How to Repair Small Water Damage & Cracks in a Textured Ceiling

Place dropcloths on the ground or disposable plastic. Remove all damaged ceiling texture. Scrape away loose areas with a metal putty knife--clear about three areas around the cracked surface. Lightly spray the ceiling with water. Wait a few moments for damaged texture to absorb water and soften--this will make removal easier. Scrape with a putty knife to remove loose material. Allow to dry.

Fill in small cracks with drywall compound or putty. Use a small putty knife and lightly skim the surface to fill in the holes and cracks. Do not apply thickly—avoid causing the new plaster to crack by applying plaster in thin layers about 1/4 inch thick. Allow each layer to dry and lightly sand with fine- or medium-grit sanding paper. Examine the area and determine if additional layers are needed until the area is smooth.

Apply texture over the repaired cracked surface. Use spray-on texture for popcorn ceilings. Lightly spray the texture onto the surface. Practice the technique before adding material directly to the ceiling area. For stucco ceilings, apply joint compound, using a putty knife or trowel. Hold the trowel at a 45-degree angle with one side of the blade on the ceiling. Apply the texture in random strokes to mimic the existing texture. If texture does not match quickly, remove it before the plaster dries and try the technique again. Matching an existing texture is difficult and may require several attempts. Allow the texture to dry 24 hours.

Paint the surface with a mini-roller or paintbrush. Use existing latex paint that matches the ceiling. Repaint the entire ceiling if existing or matching paint is not available.