Plaster is one of the oldest building materials known to man. It’s been used to cover walls and ceilings for thousands of years, but it’s not without its problems. Plaster can crack, chip, and peel due to a variety of factors. In this article, we’ll discuss what causes plaster damage so that you know how to detect and fix it in your own home or office space or contact a local contractor for the job. Plaster Repair in Lake Elmo MN
What is Plaster?
Plaster is an age-old material that is still used on many walls and ceilings today. It’s a mixture of lime, sand, and water that dries to form a hard surface for protection against moisture damage. Plaster was used by the ancient Romans and Greeks, who created it from limestone.
In addition to being durable and reliable, plaster is also beautiful! It comes in many colors so you can choose one that suits your style or matches your decor perfectly.
Sunlight
Sunlight, especially direct sunlight, can cause plaster to yellow and crack. It can also fade the color of the paint in your home. In addition to this, it causes damage that could ruin the entire structure of your house.
If you have a roof that does not protect from sunlight or windows that let in too much sunlight, then you should consider ways of protecting your plaster from being damaged by it. You could purchase window tinting film or put up curtains to block out some of the light coming into your house.
Poor Framing
The framing is the structure that supports your plaster wall. It must be well-supported, sturdy, and properly attached to the wall for it to hold up your ceiling.
Frequently, framing is made from wood or metal but can also be masonry (brick). Framing that’s not properly attached can easily lead to damage in a home. The best way to determine if you need repair is by looking at the framing itself:
- Check for cracks along the entire length of your wall; this could indicate that there are other issues with support along its length as well
- Check whether or not there are any signs of bracing in between studs—if they’re missing then it would be an indicator that there aren’t enough supports holding up this area
Improper troweling
Troweling is a skill that takes practice to master. It has two main components: the amount of plaster applied and the pressure used. Too much troweling can cause problems with cracking, while too little can lead to sagging.
The most common type of plaster damage caused by improper troweling is cracking, which occurs when there’s too much moisture in the plaster or even just too much weight on top of it (this is more common on ceilings). It’s important not only to get both sides completely covered but also to keep a consistent thickness throughout so that one side doesn’t sag while another bulge outwards due to uneven distribution of materials such as sand or cement paste.
Shrinkage Cracks
Another common cause of plaster damage is moisture. Plaster shrinks as it dries, and when it dries too quickly or in an area with very little ventilation, this can lead to cracks.
Shrinkage cracks are caused by water getting into the plaster before it has time to dry out completely. It’s important not to panic if you see a few small shrinkage cracks in your walls; they’re often easy to fix! If you find yourself with more than a few large cracks developing in your ceiling or walls. However, this could be indicative of larger problems such as mold growth or structural issues that require the attention of a professional contractor.
Expansion Cracks
Expansion cracks are caused by sudden changes in temperature. They typically appear on the bottom of walls and ceilings, but can also show up on floors and foundation walls.
You can repair plaster expansion cracks by filling them with plaster or cement mortar, depending on the severity of the crack. If you need to repair an expansion crack, try to match its color as closely as possible—if it’s a very noticeable area like a ceiling or floor, then you may want to opt for an entirely different color that blends in better with what’s around it.
Several things could cause an expansion crack:
- Sinking or settling of your foundation
- Vibration from nearby traffic or construction work (if this is the case, talk with your contractor about installing vibration pads under concrete slabs before moving forward)
- Tremors from earthquakes or other factors (like an excessive weight being placed on top of wooden framing)
Detect Plaster Damage Early On
If you want to avoid having to deal with damaged plaster in your home, you need to know what causes damage to occur so you can contact a professional contractor as soon as possible. Plaster is a delicate material and can be easily damaged by sunlight and moisture as well as improper troweling practices or incorrect use of adhesives. That’s why it’s so important that when you’re working on a project that involves plastering walls or ceilings, you hire a professional who has experience in the field.
Professional plasterers will have the right equipment and expertise needed to finish the plaster repair job right the first time around. And if they’ve been doing this work for years, their prices should reflect that experience—but not always!
We hope that this article has helped you understand what causes plaster damage. As we said at the beginning of this post, it’s important to know what causes plaster damage so that you can detect it and call your local contractor to fix it early on. If you have plaster damage, contact us at Home Drywall and Painting in Lake Elmo, Minnesota to learn more about our repair services.