Depending on the material, repairing a crumbling ceiling can be a costly endeavor. With standard drywall, most homeowners can handle patching or even replacing the damaged portion, saving time and money. With plaster, anything more than a patch job can be cost prohibitive. No matter what your ceiling is made of, you can repair it on a budget; however, for the best results, always determine the root cause of the damage to save yourself from having to do another repair shortly down the road, perhaps more costly than the one you’re facing now.
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Patching Plaster
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To patch plaster properly, hire a professional. This is more costly than doing the work yourself, but it is still much cheaper than replacing the entire ceiling, either with a less expensive material like drywall or with another plaster ceiling. From keying the plaster to ensuring that the patch melds seamlessly with the rest of the ceiling, an experienced conservator or plaster specialist will do the job right the first time, saving you the cost of repairing a haphazard patch job a few months later.
Patching Drywall
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For a drywall ceiling, clean out any loose chunks or dust, and apply a self-adhesive drywall patch that’s slightly larger than the damaged portion to the ceiling. Apply three to four layers of joint compound, waiting for each to dry before applying the next and sanding between each coat. Then prime and paint the patch to match the rest of the ceiling. For larger damage, remove the entire sheet of drywall, and install a new piece, finishing it to match the rest of the ceiling.
Replace the Ceiling with Drywall
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With excessive damage, replacing the entire ceiling with basic drywall is the most cost effective means of repairing the issue on budget, and most can handle the bulk of the work on their own. Start by demoing the entire ceiling, removing the existing drywall or the plaster and lath underneath. If there appears to be structural damage, have a contractor repair it. Then install drywall, taping and mudding the seams. Apply a texture if desired, and then finish it off with primer or paint. If you’re replacing plaster with drywall, repair and refinish the border of exposed wall if necessary (plaster lowers a ceiling’s height and, once replaced, the portion of the wall previously covered by ceiling is exposed).
Replace the Ceiling With Veneer Plaster
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For plaster ceilings, going from a classic, old-world look to standard drywall isn’t always desirable. If the look of plaster is important to you, either for aesthetic or historical reasons, veneer plaster is a cheaper alternative to traditional plaster, often coming in just a bit more than a standard drywall ceiling. Most veneer plaster is installed on blue board instead of lath, and blue board is best installed by an experienced contractor. However, if you’re a skilled DIYer, apply the veneer yourself after the blue board is up, saving money on the labor for the second half of the project. The combination of the one to two coats of veneer and the blue board makes for an incredibly strong ceiling, limiting issues with crumbling in the future if properly installed.
General Cost-Saving Ideas
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If you don’t have the time or experience to do the work necessary to repair your ceiling on your own, there are still ways to stick to a budget and even get the funds to do the job correctly. Start by inquiring with your insurance company to determine if the damage is covered by your policy. If you don’t have the funds on hand, you can look into historical preservation grants, as well as standard home equity lines of credit and personal loans. Shop around for contractors, specifically looking for companies that either offer coupons or discounts for advertising; for example, some companies will reduce your bill if you let them put a sign with their company’s name on your property for a set period of time. Keep in mind that with many home repairs, you may be eligible for a tax deduction for the cost of the work, which can also help to save you money in the long run.
