Reinforcement mesh to stop cracking

padstar · 3 Dec 2019

I am planning on re skimming all ceilings and walls. The existing appears to be "concrete plaster" from donkeys years ago.

The walls are generally in very good order but most of the ceilings have cracks running through them which i do not want to reappear. I have heard of mesh reinforcement being used to reduce the risk of this in a similar way to its use when rendering externally.

Has anyone done this? Will a plasterer think i am mad for suggesting it? Example of product i am thinking of --> https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolfpack-1...?keywords=plaster+mesh&qid=1575382935&sr=8-13

foxhole · 3 Dec 2019

It will help but if underlying material is not stable it may still crack.

padstar · 3 Dec 2019

i think it has settled so fairly sure teh movement has now stopped. Are these types of mesh just pressed into the skim coat as they go?

Alastairreid · 3 Dec 2019

Yes, the mesh in the link is bedded into the basecoat....metal lath is fixed.

bobasd · 3 Dec 2019

the mesh you propose is not often used on internal work - its more likely used externally with, for example, K-Rend.
scrim tape is typically used on ceilings for remedial work - if you as a DIY'er attempt to use sheets of that stuff you reference then you could soon be in trouble on your ceilings.
Pro plasterers will make their own choices of whats suitable.

why not post photos of the ceilings - so often its fixing failures or lack of tape on joins that can cause cracks in plasterboard. plaster lath is different.
or sagging or loose joists will cause cracks in any cover.

padstar · 3 Dec 2019

The ceilings are plaster lath. I will not be doing the work myself, just wanted to know what options i have for reinforcing to prevent cracks.

I will get some pics and post tomorrow.

Alastairreid · 3 Dec 2019

Scrim tape will will do the job, if the plaster nibs have started breaking away from the laths the ceiling will generally need replaced.

bobasd · 3 Dec 2019

problem with replacing ceilings is its such a messy and possibly unhealthy job - i prefer to board over the laths.

padstar · 3 Dec 2019

The ceilings are not in a bad condition there are just a few large cracks that i don't want passing through the skim coat.

bobasd · 4 Dec 2019

sometimes a few sagging or detached laths can be pilot holed and then screwed back into the joists.
Pva can be injected into cracks, and bad bits made up with a filler.
then the whole lot can be Pva'ed twice and skimmed over.

but why not post photos of the "few large cracks"?

padstar · 5 Dec 2019

Pics below. Sorry for the poor quality, you may need to zoom in a bit.

padstar · 5 Dec 2019

Ceiling 3

padstar
5 Dec 2019

Ceiling 2

padstar
5 Dec 2019

Ceiling 1

padstar
5 Dec 2019

bobasd · 7 Dec 2019

difficult to read photos but fwiw the cracks i can see are straightforward enough to deal with.
as has been suggested above first examine for possible factors affecting the ceiling, and then simply treat the cracks as suggested - its not a big deal.

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Reinforcement mesh to stop cracking

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