Plaster cracking between ceiling and wall?

paperclap

Hi all,

Relatively recently had our ceilings plastered. About 18 months ago I think.

Anywho, where the ceiling meets the wall, we’ve a number of cracks. Presume the ceiling is contracting, causing the adjoining plaster to come with it, or crack.

I could try scraping it off and filling in with filler, but don’t have a great deal of confidence that it’ll stay put.

Anyone had any luck with caulking the join? Is it a done thing?

Thanks!

P.S. Ignore the cobwebs! 

subjecttocontract

Yep, decorators filler, smooth off and paint. The cracking your getting is not unusual and would normally be fixed when decorated.

flashg67

As above, I'd scrape off the loose bits, caulk & repaint

Postik

Be aware that when you paint over the caulk it will probably "craze" when it dries, even when it says it is over-paintable.  I figured out that giving the caulk a very, very light coat of oil based paint followed by a couple of coats of emulsion before your final emulsion coat on the walls/ceiling generally stops this from happening.

ashe

Someone in my caulk thread also suggested using zinsser peel stop before final coat also 

paperclap

Hmm, thanks all! Perhaps I will give regular filler a go for now, and see how it fairs. If it cracks, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Would imagine EasiFill would be ideal, but don't have any. Got an open bag of MultiFinish. Would that be okay to use?

stuart45

Tape and fi!l is the best way for a more permanent fix. If caulk was that good it would be used when drylining.

paperclap

You'd think so, but all of the cracks on our newly plastered ceilings have reappeared, at the plasterboard joints. And yep, they were taped!

stuart45

They probably used fibreglass tape if it was being p!astered. It flexes more than paper tape. Once the plaster boards have moved in time, tape and fill over the cracks using paper tape and a air filler like Knauf fill and finish will usually work if it's done properly. I've used it for years for customers without any issues.

paperclap

This was the stuff he used:
https://www.toolstation.com/gyproc-fibatape-xtreme-plasterboard-joint-tape/p58759?utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&mkwid=_dc&pcrid=&pkw=&pmt=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjryjBhD0ARIsAMLvnF9nl9DqXj-cvoNXXdWBKho2LNcBnlPLVwEiqMVHwznFgKq56QNOjXUaAth6EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Are you a plasterer? If so, I've another question for you, ha 

stuart45

I'm a bricklayer, but have some experience in plastering as well as tape and fill with dry lining.
The mesh you show is fibre glass, and usually the type used when the boards are skimmed. It's self adhesive, so it's easier to use than paper.
Paper is normally used on tape and fill and needs to be bedded.