Cracks, sagging and old lath-and-plaster ceilings restored cleanly, without tearing out the character of your home. Written estimate, clean work, on the day we promise.
A cracked or sagging plaster ceiling is one of the most common problems in older Greater Boston homes, and one of the most misdiagnosed. Many contractors want to tear the whole thing out and hang drywall. Often the original plaster can be repaired and saved instead, keeping the ceiling flat, solid and true to the house.
Ezra Plastering repairs plaster ceilings the right way: we find why it is cracking, secure what is loose, and blend the repair into the existing surface so it disappears. The owner is on the job, you get a detailed written estimate, and your home is protected and cleaned every day.
We see the same issues again and again: hairline cracks that keep coming back, long structural cracks, sections that have pulled away from the lath and started to sag, water stains, and holes from old fixtures or leaks. Each one has a different fix, and guessing wrong is why some repairs fail within a year.
Ceiling cracks come from settling, vibration, old lath keys breaking, or moisture. Simply filling the crack rarely holds. We address the cause first, reinforce the area, then re-skim so the surface is flat and the crack does not telegraph back through. That is the difference between a repair that lasts and one that reappears next winter.
In prewar homes the ceiling is real plaster on wood lath. When the plaster loses its grip on the lath it starts to sag. We can re-secure it and restore the surface rather than demolishing a solid, century-old ceiling. When replacement genuinely is the better call, we tell you that too, in writing.
We protect floors, furniture and adjacent rooms, contain the dust, and clean up at the end of every day. Ceiling work is messy by nature; our job is to make sure your home does not feel like a construction site while we are in it.
The price depends on the size of the area, whether the cause is cosmetic or structural, ceiling height, and how much of the original plaster can be saved. We explain all of this on site and put it in writing. For a full breakdown, see our guide on the cost to repair a plaster ceiling in Massachusetts.
Actual project photos, not stock images or renders.
Before and during are photos from the job. The finished views show the seamless result we deliver.
Most homes in Greater Boston built before the 1950s have lath-and-plaster ceilings: thin wood strips with plaster keyed through the gaps. When those keys break, the ceiling sags or cracks. The wrong fix, screwing it flat or tearing it out for drywall, changes the sound and character of the room and often creates a new crack within a year.
We re-secure the plaster to the joists with plaster washers, fill and reinforce the cracks, then skim the surface back to flat so the repair disappears. Where the plaster is genuinely beyond saving, we say so in writing and rebuild with blueboard and a veneer skim that matches the density of the original.
Because we do this cleanly, room by room, most ceiling repairs happen without emptying the house, and we protect floors and furniture the whole time.
Usually, yes. If the plaster is still largely sound, we can re-secure and re-skim it rather than tearing it out. Full replacement is only needed when the plaster has failed extensively, and we will tell you honestly which one you need.
Because the underlying cause was never addressed, or the crack was just filled without reinforcement. We fix the cause and reinforce the repair so it holds.
It can be, which is why we protect the room, contain dust and clean up daily. Leaving your home clean is part of the job, not an afterthought.
Small crack repairs can be a day or two; larger restorations depend on drying time between coats. We give you a realistic timeline in writing and hit the date we promise.
Fast ResponseWater-stained or damaged ceiling? We respond fast, give you a detailed written estimate, and leave no mess behind.
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Repair & RestorationCracks, chimneys and exterior walls repaired to last, matching the original texture cleanly.
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Walls & CeilingsThe New England standard for smooth, hard-wearing walls in renovations, additions and new builds.
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