Cracks can appear for a number of reasons.
How to fix small cracks in plaster ceiling.
Repairing small cracks in plaster.
Small cracks in plaster are relatively easy to repair with one condition.
Do i need more insulation in the attic.
My living room ceiling has a crack starting at the south side and is two feet short of the opposite wall.
For these small cracks the easiest solution is to use a 5 in 1 tool to dig any loose plaster out of the cracks very gently and then fill them with a spackling paste or joint compound.
For finishing you ll need primer and paint.
These pose you no real issue to the structural health of the plaster ceiling and can be left alone unless they bother you.
The plaster keys holding it to the underlying lath can also crack and break over time causing the plaster to partially separate from the wall.
What causes a ceiling to crack in the first place.
Repairing small cracks in plaster is easy compared to plastering a whole room.
Expansion and contraction of the wood studs as they shrink and expand with changing humidity levels can cause the plaster to crack.
House settling and temperature or moisture fluctuations in an attic which result in the expansion or contraction of framing members.
To repair small cracks in plaster you ll need patching compound medium and fine grit sandpaper a sanding block a putty knife a masonry chisel a paintbrush a rag and a screwdriver.
No matter what the cause.
Typically plaster ceiling cracks have two causes.