Wall repair
Cracks, holes and loose plaster, repaired to match the wall around them
Most old plaster is still sound where it holds on to the lath. We find where it doesn't, re-attach what can be saved and patch the rest in the material the wall was built with.
A hollow sound under a knuckle is usually plaster that has let go of its keys, not plaster that has failed. Re-attaching it costs less and keeps more of the original wall than cutting it out. Where a patch is the honest answer, we cut back to sound edges and rebuild the coats in order.
Left to other trades: painting (we leave the wall primed and ready), electrical and plumbing repairs, and the cause of a leak.
What is included
Hairline and structural crack repair
Re-attaching loose plaster to the lath with plaster washers and adhesive
Patching holes left by old flues, pipes and wiring
Matching the existing texture and finish
Wet-method dust control and a HEPA cleanup
What changes the job
What shapes the scope
Cost follows scope, so the written survey names each of these before you see a figure.
How many repairs
A hall with one crack is a morning. A room with a dozen patches is days, because each patch dries between coats.
How many layers come off
Old paint can bury a patch under many coats. Where it hides detail, taking it back first adds to the scope.
Whether the wall is moving
A crack that keeps reopening has a cause: settling, vibration or a leak. We look for it before we fill anything.
Access and furniture
Stairwells, tight rooms and a lived-in house change how we set up the work and the protection.
How it goes
Four steps, in order
- 01
Step 1: Survey and tap test
We tap every wall in the room, mark the hollow areas and photograph the cracks.
- 02
Step 2: Protect and contain
Floors and furniture are covered, the work area is sealed, and the paint is wetted before it is disturbed.
- 03
Step 3: Repair in coats
Loose plaster is re-attached, failed plaster is cut to sound edges, and each coat is left to dry before the next.
- 04
Step 4: Finish and prime
The patch is blended into the wall's own texture and primed, ready for your painter.
Rules
Permits and rules
Plaster repair on its own does not normally need a building permit. If the walls are opened for wiring or plumbing, or the house is in a local historic district and the work is on the outside, other rules apply. We tell you which ones; the city's permit office has the last word.
Examples
Sample scopes
Written the way a survey writes them. Your own scope will name your own rooms.
- Sample
Second-floor hall
A 6-foot crack along the stair side, re-keyed to the lath, taped, skimmed and finished flush.
- Sample
Front-room wall
Three patches where a gas line once ran, cut back to sound plaster and rebuilt in gypsum to match.
- Sample
Back bedroom
A hollow area the size of a door, re-attached with washers instead of replaced.
Sample content.
Before you call
Questions about plaster wall repair
Why do cracks come back?
Usually because the wall is still moving or the patch was filled but not tied to the lath. We look for the cause first, and a crack along a framing line is repaired with tape and coats so it can flex.
Can you fix a bulging wall?
Often, yes. A bulge is plaster that has pulled away from the lath. We re-attach it before it falls, and the survey says if a section has to come down.
Can you match a textured finish?
Yes. We make a sample board on site, you approve it, and then we match the wall.
Do you paint afterward?
No. We prime the repair and leave it ready, so your painter can match the color across the whole wall.
Book a wall survey
Tell us what the wall is doing. We will come and read it, then write down what we found.