How to Repair a Kitchen Ceiling
Any old plaster ceiling is susceptible to damage from moisture or heat, and it can be especially bad in a kitchen, which has lots of both. If you've got damaged plaster on your kitchen ceiling, and you're tired of it ending up in your food as it continues to crumble, take a long weekend and repair it. The surest method is to cut out around the damaged area and install a drywall patch. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Square
- Pencil
- Jigsaw
- Tape measure
- Drywall, same thickness as plaster (usually 1/2 or 5/8 inch)
- Razor knife
- Screw gun
- 1 1/2-inch galvanized drywall screws
- Drywall tape (adhesive-backed mesh)
- Joint compound
- Wide drywall knife
- Sanding pad
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Instructions
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1
Draw a square around the area that's damaged, using your square and pencil. Position two ends of the square to run along the centers of the two ceiling joists closest to the damage on either side. Determine the locations of the joists by pulling down some of the damaged plaster, if necessary.
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2
Cut out the damaged area, using a jigsaw. The square hole should have two half-exposed ceiling joists running along two parallel sides.
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3
Measure the hole with a tape measure. Transfer the measurement to a piece of drywall. Cut the drywall by running your knife along the line to score it, and then snap it. Cut to the inside of the marked lines, so the piece of drywall ends up slightly smaller than the hole.
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4
Raise the piece of cut drywall into the hole. Secure it by putting in screws all along the two edges that have joists behind them, about one screw every six inches, using the screw gun.
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5
Lay drywall tape over the whole perimeter of the square piece of the drywall. Use your drywall knife to spread joint compound over the tape, making the compound line slightly wider than the tape. Smooth it out and let it dry for six to eight hours.
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6
Apply a second layer of joint compound over the seams, let it dry, then apply a third, keeping each layer thin and smooth. When the third layer is dry, sand it smooth with the sanding pad and repaint.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear goggles when removing the damaged plaster.
