Older homes

Plaster and lath repair in Ottawa.

Many older Ottawa houses — in neighbourhoods like the Glebe, Centretown, Sandy Hill, Westboro and Old Ottawa South — still have plaster walls over wood lath. Cracks and loose sections can often be repaired without tearing the wall out.

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Plaster wall opened to wood lath with plaster washers re-securing loose plaster

01Cracks and loose plaster
02Patching plaster with drywall
03Repair, skim or replace the wall?
04Older materials and safety

Taped drywall walls and ceiling in a garage, from the existing Drywall Ottawa website

Stabilise what is sound, replace what is not.

Plaster holds to lath with “keys” pushed between the strips. When keys break, plaster cracks, bulges or sags. The repair starts by re-securing loose plaster, then filling and finishing; badly failed areas are cut back and patched with new material that meets the old surface flush.

Plaster crack repair
Re-securing loose and bulging plaster
Patching holes in plaster walls and ceilings
Water-damaged plaster repair
Blending new drywall into existing plaster

Cracks and loose plaster

Hairline cracks are common and mostly cosmetic. Cracks that move, bulges and areas that flex when pressed mean the plaster has let go of the lath. Those areas are re-attached with plaster washers or adhesive before any finishing, otherwise the crack returns.

Patching plaster with drywall

Plaster walls are usually thicker than standard drywall. When a section is cut out, the patch is shimmed or built up so it sits flush with the surrounding wall, then taped and skimmed so the joint does not telegraph through paint.

Repair, skim or replace the wall?

Isolated damage is usually worth repairing. When most of a wall is loose, cracked throughout or must come open for wiring and insulation anyway, replacing it with new drywall can be simpler and cleaner. We explain the trade-offs before quoting.

Older materials and safety

Older plaster, joint compounds and paint layers can contain asbestos or lead. Have suspect materials tested before work that creates dust; we do not cut or sand untested material in older homes.

From first call to final finish

How a plaster repair project works.

Clear expectations. A considered plan.
A finish that brings the room together.

Send photos of the damage

A close-up and a wider shot of each area, plus what caused it if you know — a leak, a door handle, settling or old plumbing work.

Patch or replace

We confirm whether each spot can be patched or needs a section cut out, and note any moisture issue that must be fixed first.

Repair in coats

Damaged board is cut back or backed, taped and filled in several thin coats, with drying time and sanding between each.

Blend and check

The repair is feathered into the surrounding wall or ceiling and checked under normal light so it is ready for primer and paint.

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Related work

Examples of this kind of project.

A closer look at each type of project. See all projects.

Free estimate

Request a free plaster repair estimate.

Tell us what needs doing and where. Prefer to talk? Call (613) 319-4768.

What happens next

01We review your details and any photos.
02We contact you by phone or email to discuss scope and timing.
03You receive a free estimate. Nothing is booked until you agree to it.

A few things worth knowing

Your drywall questions,
answered.

Have another question? Let’s talk

Can plaster walls be repaired instead of replaced?

Often, yes. Cracks, holes and loose areas can be re-secured and patched. Replacement is usually recommended only when damage is widespread or the wall is being opened anyway.

Why does my plaster crack keep coming back?

Usually because the plaster has come loose from the lath and the crack was only filled. Re-securing the plaster before finishing stops the movement.

Can you patch plaster with drywall?

Yes. The patch is built up to the plaster thickness so it sits flush, then taped and skim coated to blend.

Which neighbourhoods have plaster walls?

Plaster is common in older homes across central Ottawa, including the Glebe, Centretown, Sandy Hill, Westboro and Old Ottawa South, and in older houses throughout the region.

Service areas

Drywall across Ottawa and nearby communities.

Related specialties

Specialty drywall services.

Before you start

Planning guides.

The rest of your project

Related drywall services.

Great spaces start with good walls.

Tell us what you have in mind. Let’s talk about your drywall project.

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