06 / 08 Decorating services
Ceiling Crack Repair
A crack across the ceiling is hard to ignore, and the question is always the same: is it just cosmetic, or is something moving? Most ceiling cracks are harmless, but a crack that is filled without finding the cause usually comes back. Our ceiling crack repair service starts by working out why the ceiling cracked, then fixes it in the way that lasts: taping joints, re-securing loose plaster, overboarding or skimming.
Fixing ceiling cracks is part of our decorating services. For cracks in walls, see filling cracks in walls.
- Part ofDecorating Services
- On this page7 topics covered
- Answered here6 common questions
- FreeSurvey & itemised quote
01Causes
Are Cracks in the Ceiling Normal?
Fine ceiling cracks are common in both new and old homes. The usual causes are:
- Plasterboard joints: Straight cracks, often in a regular grid or parallel lines, where boards meet. Common in new builds, extensions and loft conversions as the timber dries and shrinks, and where joints were not taped.
- Ceiling-to-wall junctions: A crack along the edge of the room, where the ceiling and walls move slightly differently.
- Settlement and seasonal movement: Timber joists expand and contract with heating and humidity.
- Vibration and loads: Foot traffic in the room above, heavy storage in the loft, or a busy road.
- Water leaks: Cracks with brown staining, bubbling paint or a soft patch, often below a bathroom, tank or pipe.
- Old lath and plaster: In period homes, the plaster can lose its grip on the timber laths over time.
02When to worry
When Should I Worry About Ceiling Cracks?
Get the ceiling checked before it is decorated if you see:
- Sagging or bowing, especially in a lath and plaster ceiling. This is a warning that the plaster has come away from the laths and could fall. Keep people out from underneath.
- A crack with one side lower than the other.
- Cracks that are wide, growing or reappearing soon after filling.
- A crack that carries on down the walls, or appears with doors that stick and diagonal wall cracks.
- Water staining or a bulge.: If water is coming through now, turn it off and see our emergency plumbing page. A slow leak is traced by our leak detection and pipe repairs service, and the ceiling must dry before it is repaired.
Where cracking points to movement in the building, a structural engineer should assess it. If foundation work is recommended, see our underpinning contractors and piling and underpinning pages.
03Artex
Artex and Textured Ceilings
Textured ceiling coatings such as Artex applied before 2000 may contain asbestos. It is safe while it is left undisturbed, but it must not be sanded, scraped or drilled until a sample has been tested. If asbestos is present, the ceiling can often be skimmed or overboarded without disturbing the coating, or the coating removed by an asbestos specialist. We do not repair cracks in old textured ceilings until the result is known.
04Repair
How Do You Fix a Crack in the Ceiling?
Tape and Fill
For most cosmetic cracks, the crack is opened slightly, cleaned, bridged with scrim or fibreglass mesh tape, and filled or skimmed over with jointing compound or plaster. Taping spreads small movements so the crack does not reappear. The crack between the ceiling and wall is filled with flexible decorators' caulk.
Re-securing Lath and Plaster
Where old plaster has lost its grip but is otherwise sound, it can be screwed back to the joists with plaster washers, then the cracks are taped and skimmed. Badly damaged sections are cut out and patched.
Overboarding
When a ceiling is cracked all over, or a lath and plaster ceiling is too far gone, new plasterboard can be screwed through into the joists over the old surface and skimmed. This avoids the mess of taking the old ceiling down. Sometimes taking the ceiling down and replacing it is the better choice, and we explain why.
Skimming
A full skim gives a smooth, even ceiling after repairs, or over a textured finish once it has been tested. Once dry, the ceiling is sealed with a mist coat and finished by our painting service.
05Cost
How Much Does Ceiling Crack Repair Cost?
You receive a written quote after we have seen the ceiling or clear photos, usually a fixed price for a defined repair. The main factors are:
Every factor is priced line by line after your free survey — no guesswork, staged payments.
Get a free quote- 01
The cause, and whether a leak or movement must be dealt with first.
- 02
The type of ceiling
Plasterboard, lath and plaster, or textured.
- 03
The repair method
Taping, re-securing, overboarding, skimming or replacement.
- 04
The size and height of the room, and access.
- 05
Any asbestos testing of a textured coating.
06Areas
Ceiling Crack Repair Across London
We fix ceiling cracks across London, with a focus on east and south-east London. Find out more on our pages for fixing ceiling cracks in London, fixing ceiling cracks in Ilford, fixing ceiling cracks in Barking, fixing ceiling cracks in Dagenham, fixing ceiling cracks in East Ham and fixing ceiling cracks in Orpington.
07FAQs
Ceiling Crack Repair FAQs
Are cracks in the ceiling normal?
Fine cracks are common, especially along plasterboard joints and where the ceiling meets the walls. They are usually caused by timber drying, seasonal movement or vibration, and can be taped and filled.
How do you fix a crack in the ceiling?
Find the cause first, then tape and fill the crack, re-secure loose lath and plaster, or overboard and skim a ceiling that is cracked all over. Textured ceilings are tested for asbestos before any work.
When should I worry about ceiling cracks?
When the ceiling sags or bulges, one side of the crack drops, the crack is wide or growing, it continues down the walls, or there is water staining. Have these checked before decorating.
How much does ceiling crack repair cost?
It depends on the cause, the type of ceiling, the repair method, the room size and access, and any asbestos testing. We give you a written quote, usually a fixed price.
Can you skim over an Artex ceiling?
Often, yes, once a sample has been tested. Skimming or overboarding covers the coating without disturbing it. It must not be sanded or scraped first.
Why does the crack between my ceiling and wall keep coming back?
The ceiling and walls move slightly differently, so a rigid filler cracks again. Flexible decorators' caulk allows for that movement.
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Next step
Get a Free Ceiling Repair Quote
Send us photos of the crack and the whole ceiling, and tell us if there is a bathroom or loft above. We will tell you what we think caused it and send you a written quote.
Send us photos on WhatsApp to get started, or use our contact form.
- Free survey
- Itemised written quote
- One project manager