Repairing lath and plaster ceiling

[rossco101]

I've been putting in new insulation in the roof and yesterday at the end of the day when I was somewhat tired, my foot slipped off a joist and hit the old lath and plaster ceiling. It hit it at the edge of the joist, pushing the ends of two of the laths down about half an inch (must have pulled out the tacks holding them onto the joist at their ends).

Well, when I was finished swearing at myself, I went downstairs to see what the damage was. There is a severely cracked abd distended region in the ceiling, but no pieces of plaster have fallen down.

Does anyone know the best way to fix this? Should I apply a fiberglass patch to the region and then patch over it? Should I try to apply bondcrete from the top to try and permeate and bond the loose pieces together? Both?

To get the region flat again, I'll probably have to put something flat underneath it and push upward with a long piece of wood while it sets, but this will no doubt cause more cracking.

If I apply a patch, will I be able to get the ceiling smooth again?

I can post some photos if people need more information.

Thanks,
Ross.

[rod@plasterbrok]

Hi read this thread

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=66686


Also see this page

http://www.how2plaster.com/restlath.html

Cheers Rod

[rossco101]

Great info. Thanks Rod!

[prof_montoya]

Rod - thanks for the info. Your advise worked well for me. Did however take me ages to do the job. Particularly since cornice adhesive dried quickly.

Rossco - only thing I would do differently next time is instead of using one prop with large flat top, I'd use a number of props with smaller tops. Reason is because I wasnt able to sufficiently push up some parts of the ceiling with one prop with a large flat top (finish wasnt as smooth as I wanted)- I think this would have been better with a number of smaller props. I guess you can be the judge based on your situation

[autogenous]

Generally a plank over 2 Acrow's with a rag (old sheet) wrapped around is good for this.
You lift from joist to joist and spread the load. Lath and Plaster is still touchy.

In future careful you don't over raise the Acrow and punch a hole int he ceiling in the opposite direction.

Lath and Plaster is very touchy though. The stuff in my house was a lime mortar base set with a lime and sand I think. Dependant on the age the "set" maybe plaster.

[rmartens]

[QUOTE=prof_montoya;696209]Rod - thanks for the info. Your advise worked well for me. Did however take me ages to do the job. Particularly since cornice adhesive dried quickly.


Prof next time get the slower drying time cornice adhesive like 60 that will give you longer time to work it.
When I want things to set quick, I use dirty water in the mix. Also if you mix using a dirty bucket, that will speed drying time. If the water is hot that will also speed setting time.