How to fix a crack in a ceiling or cornice - DIY

[@michaelconnolly4382]

This was great, I live in the ocuntry and can't get anyone to do this type of work. So now I will have a crack at it. Cheers!

[@billshowto]

👍👍

[@thomaslincoln401]

I see what you did there!

[@KenFullman]

Have a drink first. It's a lot easier once you're plastered.

[@2loco]

The only cracks I have goes at are pink and warm.

[@alanblyde8502]

Pardon the pun

[@scott429]

Brilliant explanation for a mundane but common problem. I run painting crews & can tell you that the amount of plasters who don't know how to do this is prevalent.

[@BDL090754]

I fancy myself as a bit of a handyman, but not with some things, this is one of them. Excellent tutorial mate, learnt a lot here, Thank you

[@karennaicker7031]

Totally amazing. I have same spot problem. Off to buy those products in couple days. But.. ooo boy... my arms and neck are already breaking just watching you. haaa haaa. I have just finished patching holes and ridges in laundry and done undercoat ready for my color all from support of watching your videos. So Thank You :)

[@billshowto]

You’re very welcome, have fun 👍👍👍

[@stephenkeeffe4940]

Mate, a perfect lesson. I recently fixed one and was about 70% of your technique. I'll attack the next one using your methods. Many thanks.

[@Anthony-gq7dk]

Great video, well delivered and presented and what a finish. Art work as a trade. Well done Bill, keep them coming.

[@geoffreycowl]

Bill, these videos you post are such a great help, you've helped me attempt jobs I would have left previously for someone else to do.

[@stephensimpson5283]

I love watching skilled people work. Great job mate!

[@deebee3901]

Well done Bill. You make it look so easy. Thanks for sharing the know how. I've got a few of these to fix!

[@billshowto]

You’re welcome 👍👍👍

[@sarahdraydon3456]

Thank you 😀 You are so professional and always make it look so easy! Your instructions are clear and I can get the job done but always seem to make mess dropping filler and take three goes sanding then refilling then sanding 😅

[@peteboe2114]

Thank you very much for the skill full way not only in doing the job, but explaining the process and offering so much helpful advice to inexperienced doers like me. Regards, Pete

[@billshowto]

You’re very welcome 👍👍👍

[@paulwatts1704]

Nice work - I always run my wire / metal detector over the gap to make sure no hidden cables / pipes to drill in to - rare to find but possible and a painful problem if hit.

[@habitangleft]

Thank you for sharing! I know for sure this would take me at least three times as long because I lack the patience to do it properly and will make a mistake and then make a big mess of it. So I think I'll leave that crack in my ceiling for now, but its nice to know that it is fixable as a DIY.

[@billshowto]

When you decide to fix it you now have a step by step video on how to do it👍

[@bottos34]

Bill, your videos are always useful. 10/10 mate keep up the awesome content.

[@billshowto]

Thanks, I’m glad you’re enjoying them👍👍👍

[@HaveANiceDay-pb6nb]

Thanks Bill you explain it so clearly!

[@billshowto]

Glad I can help👍👍👍

[@mysteriousllama6268]

What's that stud finder? I've bought two that were totally useless but that one looks good

[@billshowto]

It’s the Franklin t13, it’s a bit expensive (about $80-100) but it actually works unlike most others lol. I have another review coming soon on a very unique stud finder👍👍👍

[@Ian_macl]

Excellent work and great finish. Don't forget to wear a dust mask!

[@Fretboard_Chaos_Productions]

Been following you for a while mate. Thanks for the brilliant content you make and deliver so well. Please keep the videos coming :-)

[@billshowto]

Thank you, I’ll do my best👍👍👍

[@lockedout8643]

Got a similar job to do. I've screwed it back up and this helps heaps for the next part of the job. Cheers. (The people who originally put the ceiling up need a kick up the........)

[@YasminSomani-x4w]

Very well done job with explanation

[@subakix3067]

This vid has come at the best time. Thanks for all your know how Bill, love your content 👍

[@billshowto]

You’re welcome 👍👍👍

[@jimcar53]

Love your videos. Please keep them coming.

[@billshowto]

Glad you’re enjoying the videos👍

[@carold7713]

Oh wow. No wonder my attempts have not worked long term. Thanks for great instructions.

[@tuskanu]

Great video Bill. We need you and the TikTok inspectors to do a Collab. He finds the problems and you fix them

[@iankerr6815]

Great Instructional Video Bill, Thanks 😊

[@127Foxtrot]

Such a professional and perfect finish!

[@anthonyallen6838]

What a superb job great work.

[@calais1998]

Great video as always Bill, very informative and useful! Thanks mate you’re a legend.👍🙏

[@billshowto]

You’re welcome 👍👍👍

[@johnkaimins9998]

Great advice here ~ the only thing I would add is to back block (if possible) to avoid cracking reoccurring. Alternatively, install an expansion joint depending on the amount of movement in the underlying structure.

[@stultuses]

Wow, to start with I thought you were just going to do a patch job But bracing both sides of the join in the ceiling space is actually fixing the root cause of the movement It's great watching a video showing how things should be done properly

[@commanderkeen3787]

Thanks Bill, good video

[@billshowto]

You’re welcome 👍

[@michaelandmariedownes6070]

Hi Bill, what stud finder do you use. Mine is useless im afraid. Thanks Bill

[@billshowto]

Most are to be honest. This one is from Franklin and actually works

[@brucef]

Amazing, thank you for addressing how to stop it happening again. Did you use dry wall screws or something smaller?

[@arpadvarga3475]

I have fixed it about a year ago the same issue. Scraped out and filled again. Now it has a very thin crack. Next time I do as you did

[@speedsoftaustralia8685]

Fibrefuse is the best product for patching cracks. To be honest though, the correct solution to this reoccurring issue is to install an expansion join and these days, a control join needs to be cut into the cornice also as per Australian standards. You can see this is a high movement area as the wall behind you has cracked also.

[@Paul-sd8vk]

Absolutely correct. Unfortunately so many people follow the bad advice to just patch it up. Control joint is the only long term solution

[@michaeledmeston2785]

Good stuff...Can I use ordinary crack filler instead of the cement?

[@brettwicks7339]

Great job , why do you have to use the tape ? Wouldn't just the filler be ok ? Thanks .

[@AncoraImparoPiper]

Perfect. Just what I was looking for because I've got the same crack in the hallway.

[@billshowto]

👍👍👍

[@baldeepbirak]

Looks awesome Bill.

[@3mmgf976]

Is there a difference between base & top coat mixture?..or they're the same mixture? Thanks Bill

[@billshowto]

Base coats and top coats are a different mix. You can use an all purpose joint compound that can be used for all coating stages rather than buying individual products for each stage👍

[@3mmgf976]

@@billshowto Thanks Bill

[@LordHog]

You always make it look so easy. No matter how much I try I can never make the transition:feather out patch well

[@billshowto]

Practice makes perfect 👍👍

[@kryssbow-sr3hz]

What can you do if it's a roof with no crawl space or access and there's a lot of flex in the panels? There's been a new roof put on at my place a few years back (top floor unit), the cracks have clearly been repaired but pressing on the ceiling it looks like they've run the panels in the wrong direction so there's nothing to screw into in between the frames. They've repaired it very badly with what looks like some tape but it's opening up again are there several of them in my ceiling. It's open plan so I have a lot of uninterrupted ceiling, it's very noticeable from virtually every part of the unit.

[@billshowto]

Unfortunately to add support you will need to cut an access point or re do the ceiling in all the weak sections👍

[@wonton8983]

It's not professional but it works and easy to do. Glue the flexing ends together with "no nails" using an old credit card or similar to force the no nails up into the crack/gap, then repair as per this video.

[@roblange1445]

Rondo batten and re gib the entire ceiling

[@davelinkson1]

I have a fine crack have no access above. To start, I will just use some flexible fine surface filler for now.

[@wonton8983]

@@davelinkson1 Scratch the crack out, use liquid nails construction adhesive, push and spread it in with an old credit card, then sand and plaster over, you will thank me .

[@ezerider4273]

Is it ok to do this repair over the existing paint on the ceiling and cornice or do you need to sand back the paint first?

[@simonstewart2764]

Excellent vid 👍,mate what brand stud finder is that one you used,oh and can you get that FibaFuse in different widths, cheers

[@billshowto]

The stud finder was from Franklin and yes you can get different widths for the fibafuse👍

[@veryhappychappy12]

Good one. Thanks again.

[@billshowto]

You’re welcome 👍👍👍

[@scottspeig]

What if you don't have access to the roof space? Do you need to cut out a section of plasterboard, reinforce across and install new plasterboard?

[@colinsmith6116]

Thank you very much. A job well done and explained so easily.

[@billshowto]

You’re welcome 👍

[@johntojnar7070]

Another ripper video mate!!

[@billshowto]

👍👍👍

[@TheCog1983]

Thank you Bill.

[@thomaslincoln401]

Awesome. Thanks Bill

[@alanballard2841]

Top work mate!

[@stantheman9139]

The soft ceiling plaster board fixed by thin nails won’t hold the house structural movement which is the root cause of the coming up of the cracks. After such repair, over the time, the crack or ridge line along the joint will come back again. This problem can’t be eliminated on an old house whose structure is not rigid enough.

[@Paul-sd8vk]

That is completely correct, this video shows a superficial repair that will cause a lot of people a lot of angst when the crack returns

[@davidkimber8746]

What stud finder are you using?

[@josephking6515]

Can you share with us what Stud Finder you use? My last two were useless with one even finding electrical wires in a wall that *doesn't* have any. *Thanks* for the video Bill. 👍

[@billshowto]

It’s the Franklin t13, it’s a bit expensive (about $80-100) but it actually works unlike most others lol. I have another review coming soon on a very unique stud finder👍👍👍

[@lieslnew8247]

Great tutorial as always. Thx Bill 😊

[@shirleyhenriksen2026]

Hi Bill, could you please tell me why do you come out so far when patching. I only do two wide, it appears to be ok and people always say I do a great job. Your help is always appreciated.

[@billshowto]

The further out you patch the better it will blend especially on a ceiling 👍👍👍

[@shirleyhenriksen2026]

@@billshowto thank you, I’ll give it a go

[@HiroshimaMS]

If we have not that scraper can we use another pointed tool? And the mesh tape is fiberglass right? sorry my silly questions, I'm a layman in the matter.

[@billshowto]

That’s correct 👍👍

[@magicmatt4195]

What sort of sand paper you use to finish it off before painting? I always wanted to do this at home, but I feel like painting over those darker patches of joint compound would leave the white a different shade to rest of house? Or is that just overthinking it haha

[@ivanb3303]

Legend ..Cheers for the Info

[@billshowto]

👍👍👍

[@sydney8382]

this is EXACTLY what I needed, almost identical. need the reinforcement whenever get into roof it cracks

[@billshowto]

👍👍👍

[@jackdawg4579]

that's a ripper stud finder there Bill! mind sharing what brand it is? Maybe where you got it?

[@billshowto]

It’s the Franklin t13, it’s a bit expensive (about $80-100) but it actually works unlike most others lol. I have another review coming soon on a very unique stud finder👍👍👍

[@John-t6d9u]

Well done thanks

[@billshowto]

You’re welcome 👍👍👍

[@Dr3amMus1c]

Would this work using a multi purpose joint compound only instead of cornice cement and easy flow?

[@billshowto]

Easy flow is a all purpose compound that can also be used for a base coat. I prefer to use cornice cement as it sets quicker and harder👍

[@paulcamilleri1932]

Thanks Bill

[@salahlawendy717]

PROFESSIONAL.

[@JAYTEEGolf3030]

This bloke is a legend. Can you come and repair my cracks in the ceiling.

[@tinytedy]

A change in the weather it will open back up again.

[@celynjones4958]

Cheers Bill. Fibafuse is a great solution for thin repairs, did you learn about it from Vancouver Carpenter?

[@billshowto]

No I started using it a few years back and never looked back👍👍👍

[@josephj6521]

Well done and thanks mate.

[@billshowto]

You’re welcome 👍👍👍

[@ritaboutros1469]

Can you send link in Australia for stud finder please

[@janinapalmer8368]

Very good job 👍... now you have to repaint the entire ceiling...😳😳🥹 yes ! Because the ceiling will have gone darker with age

[@billshowto]

Whole house was being painted👍

[@murphyrp01]

Another great video.

[@billshowto]

👍👍👍

[@trevorburton2718]

My old occupation. Never ever use that plastic crap on ceilings always use paper tape. V in your crack as well. I used a trowel not a flat knife to lay on mud. This was a good demonstration.

[@YAWN....]

Yep, that mesh is fkn rubbish

[@souhailshamaissem7564]

Is the cornice cement same as the ceiling cement?

[@kellyross4397]

Awesome job

[@saldeburrra]

This works thanks

[@lawrencer25]

❤❤❤❤Fabulous video ❤❤❤🎉

[@souhailshamaissem7564]

What is the brand name of the stud finder? I bought one today ozito fir $39.95 it was hopeless I marked were it showed the studs but there were no studs it was hollows

[@joekool5005]

It's a Franklin. Not sure if you can get it here but I got mine from the US via Amazon. All stud finders suck but this is the best one I've used.

[@souhailshamaissem7564]

@@joekool5005 thanks mate

[@luvocean1]

Very informative video...if you are from sydney and need an apprentice, i am up for it. Professional electrical engineer wanting to learn handyman tasks.

[@johnnylawrence7232]

What would it cost to fix this....?. Same size area

[@billshowto]

Every job is different as there are many factors eg; size of damage, cause of damage, open plan ceiling , lighting ect…

[@jacobheinz8236]

Where can we get that Stud finder?

[@bevis90]

Looks good

[@TheRealMrCods]

Excellent as always 👍

[@billshowto]

👍👍👍👍

[@MrKrimstah]

Can you show us how to level house piers to stop the cracks from coming under the house , so many scammers out there

[@billshowto]

Unfortunately that’s not something I do and is usually done by a specific company 👍

[@storyfirstfilms149]

tertday yous are great help tanks

[@gordonshearston7590]

If it stills cracks over time maybe use expansion joint set over the crack

[@phyllismok6033]

good on you

[@victorlay808]

What timber do you recommend?

[@billshowto]

Timber for support?? Usually any framing timber as I secure it to the joists👍

[@reubendobbs8011]

Nice work

[@Cactus0404]

Great job

[@billshowto]

👍👍👍

[@tinytedy]

That needs an expansion joint, all your doing is the same thing the last guy did, a bandaid fix. If it was a small crack it would probably be ok, but that aint no small crack it will crack again very soon after or when the weather changes.

[@UNORTHODOXONETOO]

I thought the same thing 😂 he's ended up skimming half the ceiling. The video will be back up in 12 months after the woman's got rid of that awful pink 😂

[@Stevej2013]

Nice Bill. Cheers

[@billshowto]

👍👍

[@murphy2251]

Great skills

[@billshowto]

👍👍

[@theanythingchannel2239]

What grit sand paper?

[@billshowto]

120 grit

[@senseofthecommonman]

Pro tip Get a blob of flexible filler on your finger and push it in the gap, dab of paint, job done. I charge £100 an hour if anyone wants my services 😂😂

[@TortureDizha]

lovely

[@j.s.korenic007]

Wouldn't it be a good idea to wear a mask around plastering gyprok? Especially since older homes could have the old James Hardie asbestos boards?

[@UNORTHODOXONETOO]

I was waiting for a bed to come through the ceiling and he wears it as a necklace 😂

[@savva1361]

Why is the wall pink?

[@billshowto]

Lol

[@MrCordero68]

Without glasses 😮

[@age-of-adventure]

Oh, so a lot more involved than just applying putty over 😂