Preserving historic craftsmanship while securing loose lath, sagging ceilings, and settling cracks. Drywall Complete Services LLC repairs traditional lime and gypsum plaster walls with proven stabilization methods and clean, dust-controlled workspaces.
Older homes throughout Ann Arbor—from the stately residences in Burns Park and Kerrytown to the vintage bungalows of the Old West Side—owe much of their charm to authentic lath and plaster walls. Traditional plaster provides superior fire resistance, solid thermal mass, and a quiet, acoustic density that modern sheetrock simply cannot replicate. However, decades of foundation settling, traffic vibrations, and seasonal moisture shifts eventually cause plaster to separate from its wood framing.
When plaster begins to bulge, crack, or sound hollow when tapped, investing in specialized plaster repair services in Ann Arbor, MI protects your architectural investment. At Drywall Complete Services LLC, we address the underlying structural failure, re-anchoring plaster keys back to the lath and hand-troweling setting compounds to restore solid, seamless wall planes.
From broken keys and sagging ceilings to water damage and plaster-to-drywall transitions, we handle every type of historic plaster failure with proven stabilization methods.
Plaster stays on a ceiling because wet mortar was once forced between thin wooden laths, forming curved "keys" on the back side. Over time, these keys can snap due to attic movement or upper-floor foot traffic, causing heavy sheets of ceiling plaster to sag downward under its own weight. We utilize specialized countersunk plaster washers and flexible structural adhesives to mechanically pull sagging ceilings back tight against joists without requiring a messy tear-out.
Unlike modern drywall which has regular paper-faced joints, plaster is a rigid, continuous masonry shell. Minor structural settling creates diagonal stress cracks over door headers and spiderweb mapping across broad walls. At Drywall Complete Services LLC, our comprehensive plaster repair services in Ann Arbor, MI bridge the gap between old-world masonry and modern repair science, embedding high-strength fiberglass mesh to lock moving surfaces together.
Historic plaster is vulnerable to sustained moisture from plumbing leaks or roof ice dams. When saturated, lime dissolves, leaving soft, powdery plaster (efflorescence) that flakes off under touch. We remove ruined sections, treat the exposed framing with antimicrobial solutions, seal the margins with bonding agents, and rebuild the plaster layers from scratch.
If past remodeling projects introduced drywall into rooms that still feature original plaster, the transition seam often develops a ridge. We float and feather specialized basecoats across the junction, creating a level, unbroken transition that hides the difference between old and new materials.
Fine hairline cracks spread across historic plaster walls as the material ages and the home shifts with Michigan's seasonal freeze-thaw cycles. These aren't just cosmetic—they signal that the plaster surface is losing cohesion with its base. We open each crack into a V-groove, prime the interior, and fill it with flexible setting compound reinforced with mesh tape, then skim the surface smooth so it matches the surrounding wall texture and won't re-crack next season.
Many Ann Arbor historic homes feature ornamental plaster details—crown cornices, ceiling medallions, and decorative moldings—that chip or crumble over decades. We carefully rebuild damaged profiles using casting molds, matching plaster compounds, and hand-carving techniques to reproduce original contours. Once repaired, the ornamental work is blended seamlessly into the surrounding plaster so the detail looks original to the home.
From structural cavity inspection to multi-coat hand troweling, every plaster repair follows a proven process designed to preserve your home's original walls.
We inspect the wall with low-angle raking light and gently tap to identify hollow zones where keys have detached from the wood lath.
In loose sections, we inject commercial-grade acrylic adhesive behind the plaster and install low-profile plaster washers countersunk below the surface to clamp the plaster flat against the lath.
We coat exposed original plaster edges and raw wood lath with professional rewettable bonding agents (like Weld-Crete) to ensure fresh basecoat plaster adheres with maximum bond strength.
We apply a structural setting basecoat (such as Structo-Lite or Durabond), embed fiberglass reinforcing fabric, and finish with a smooth lime-gauging or veneer plaster skim coat feathered to match your home's existing wall texture.
From single-family historic homes to churches, offices, and retail interiors with ornamental plaster, we restore damaged walls and ceilings with the same precision and preservation standards.
Different historic homes use different plaster systems. We match the right repair compound and finish technique based on your wall's original construction and surface texture.
Traditional lime plaster is breathable, flexible, and self-healing—the original wall system found in most pre-1930s Ann Arbor homes. We repair lime plaster using authentic lime putty and matched aggregates so the repaired area cures and ages at the same rate as the surrounding historic wall.
Gypsum plaster (also called "rock lath" or "button board" plaster) became standard in mid-century homes. It's harder and less breathable than lime plaster. We repair gypsum plaster with setting-type compounds and veneer plaster finishes that match the original hardness and smoothness.
For plaster walls that are structurally sound but cosmetically worn, we apply a veneer plaster or skim coat over the existing surface. This restores a smooth, paint-ready finish without demolition—ideal for walls with minor cracking, patching, or uneven texture.
Generations of local homeowners count on our dedicated plaster repair services in Ann Arbor, MI because we never treat plaster like disposable drywall.
Gutting historic plaster creates tons of heavy debris, destroys soundproofing, and strips your home of historic value. We stabilize and save your original walls whenever structurally possible.
Older homes require extra cleanliness. We erect zip-wall plastic barriers, cover hardwood floors with heavy canvas, and connect sanding equipment to HEPA vacuum extractors.
If a ceiling is too compromised to be saved safely, we will give you a straightforward, honest assessment of your options instead of offering a temporary fix.
Ready to discuss your plaster repair project in Ann Arbor?
Talk to Our Plaster Experts — (734) 368-5568In almost all cases, repairing and stabilizing historic plaster is faster, cleaner, and more economical than a full demolition down to studs. Plaster provides superior sound dampening, authentic contours, and insulation value that modern drywall cannot match without extensive framing modifications.
Standard spackle and premixed drywall compound shrink and have zero tensile flexibility. When the house shifts slightly with changing Michigan weather, the compound snaps. Permanent repairs require carving out the crack, securing the lath beneath, embedding reinforcing fiberglass mesh, and using setting-type plaster compounds.
Yes. Historic plaster was applied by hand, giving it subtle, organic surface variations. Our plasterers use traditional steel trowels and feathering techniques to match the natural contours of your existing walls so the repair blends naturally.
Most room crack repairs and localized ceiling stabilizations take between 1 to 3 working days. Setting-type plaster cures through chemical crystallization rather than simple air-drying, allowing us to build sound layers efficiently while ensuring each coat is rock-hard before applying the final skim coat.
Don't let cracked ceilings or sagging walls compromise your home's historic charm. Contact Drywall Complete Services LLC today for trusted plaster repair services in Ann Arbor, MI and restore the timeless beauty of your home. Call (734) 368-5568 or submit your request online for a comprehensive on-site consultation!
(734) 368-5568
info@drywallcompleteservices.com
1830 Carol Ann Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48198
