Hillman Group 41994, 25-Pack Zinc-Plated Plaster Washers, 25 Pieces

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It's been said by everyone else, Plaster Washers. I have a 100+ year old house and keep a supply on hand. I can only say this was a waste electrons for the video. Mark the line of the ceiling joists above and screw the plaster to these. Use dry lining screws with large washers on them. The washers will prevent the screw pulling right through the plaster and can be sunk a fraction into the surface. Dry lining screws will cut through easily and grip well in the joists.

Save yourself time and trouble — make the patch a square or rectangle, even though the hole may be a different shape. If the sagging is slight, or covers a small area, you can reattach the plaster to the wood lath by using long drywall screws fitted with plaster washers. A plaster washer is a thin metal disk that increases the size of the head of a drywall screw so that it doesn't pull through the plaster. You thread the drywall screw through a plaster washer and then drive it through the plaster and into the ceiling joists, wall studs, or wood lath. The screw and washer pull the loose plaster tight against the framing, restoring the ceiling. By surrounding the area with plaster washers, you can stabilize the plaster so that it doesn't sag any further. I would use those Plaster washers instead, larger in size and work better on my house with 100+ year old ceilings. This is usually a problem caused when the plaster has lost its key. I have lifted a ceiling up over 1" and then taped. It is no fun to remove 1.5" of old plaster on wood laths.

Saving loose plaster

You now need to access the top side of the ceiling. For upstairs rooms, this is usually easy enough as you can get to it from the loft. For other ceilings, you will have to lift the floor in the room above to get access to the old lathes. Be sure to cut away any protruding paper facing or crumbled gypsum core from the perimeter of the patch area.

Get plaster washers. There was a time when there was only one major source (Charles Street Supply in Massachusetts, making them since 1948), but Googling "plaster washers" brought me dozens of possible sources, and also dozens of online discussions of these marvelous little devices - so it's not like they're unknown. Once the sagging area of lathe and plaster has been re-supported like this, the recesses for each screw can be filled and the ceiling redecorated Larger areas of sagging ceiling I do appreciate the video however because you do preface it with "in a pinch", even though it's not a better way. I carry pipe strapping as well. You don't have permission to access "http://www.homedepot.com/p/Grip-Plate-Lath-and-Plaster-Washer-1000-Pieces-HDGPPWL1000/303868289" on this server.Roll a special topcoat over the fiberglass mesh if you use the Nu-Wal product; otherwise skim coat the mesh with two coats of joint compound. Install wallboard clips on the edges of the damaged wall by using the screws supplied with the clips.