Plaster Repair in Baltimore, MD | Cracks, Holes & Skim Coating

Get a free estimate

Plaster cracks or damage? Tell us the age of the home — we will take it from there.

Plaster is different from drywall

Many of the Baltimore area's older homes — in Canton, Charles Village, and the historic districts — have real plaster over wood or metal lath, not drywall. Plaster is harder, thicker, and more sound-deadening than drywall, but it cracks differently and repairs differently. A crew that only knows drywall will often make plaster worse.

What goes wrong with plaster

Hairline cracks. The classic plaster complaint — from settling and seasonal movement. We open them slightly, fill, tape, and finish.
Delamination. Plaster separating from the lath behind it — hollow-sounding, bouncy spots. We reattach it with adhesive and screws before finishing.
Holes and chunks. Repaired with proper plaster base coats, not just drywall mud — mud alone over a big plaster hole will crack.
Crumbling. When plaster is failing across whole walls, skim-coating or new drywall over the top is usually the honest answer.

Repair or cover?

Sound plaster with surface cracks is worth repairing — it is a better wall than new drywall. Failing plaster across large areas is usually better covered: we can hang new drywall right over it in many cases, which is faster and cheaper than tearing out. We will show you both options on the free visit.

Skim coating

A thin coat of plaster or joint compound over the whole surface, bringing old walls back to smooth. See what is skim coating.

Curious how the two materials compare? See drywall vs. plaster.

Get your free estimate

Call (240) 470-7236 or send the form. We come look, measure, and give you a written price — free, no pressure.

Questions homeowners ask us

Can cracked plaster be repaired?

Yes. Hairline cracks get opened, filled, taped, and finished. It is routine work on older homes.

Should I replace plaster with drywall?

Not always. Sound plaster is a better wall than new drywall — harder and quieter. We usually recommend repairing good plaster and only covering or replacing it when it is failing widely.

Can you skim-coat my plaster walls smooth?

Yes. Skim coating brings textured or tired plaster back to a smooth, paint-ready surface.

Why is my plaster cracking?

Usually the house settling or seasonal wood movement. Cracks along the same lines that keep coming back may mean the plaster has separated from the lath — we check for that.

What happens after you reach out

No mystery, no sales script. Here is the whole path from first call to smooth, paint-ready walls.

1You reach outCall or send the form. Tell us what is wrong — a hole, a crack, a stain, a whole room that needs hanging.

2We come look, freeWe visit, measure, and check what is behind the damage — moisture, framing, the real story.

3You get a written priceOne number for the whole job: hang, tape, mud, sand, texture. No surprises mid-job.

4We finish and clean upSmooth walls, matched texture, dust cleaned up. You paint — or ask us what painters we trust.

Plaster Repair for Older Homes