If your home was built before the 70’s, there is a good chance that your walls are covered with plaster rather than drywall. Plaster is a hand applied compound mixture that has the consistency of a typical drywall mud and then dries to a hardened surface. The mixture is applied over wooden lathe or wire mesh. The most common issue with plaster is that it separates over time from the lathe or wire mesh. Expanding and contracting structures along with the weight of the plaster is the most common cause for it to crack or fall off in chunks.
Ceilings are more problematic than walls when it comes to plaster issues. The wood structure of ceilings is more exposed to expansion and contraction since in most cases the ceilings are exposed to the attic. It’s common to have the plaster delaminate from the wood and start to bow towards the middle of the room. Eventually the plaster will start to break out in pieces. This can be a very dangerous situation, it’s possible that a sizable portion can fall at once and cause injury.
If you are in need plaster repair for your home or business, give us a call and we can make arrangements to check out the damage, suggest options and provide a free quote. O’Leary Enterprises L.L.C. has been providing plaster repair in the Des Moines area since 2007 and has plenty of experience working on older residential and commercial structures. Thanks. 515-229-6350