David Wade <g4ugm@dave.invalid> wrote in news:100mvjr$3btb1$1@dont-
email.me:

Folks,

I live in a 1911 end terrace built on sandy soil so it moves a little as
the water table rises and falls. As a result I get the odd minor crack
in the ceilings, which are annoying, but I really don't want to re-do
them, as I am pretty sure they will only recur.

I wonder if any one has tried the various paints available that claim to cover such imperfections, or do you have any other suggestions?

If it's likely to continue to move then no 'paint' will make a lasting job.
In a similar position I have used crack repair tape (search for that term)
as a base layer for future painting and it has proved very effective in the long term (over 10yrs).
Here's an example:
https://www.tesa.com/en-gb/consumer/tesa-crack-cover.html

I suggest you ignore popular suggestions to rake out a groove along the
crack line and fill with caulk or a flexible filler, it will just open up
in the long term.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Folks,

I live in a 1911 end terrace built on sandy soil so it moves a little as
the water table rises and falls. As a result I get the odd minor crack
in the ceilings, which are annoying, but I really don't want to re-do
them, as I am pretty sure they will only recur.

I wonder if any one has tried the various paints available that claim to
cover such imperfections, or do you have any other suggestions?

Dave

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 22/05/2025 13:06, John R Walliker wrote:

On 22/05/2025 12:10, fred wrote:

David Wade <g4ugm@dave.invalid> wrote in news:100mvjr$3btb1$1@dont-
email.me:

Folks,

I live in a 1911 end terrace built on sandy soil so it moves a little as >>> the water table rises and falls. As a result I get the odd minor crack
in the ceilings, which are annoying, but I really don't want to re-do
them, as I am pretty sure they will only recur.

I wonder if any one has tried the various paints available that claim to >>> cover such imperfections, or do you have any other suggestions?

If it's likely to continue to move then no 'paint' will make a lasting
job.
In a similar position I have used crack repair tape (search for that
term)
as a base layer for future painting and it has proved very effective
in the
long term (over 10yrs).
Here's an example:
https://www.tesa.com/en-gb/consumer/tesa-crack-cover.html

I suggest you ignore popular suggestions to rake out a groove along the
crack line and fill with caulk or a flexible filler, it will just open up
in the long term.

Agreed.  What does work is to place a generous amount of sand
cement mixture above the ceiling which I assume is lath and plaster.
If you can't easily lift floorboards to do this, then another
approach would be to drill some holes along the crack line and
inject a large amount of runny plaster of Paris or similar into
each hole so that it flows over the immediate area before setting.

John

The full job if you want proper restoration of an ancient plaster
ceiling in a listed property is as follows:

Push up and prop any areas of ceiling not properly attached
Lift all the floorboards upstairs
Hoover and blow out all the soot, dust, loose stuff
Spray dilute PVA onto laths, plaster and joists in cavities
Fix expanded metal lath mesh to joists close to old laths
Pour in plaster of Paris to cover mesh
Re fit floor, skirtings etc, remove props, decorate.

But in your case as in my old house it's probably best just to leave it,
don't jump around upstairs and if anyone lifts boards for wiring or
plumbing make sure they don't knock off the plaster that has squeezed
between the laths because that's what holds the ceiling up.

Tim W

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 22/05/2025 12:10, fred wrote:

David Wade <g4ugm@dave.invalid> wrote in news:100mvjr$3btb1$1@dont-
email.me:

Folks,

I live in a 1911 end terrace built on sandy soil so it moves a little as
the water table rises and falls. As a result I get the odd minor crack
in the ceilings, which are annoying, but I really don't want to re-do
them, as I am pretty sure they will only recur.

I wonder if any one has tried the various paints available that claim to
cover such imperfections, or do you have any other suggestions?

If it's likely to continue to move then no 'paint' will make a lasting job. In a similar position I have used crack repair tape (search for that term)
as a base layer for future painting and it has proved very effective in the long term (over 10yrs).
Here's an example:
https://www.tesa.com/en-gb/consumer/tesa-crack-cover.html

Plaster board jointing tape. Paper tape for joints likely to have
movement, mesh tape for stable joints. The tape has to be embedded with
a jointing compound and then over filled to because the tape is proud of
the surface.

A good compromise filler is Gyproc Easifill 60 which is fairly easy to
sand if necessary
https://www.toolstation.com/gyproc-easifill-60-filler/p83889
Note: the 10kg bag is better value if you have a lot to do.

See these two videos on how to tape a crack and then hide the tape. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FygMYcfiR7I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t015fPsTsZw





--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 22 May 2025 at 13:45:12 BST, TimW wrote:

On 22/05/2025 13:06, John R Walliker wrote:

On 22/05/2025 12:10, fred wrote:

David Wade <g4ugm@dave.invalid> wrote in news:100mvjr$3btb1$1@dont-
email.me:

Folks,

I live in a 1911 end terrace built on sandy soil so it moves a little as >>>> the water table rises and falls. As a result I get the odd minor crack >>>> in the ceilings, which are annoying, but I really don't want to re-do
them, as I am pretty sure they will only recur.

I wonder if any one has tried the various paints available that claim to >>>> cover such imperfections, or do you have any other suggestions?

If it's likely to continue to move then no 'paint' will make a lasting
job.
In a similar position I have used crack repair tape (search for that
term)
as a base layer for future painting and it has proved very effective
in the
long term (over 10yrs).
Here's an example:
https://www.tesa.com/en-gb/consumer/tesa-crack-cover.html

I suggest you ignore popular suggestions to rake out a groove along the
crack line and fill with caulk or a flexible filler, it will just open up >>> in the long term.

Agreed. What does work is to place a generous amount of sand
cement mixture above the ceiling which I assume is lath and plaster.
If you can't easily lift floorboards to do this, then another
approach would be to drill some holes along the crack line and
inject a large amount of runny plaster of Paris or similar into
each hole so that it flows over the immediate area before setting.

John

The full job if you want proper restoration of an ancient plaster
ceiling in a listed property is as follows:

Push up and prop any areas of ceiling not properly attached
Lift all the floorboards upstairs
Hoover and blow out all the soot, dust, loose stuff
Spray dilute PVA onto laths, plaster and joists in cavities
Fix expanded metal lath mesh to joists close to old laths
Pour in plaster of Paris to cover mesh
Re fit floor, skirtings etc, remove props, decorate.

Good grief. Isn't overboarding easier and as effective?

--
Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK

"The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities
committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them."
-- George Orwell

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

In message <100mvjr$3btb1$1@dont-email.me>, David Wade
<g4ugm@dave.invalid> writes

Folks,

I live in a 1911 end terrace built on sandy soil so it moves a little
as the water table rises and falls. As a result I get the odd minor
crack in the ceilings, which are annoying, but I really don't want to
re-do them, as I am pretty sure they will only recur.

I wonder if any one has tried the various paints available that claim
to cover such imperfections, or do you have any other suggestions?

Dave

There were some elastic ceiling paints in the 1970s advertised on TV .
I can't recall what it was called It had a Uri Geller lookalike
watching the ceiling bend without cracking, I used some in my old house
and it seemed to work. Modern elastomeric paints are available. I might
have to try some in my current house since recent strong winds are
causing some cracks around the stairwell cupola ceiling work.

Brian
--
Brian Howie

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Thu, 22 May 2025 11:51:39 +0100, David Wade <g4ugm@dave.invalid> wrote:

Folks,

I live in a 1911 end terrace built on sandy soil so it moves a little as
the water table rises and falls. As a result I get the odd minor crack
in the ceilings, which are annoying, but I really don't want to re-do
them, as I am pretty sure they will only recur.

I wonder if any one has tried the various paints available that claim to >cover such imperfections, or do you have any other suggestions?

Dave

In a similar situation -- ceiling cracks that opened in winter, closed in summer, flexible acrylic sealant worked. Waited until the cracks were at maximum
width, near enough, worked it in, smoothed it wit a wet sponge, and let the caulk dry. Paint enough area to hide the repair. That lasted...

Thomas Prufer

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 26/05/2025 06:43, Thomas Prufer wrote:

On Thu, 22 May 2025 11:51:39 +0100, David Wade <g4ugm@dave.invalid> wrote:

Folks,

I live in a 1911 end terrace built on sandy soil so it moves a little as
the water table rises and falls. As a result I get the odd minor crack
in the ceilings, which are annoying, but I really don't want to re-do
them, as I am pretty sure they will only recur.

I wonder if any one has tried the various paints available that claim to
cover such imperfections, or do you have any other suggestions?

Dave

In a similar situation -- ceiling cracks that opened in winter, closed in summer, flexible acrylic sealant worked. Waited until the cracks were at maximum
width, near enough, worked it in, smoothed it wit a wet sponge, and let the caulk dry. Paint enough area to hide the repair. That lasted...

Thomas Prufer

+1 for acrylic filler (decorators caulk) works better on wider cracks.

In fact it is superior to silicone except in one respect - waterproofing.

--
“Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.”

H.L. Mencken, A Mencken Chrestomathy

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)