Searching for a plasterer usually means something has gone wrong: a crack that keeps growing, a ceiling that has started to sag, or water damage after a leak. You want someone local who can look at it quickly and tell you honestly whether it is cosmetic or structural.
Here is what plastering work involves and how to choose someone for it.
What plasterers actually do
“Plastering” covers several different jobs:
- Crack repairs in walls and ceilings
- Ceiling repairs and replacement after water damage or sagging
- Cornice repair and replacement, including ornate period cornices
- Patching after removed walls, old fittings or electrical work
- Skim coating to give tired or uneven walls a smooth finish
- New plasterboard for extensions, renovations and new builds
- Solid plaster repairs in older homes
When a crack is cosmetic and when it is not
Most cracks in Melbourne homes are movement cracks caused by reactive clay soils expanding and contracting through the seasons. These are usually cosmetic and easily repaired.
Signs a crack needs more than a patch:
- It is wider than about 5mm, or wider at one end than the other
- It runs diagonally from a window or door corner
- Doors and windows in the same area have started sticking
- It reopens within months of being repaired
- There is matching movement visible outside in the brickwork
If you see those signs, the right next step is a structural engineer or building inspector, not a plasterer. Any honest tradesperson will tell you that rather than repeatedly filling a crack that keeps coming back.
Ceilings need more care than walls
A sagging or water-damaged ceiling is a safety issue, not just an appearance one. Plaster that has been saturated can lose strength and come down. If a ceiling is bowing, feels soft, or the paper surface has lifted, it should be assessed before anyone paints it.
The usual approach is to cut out and replace the affected section, set and sand the joins, then seal and repaint the whole ceiling so the repair does not show.
How to choose a plasterer
- Ask what is causing the problem, not just what it costs to patch. A good tradesperson looks for the cause.
- Get it in writing, listing the areas, the repair method and whether painting is included.
- Check insurance. Public liability cover is standard for this work.
- Ask about dust control. Plastering and sanding is messy; find out how they protect the rest of the house.
- Confirm who paints afterwards. Plaster repairs need sealing and painting to be invisible. One team handling both saves coordination.
- Ask about drying time. New plaster and compound must dry fully before painting, and rushing this causes cracking later.
Plaster and paint go together
This is the part people underestimate. A perfect plaster repair still shows through paint unless the patch is sealed, because new compound absorbs paint differently from the surrounding wall. And spot-painting a repair almost always leaves a visible patch, so the whole wall or ceiling usually needs recoating.
That is why we handle both. Expert Painting and Renovation is a family-run, Aussie-local company based in Richmond, with more than 9 years of experience in plastering and painting across Melbourne.
See our plastering services, our rendering work, or our interior painting service. Check the suburbs we cover on our service areas page.
FAQ
How much does plaster crack repair cost?
It depends on the number and size of cracks and whether painting is included. Small patch repairs are inexpensive; full ceiling replacement costs considerably more.
How long before I can paint new plaster?
Joint compound must be completely dry, usually several days, and longer in cold or humid weather.
Do you repair ornate cornices?
Yes. Period cornices can often be matched and repaired rather than replaced entirely.
Will the repair be visible afterwards?
Not if it is sealed and the full wall or ceiling is repainted. Spot-painting a patch usually shows.
Related guides
Cracks, sagging ceilings or water damage? Contact Expert Painting and Renovation for an assessment.
About Expert Painting & Renovation
Expert Painting and Renovation is an Aussie-local, family-run company based in Richmond, Melbourne, with more than 9 years of experience in residential and commercial painting and renovation. Our specialists deliver premium workmanship, timely service and durable finishes designed for Melbourne homes.
- Ceiling crack repairs
- Sagging ceiling restoration
- Water‑damaged ceiling repairs
- Cornice replacement
- Full plastering services
- Interior & exterior painting
- Weatherboard restoration
- Deck & timber maintenance
- Roof painting
- Rendering & texture coating
- Commercial Painting
- Plastering Services
- House Painting
Whether you need maintenance advice, a single-room refresh or a full home makeover, our team is just a call away.
đź“Ť Our Service Areas Across Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, Surf Coast & Phillip Island
Melbourne & Bayside
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