed to the studs and rows rafters. This was distributed layer of mortar, often with horse hair or even mixed with chicken feathers for strength and flexibility. Once dry, the mason applied a thin layer of lime plaster. This wall system was much stronger and more durable than modern plasterboard walls, but it was a very long and expensive process done by true craftsmen. Today few people know how to operate that old plaster technique. The overwhelming majority of modern walls and ceilings are made of plasterboard, joint compound and tape. If your house has a special historical significance, it is worth finding someone who can make a real plaster repair. However, most repairs can be done quite well with patching plaster boards.
3. If the damage is confined to a small enough area, that area just patches with plasterboard, tape and mud. Remove all loose and damaged plaster ceiling. You’ll probably want to cover the area under plastic or rags. Curta a rectangular or square area so that you can cut a piece of plastic that fits. Will expose the bar, so try to remove the plaster behind the roof beam so that you can fix the plasterboard safely to the beam instead of leaving it hanging only bolted to the bar.
4. Use the knife to score the surface of the plaster along the rule as deep as you can. Then use the hammer and chisel or putty knife to carefully remove the line as straight as possible old plaster.
5. Buy the correct thickness of the plasterboard. The regulating plate of 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) can be too thick and will be greater than the original surface. The plasterboard is available in a thickness of 3/8 inch (0.95 cm), which may work better. Measure the height of the surrounding plaster ceiling as accurately as possible.
6. Cut the plaster to fit, and screw it into the joists. Screws spaced approximately six inches apart along the beams for safe patch.
7. Fill the tray with joint compound mud (commonly called mud). Use the knife to panel six inches (15.24 cm), place a bed of mud between wooden boards. Use the knife to panel 10 inches (25.4 cm), go back joints with joint compound, this time out as smooth as possible. As this is a thinner cover, take between four and eight hours to dry. If you are very good, two coats will suffice and be polished smooth. If you’re matching a texture on the repair, two decks will suffice. Once dry you can sand it smooth and make the texture. If your roof is flat, chances are you’ll need to do a third “touch” light deck mud to make it look really good.

Inserting a complete new roof over the old.

1. Cover the floor and any furniture that has been plastic or rags. Remove the worst areas of loose plaster ceiling.
2. Use a stud finder to locate all the rafters and mark along the ceiling.
3. Fixed wooden slats just above the old plaster along the joists with screws 2 inches (5.08 cm). Runs around the end battens around the roof, where the roof meets the wall. This will give you a framework to hang the new plasterboard directly over the damaged roof.
4. Hang new drywall to the strips, following Steps 6-8 above.

Tips and Warnings

• Do not make this work with children around. Keep children well away from the area where you are removing the old plaster. At least some of the old paint must be lead-based, so do not want to expose children to lead. Keep the area clean and vacuumed work.
• Never put mud that has not been used back into the original tray and you can contaminate it with dry material. Disposed of in a trash can or bag, never in the drain.