How to Make Your Old Plaster Walls & Ceilings Gorgeous

Log all the fixes that need to be done. Old plaster will typically have small or large holes and cracks may be present over windows and doors. The corners of the room may also be cracked and there may be some separation in the joints between the walls and ceilings. Gaps like this will need to fixed first with sealant foam because plaster is not a very good material for filling large areas that are prone to shifting.

Prepare for the job. Lay plastic dropcloths over any furniture and over the flooring. For extra protection, tape up plastic over doorways and tape over any vents in the room to minimize the dust. You will also need to wear safety glasses, a respirator and gloves for this job.

Remove any debris from the existing cracks. Score the cracks with a screwdriver and remove the loose pieces. You do not want any of these pieces getting into the skim coat.

Work wall by wall. Plaster is a very fast-setting medium and you will not have a lot of time to work. This means mixing only a small batch of plaster at a time and finishing one area before moving on to the next. Start with one area and apply a skim coat of plaster that is 1/4-inch thick. This skim coat will give the entire wall a new finish as well as covering up the cracks. Work from the bottom of the wall up to the ceiling. Press as you go to flatten out the plaster and smooth it.

Skim coat the ceiling. Mix up more plaster and apply a very thin, 1/4-inch skim coat over the ceiling. This will fill in the cracks and give the ceiling a new finish, too. Blend in the wall edges with the ceiling joints by smoothing the area with your trowel.

Fix any imperfections. Plaster, while easier than some methods of walling, isn't always a good medium for beginners. Professional plaster applicators spend years learning how to apply a perfect coat. Run your hand over the wall once it has set. If you feel any ridges or bumps, sand them out with a fine grade of sandpaper.

Paint the walls. Choose a historic color that goes with the era of the house. This will add a more authentic feel to the room. Plaster typically does not need primer, but you may need more than one coat of paint, depending on the vibrancy of the color you choose.