How to Refinish a Plaster Ceiling

Check to see if any plaster has started to pull away from the lathe, and apply plaster washers every 6 inches or as needed. Sink them in solidly using a screwdriver, making sure the screws grab into the lathe.

Spread paint cloths or a tarp over the floor to protect it from dripping plaster and the dust created from the repair process. Drape plastic held in place with masking tape over windows, radiators or baseboards and anything else in the room that might be damaged by the wet products.

Remove any lights or fixtures on the ceiling so that you have a cleared surface to work with. Turn off the power to the room before disconnecting any wiring and leave it off, bringing in extra lighting from another room using an extension cord.

Brush out any cracks with a paintbrush or a sharp pointed tool to remove any loose plaster. Paint a bonding agent over the crack to help facilitate the gluing of the layers together for a sound bond. Follow the directions on the packaging as the different types of bonding agents have different requirements.

Repair large areas where the plaster has fallen away by screwing a custom-fit piece of wire mesh into the area. Spray the area with a mist of water and apply a light coat of the gypsum plaster mixture with a trowel. Score it lightly with a nail when it has started to set up so that the next layer will adhere to it. Add the next layer after 24 hours, using regular patching compound, leveling it with the surrounding ceiling.

Paint the ceiling after all the patches have been allowed to dry for at least 24 hours. Add patching compound to the latex paint if you have a ceiling that looks old with an undulating surface. Apply the thickened paint with a textured paint roller to give the ceiling a roughened surface, hiding any imperfections nicely. Clean up any marks on the walls with a damp rag immediately before the paint has a chance to dry.