Hairline cracks on new plaster ceiling

stuart45

The method I've used on quite a few jobs that's lasted well for customers is using paper tape and Knauf fill and finish. You need to pre fill the crack, bed the tape, and 3 coats over the top. 
Paper tape flexes less than mesh, which is why most tapers use it. Mesh is quicker as it doesn't need bedding.

FreeBear

rob7475 said:

Was the ceiling plasterboarded at the same time? Did the plasterer use tape over any joints? If it's been boarded but not taped, the cracks may keep coming back even if you fill them.

Or if it wasn't boarded, is it a new skim over old lath & lime plaster ?

If it over lath & lime, and there were cracks in the old plaster, they will keep coming through.

FlaatusGoat

stuart45 said:

The method I've used on quite a few jobs that's lasted well for customers is using paper tape and Knauf fill and finish. You need to pre fill the crack, bed the tape, and 3 coats over the top. 
Paper tape flexes less than mesh, which is why most tapers use it. Mesh is quicker as it doesn't need bedding.

When you say paper tape, is this basically masking tape? The pale yellow kind. Is knauf fill just the same as regular filler? Thanks

FreeBear said:

rob7475 said:

Was the ceiling plasterboarded at the same time? Did the plasterer use tape over any joints? If it's been boarded but not taped, the cracks may keep coming back even if you fill them.

Or if it wasn't boarded, is it a new skim over old lath & lime plaster ?

If it over lath & lime, and there were cracks in the old plaster, they will keep coming through.

No. Unfortunately I think where my problem lies is that there were gaps in the original plasterboard where a wall was. I created off cuts from a spare section of new plasterboard I slotted those in, buttering them over with filler. Was still PVA'ed but still. The plasterer should have recommended taping the new plaster joints I guess.

stuart45

It's not masking tape. It's a special tape designed for plasterboard joints.