Plaster Repair in Lansing, MI
Lansing Elite Drywall fixes cracked and loose plaster in Lansing homes, and we also take plaster work in East Lansing, Holt, Dimondale, Okemos, Haslett, DeWitt and Grand Ledge.
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Given that a quarter of houses in Lansing predate 1940, it's quite a common issue. There could be two cases here. First, if it's just loose plaster, we re-anchor it with washers. But if it's rotten lath, we have to replace that patch.
- Each crack pressed by hand to find what is loose
- Loose plaster re-anchored first, patching second
- Demolition only where lath no longer holds
- Lead-safe setup in rooms painted before 1978
Estimate your plaster work
Typical prices per square foot for Lansing jobs, from the source below. Your quote follows a look at the job.
$111 to $132
Call (517) 940-8317 for your priceAt a glance
| One repair visit | $412 to $497, mostly a 4-hour minimum |
|---|---|
| Skim over sound plaster | $1.16 to $1.37 per sq ft |
| Strip to the studs | $4.27 to $9.22 per sq ft |
| Lansing homes before 1940 | 24.5% |
| Old joint compound | 1945 to 1977 mixes may hold asbestos |
Plaster Repair Jobs in Lansing Houses
Cracks That Move Under Your Hand
With cracks that move under your hand, there are a few things to consider. If it's a hairline and it stays still under your palm, a paint job is enough. If the edges push in, the keys have most likely snapped. The keys are the plaster ridges that grip the lath. The fix is screws, wide washers and mesh tape.
Sagging Plaster Ceilings
With sagging plaster ceilings, the top coat has parted from the base coat. It's urgent, because the whole ceiling can drop. First it's propped, then rows of washers go in, and if the attic is open, adhesive should be applied from above.
Holes Where Plaster Fell Out
The lath behind a fallen chunk is usually sound. We screw the edge back, seal it and build the hole up with setting-type mud. Old plaster runs about 7/8 inch thick (National Park Service).
Plaster Out, Drywall In
Rotten lath, or a remodel that opens the wall anyway, means stripping to the studs. The whole swap runs $2.75 to $6.00 per sq ft nationally.
Other Plaster Work
Skim Coating Crazed Plaster
Spiderweb cracks with nothing loose behind them get one skim coat, not fifty patches.
Plaster in Lansing Rentals
Lansing inspects rentals before it issues a Certificate of Compliance. Re-anchor between tenants; it beats patching every lease.
Should You Repair Plaster or Replace It?
Whether you should repair plaster or replace it depends. If the lath is sound, re-anchor it and apply one skim. A skim costs a quarter or less of a tear-out. But for rotten lath or a remodel, we will have to strip it.
Keep and Re-anchor It
Press each crack with a flat hand. If it flexes and springs back, the keys broke but the face is fine. On a 12 by 8 foot wall, that is 96 square feet of skim, plus the visit for the screws.
Strip It to the Studs
Plaster that crunches, or lath that shows black and soft, will not hold a screw. The same 96-square-foot wall then needs stripping and new board, before taping and paint.
How a Plaster Repair Is Done
- Find the loose areas. Tight plaster sounds solid when knocked. Hollow spots get a pencil outline.
- Check the old finishes. Lead-safe setup past 6 sq ft of pre-1978 paint; old compound sampled before sanding.
- Re-anchor. Screws with wide washers run along each crack and across any bulge, like buttons on a tufted mattress.
- Fill, tape and coat. Mesh tape, setting compound in deep holes, then wider coats 12 to 24 hours apart in a cool room (USG).
- Prime, then paint. Skip primer and the patch shows as a dull square in raking light.
Plaster Repair Cost in Lansing
| Plaster job | Lansing range, 2026 | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Re-anchor or patch one area | $412 to $497 | Per visit |
| Skim coat over sound plaster | $1.16 to $1.37 | Sq ft |
| Strip plaster to the studs | $4.27 to $9.22 | Sq ft |
| Hang drywall in its place | $2.32 to $2.76 | Sq ft |
| Tape and finish new seams | $1.28 to $1.55 | Lin ft |
| Full swap to drywall (US) | $2.75 to $6.00 | Sq ft |
Market figures for zip 48912, September 2026; the last row is a national range. On a 12 by 8 foot wall, 96 square feet, a skim comes to about $110 to $130; stripping runs about $410 to $885 and new board $225 to $265, before taping and paint. Lead-safe work, asbestos tests and paint are extra. In our view a tear-out pays only after a real failure. We test by hand before we quote one, and we would skip the demolition on any wall that still grips.
Wood Lath and Gypsum Lath in Lansing
In Lansing, 24.5% of homes predate 1940; in East Lansing, 9.7% (American Community Survey, 2020-2024). By the end of the 1930s gypsum panels had become common behind the plaster of new houses, per the National Park Service, so wood lath belongs mostly to the older blocks.
The two take different repairs. Wood lath gives a screw something to bite through the plaster, so washers pull a loose patch tight. Gypsum lath is a flat panel, and loose plaster over it is fastened through to the studs behind. Re-anchoring one crack usually disturbs only a little old paint; stripping a room disturbs a lot, and that brings in the federal lead rule.
Plaster Repair in nearby areas
What affects the price
Every job is quoted after we see it. These are the things that move the number up or down.
| Factor | How it moves the price |
|---|---|
| Loose or fallen | Loose plaster on sound lath is screwed back; a patch off rotten lath becomes board |
| Ceiling or wall | Overhead work takes staging and more fasteners |
| Pre-1978 paint | Lead-safe setup past 6 sq ft per room |
| Old compound | An asbestos test before sanding adds a fee and some days |
Get a quote on your plaster repair
Describe the room and what happened to it. We call back with what the repair or hang probably involves and which details push the number up or down.
Plaster Repair FAQs
What is the difference between plaster repair and drywall repair?
There are a few things you can check. With drywall, the damaged piece is cut out and replaced, while plaster is reattached and rebuilt coat by coat. If a thumbtack sinks in, it's drywall, and if it barely marks the wall, it's plaster.
Is it cheaper to fix several plaster cracks in one visit?
One visit costs between $412 and $497 because of the 4-hour labor minimum. So we strongly recommend listing every crack and everything you would like fixed before the visit, so they can be batched and done in one visit instead of spread across several.
Can I repair plaster cracks myself?
If it's just a hairline and not moving, you can do it yourself. But if the wall flexes or the crack reopens after your fix, you should call and hand it to the professionals. And if it's pre-1978 paint, if it contains asbestos, or if it's a large patch, stop and call us, so we can do lab tests and verify before any work begins.
Does old plaster contain asbestos?
It depends on what materials were used and when the house was built. If it's lime or gypsum coats, asbestos is quite rare, but we still would not risk it, especially since it was most common in compound from the mid-1940s to 1977. So before we do any sanding, we need a lab test to confirm.
Do I need a permit for plaster repair in Lansing?
For simple repairs and alterations, permit fees apply, and when the work is up to $2,000, the fee is $120. If you start without one, you risk an investigation fee.
Will a plaster repair show after painting?
There are a few things we generally consider. First, a flat patch beside a wavy old wall gives it away and is visible. Second, last coats that are not feathered far past the crack are also visible. What we do is prime it first, so it has the same sheen as the old surface and they look alike.
Request a quote
Ringing (517) 940-8317 gets you a first figure fastest. Otherwise fill in the form and expect a callback.