In our hobby house we’ve got a spider web of cracks in most ceilings. It’s all lathe and plaster, and I’ve been digging out each crack into a V, then taping with scrim tape, filling with jointing compound (easifill), and then sanding.
Two coats – first to cover the crack and the tape, then a second thin coat to make it smooth. The cracks I’ve done look good, but I haven’t tried painting it yet.
I’ve been told not to bother with the scrim tape by our builder, as he says I’ll be able to see it once it’s painted. Whilst he’s done an ok job on what we’ve asked him to do, I also suspect he prefers a quick fix rather than doing things properly.
Everything I’ve read suggests that you should use it to prevent, or at least discourage cracks from reappearing. Although many of these instructions are relevant to straight cracks between plasterboard panels rather than snaking cracks in lathe and plaster.
Anyone have any opinion on the most reliable method?