2. According to insurance company records,
water damage is the most common form of
plaster damage. This article is a step-bystep guide to repairing water damaged
ceiling plaster. Water can enter into a ceiling
cavity through blocked gutters, loose roof
tiles and cracks in roofing materials. You will
be able to see the effects of the moisture, as
the plaster will start to bubble, there may be
discolouration, paint may start to flake off,
and mould may start to develop on the
gyprock.
3. Water damaged plaster needs to be
repaired as the moisture weakens the
structural integrity of the gypsum, and it
can suddenly come crashing down.
Repairing the plaster is not a major job,
and can be attempted by anyone with
simple tools and basic do-it-yourself
experience. Gyprocking skills are similar
to painting skills, so if you have
performed painting throughout your
home, you will find that you have
enough skills to successfully complete
the job.
4. The initial and most important step is to
ensure that you have prevented further
moisture leakage to the area. If water can
still gain access to the gyprock then there is
no point repairing the site, only for it to get
damaged again when the next rain storm
hits your suburb. Therefore before you
attempt the following steps, locate the entry
point of the moisture, and prevent moisture
entry.
5. Use a broad faced metal scraper to scrape
off any flaking paint and loose material.
Scrape in all four directions to ensure that
there is no harsh cracks in the paint. If
necessary use any paint chips for colour
matching to the original paint. You can
easily take the paint chips into a hardware
store and they will be able to replicate the
original colour. Apply a coat of primer to
the stained area. Once the primer is touch
dry, normally only after an hour or
following manufacturer guidelines, use the
metal scraper again to clean off any
debris. Rub your hand across the gyprock
to make sure that the surface is smooth to
touch.
6. Apply a coat of joint compound across the
area. Use the metal scraper to smooth
it out across the affected area. When
the joint compound is dry, sand the
area with a piece of sandpaper. Use 120
grit sandpaper for the best finish. Sand
a wider area than where you applied the
joint compound. This will ensure that
there are no surrounding marks once
the job is completed. Use a moist rag to
wipe off any sanding dust once the
sanding is completed.
7. Repeat the joint compound application,
sanding and dusting as outlined in the
previous paragraph. This second coat
will ensure that the repair job is durable,
and there is no cracking with extreme
weather. Following these steps, paint
the entire area with a primer and sealer.
When the primer is dry, then paint over
the area with the original finishing paint.
8. This method will provide a durable a
professional finish. If performed
correctly you will not be able to notice
the area where the water damage on
the gyprock previously was. The main
skill needed for this gyprocking project
is a smooth hand. When individuals first
try scraping the joint compound onto
the wall, it can be hard to get a smooth
and even finish. If after attempting this
step you are not having success. Then
call a professional gyprocker or
plasterer to complete the job before
you go onto complete the job.