Plastering advice
Common Ceiling Problems and How They're Repaired
Short answer
The most common ceiling problems are cracking, sagging lath and plaster, water damage from leaks, nail popping in plasterboard and dated textured coatings. Depending on severity, ceilings are repaired by filling and skimming, overboarding and skimming, or removing and replacing the ceiling entirely.
Sagging lath and plaster
In Victorian and Edwardian homes across Sutton, Carshalton and Wimbledon, original ceilings are held up by plaster pushed through timber laths. Over a century those keys break and the ceiling begins to drop. If it is still largely intact it can often be overboarded and skimmed; if it is badly gone, it comes down and a new ceiling goes up.
Water damage
Stains, bulging and flaking usually follow a leak from above. The leak has to be fixed and the ceiling allowed to dry before repair. Small areas can be cut out and made good; widespread damage is generally better replaced.
Cracks and nail pops
Fine cracks along board joints are usually movement rather than failure and can be raked out, scrimmed and skimmed. Nail pops are refixed and made good. Skimming the full ceiling afterwards avoids a patchwork appearance in the paint.
Textured ceilings
Dated textured coatings are normally covered with a flat skim rather than removed, which is cleaner, quicker and avoids disturbing older coatings that may contain asbestos.
Need this doing?
SJF Plastering covers Sutton, Surrey and South West London. Call 07967 302162 or message us on WhatsApp for a free quotation.
What customers say
Good communication, job arranged quickly
Steve was in touch straight away, gave a very reasonable quote and was good at communicating what was needed and when he would be able to do the work. Steve arrived on time on the day, did a good job and carried out the work in very good time. I would use Steve again for any similar work.
Replacing ceiling due to leak
Steve and his team did an amazing job on our ceiling. We had to get it replaced due to a leak from the flat above and Steve was super communicative, friendly and helpful throughout.
Excellent job!
Had a large hole in the wall which Steve fixed for me, told me the price and gave other options as well all before starting the work. He did an excellent job, got the work done without any fuss!