Bob Vila used to recommend using fiberglass tape & Crack Kote or Tuff Patch on ceiling cracks. I cannot find these products. I made a repair with the glass tape & drywall compound, & a fine crack reappeared. Vila used to suggest the use of these vynil type compounds to stop reappearance of the fine cracks, because the vynil compound allowed for expansion etc. What are recommended substitutes to stop the crack reappearance???? This crack is in the ceiling.

[This message has been edited by Dick Mencken (edited March 29, 2001).]

If the crack is due to the foundation settling or shifting, then there is nothing to stop it because the problem is a "fault" line, not the construction/repair materials used. In fact, if it reappeared after you properly used fiberglass tape to cover/secure the crack, I would bet that it resulted from settling/shifting.

You can use silicone caulk that has some elasticity to it, which will bend a bit and take more time for the crack to reappear. But if it is from just bouncing, shaking, heavy feet, and other normal wear and tear, then the fiberglass tape with joint compound should have worked fine.

Fiberglass tape used for repairing cracks is in the drywall materials section of any hardware/homeimprovement store. I assume that is what you meant by "glass tape." It has tack applied to it so that it sticks to the sheet while you are working.

If you have a recurring ceiling crack on a plaster ceiling, you may have an undersupported plaster-over-gypsum lathe ceiling system.

If that is the case, your ceiling cannot be fixed with mesh tape and any type of compound or plaster. It needs to be re-secured to the joists.

This type of ceiling ( I have coined the term 'transitional ceilings')has been known to collapse unexpectedly.

I would direct you the the proper page on my website for more information:


http://estateplaster.com/TransitionalCeilings.aspx

Philip LaMachio
Estate Plaster, Inc.
Greensboro, N.C. 27403