In an otherwise charming older home, a sagging plaster ceiling can be an eyesore, especially when it’s a hodgepodge of cracks and crevices. Repairing the entire surface requires mastering the fine art ...

Q Our plaster ceilings are cracked in a couple of places in different rooms of our house. What does that mean, and how do we fix it? AWell, it probably doesn’t mean much. Plaster is brittle, and what ...

Q. How important is it to repair plaster before repainting? Our ceilings have peeling paint that we’re pretty sure was caused by past water damage. Since the water problem is no longer an issue, can ...

Dear James: I have an old house with plaster walls and many cracks that need to be repaired. How can I fix these so they stay fixed and are invisible? — Julianne T. Dear Julianne: Many older houses ...

Most older homes and apartments have plaster walls and ceilings with a hard surface that resists wear. Cracking, however, is common. Damage also can be caused when furniture hits the wall or fasteners ...

Q: We live in an older home — say, built around 1905 — that has the old horsehair plaster on the walls and ceiling. We would like to do over the ceilings and paint the walls. Would it be best to just ...

The crack in our upstairs hallway comes back no matter how many times I patch it. What's the right fix? Seasonal cracks in drywall and plaster are tough to repair. As they open and close, one of two ...

Dear James: We live in an older house and one of the rooms has cracks in the plaster ceiling that keep coming back. We are going to use the room for a home theater. Would a drop tile ceiling be a good ...

Dear Angie: How important is it to repair plaster before repainting? Our ceilings have peeling paint that we’re pretty sure was caused by past water damage. Since the water problem is no longer an ...