Hairline Cracks
The fine lines that follow the lath behind the wall, usually seasonal movement rather than damage.
Plaster Repair · Based in Highland Park
Plaster wall and ceiling repair across Chicagoland, for older homes
Loose sections stabilized, cracks patched, and the original surface matched. Based in Highland Park, serving the North Shore and Chicagoland.
Older Homes
Plaster needs a different repair from drywall
Plaster walls were built by hand, coat over coat on wood lath, in homes that have now stood for a century. They're harder, quieter and more forgiving than drywall, right up until they crack, bulge or come loose from the lath behind them.
Plaster repair for Chicagoland's older homes means stabilizing what's loose, patching the cracks, and matching the original surface so the repair disappears. Vintage plaster will not behave like drywall, and it should not be patched as though it does.
Keep or Replace
Why we repair plaster rather than tear it out
Replacing plaster with drywall changes the feel of a room, the depth of the trim and the sound of the house. Where the plaster is sound, repairing it keeps its original character.
Loose or damaged plaster gets repaired before anything goes over it. Once the base is sound, a skim coat brings the finish back, and where repair is impractical, new drywall is the answer. We'll tell you which.
North Shore Homes
Built in the 1920s, cared for today
Highland Park, Lake Forest, Winnetka and the towns around them are full of homes from the early twentieth century, with plaster walls and original millwork. Our repairs are matched to the home rather than to a modern default.
We work across the North Shore and travel throughout Chicagoland for the right project.
How We Work
What to expect
01
Free Estimate
We look at the plaster, tap for what's loose, and give you a clear written quote.
02
Stabilize & Protect
Loose sections re-secured to the lath, the room protected before any dust is made.
03
Repair & Match
Cracks and patches built back up in coats and finished to match the wall around them.
04
Prime & Walkthrough
Primed and paint-ready, the room cleaned and reviewed together.
Family owned, with our own crew
A Gallagher quotes your project and stays across it. The crew doing the work is ours.
Materials matched to the home
Repairs built up to match the original surface, so they blend into the wall around them.
Finished to the plane of the wall
Stabilized first, then filled and finished to the texture and plane of the wall around them.
Fixed estimates
A written quote that says what is being stabilized and what is being filled, because those are different jobs with different prices.
Recent Interiors
Recent plaster and interior work
Kind Words
Trusted by neighbors across Chicagoland
Good to Know
Plaster repair, answered
Still wondering about something? We are happy to talk it through.
630-300-3071How do you repair damaged plaster?
It depends on the damage. Loose sections are re-secured to the lath first. Cracks are opened, filled and reinforced so they don't reappear. The repair is then built up in coats and finished to match the surrounding surface.
Can you plaster over old cracked plaster?
Only once it's stable. Skimming over loose plaster hides the problem for a season. We stabilize first, then repair, then finish.
Should I replace my plaster walls with drywall?
Usually not. Sound plaster is worth keeping for the character and the feel of the home. We replace only where a surface has failed, and we'll tell you which.
How much does plaster repair cost?
It's priced by the extent of the damage, whether sections are loose, the matching involved, and whether the wall is painted afterwards. After a short walkthrough we send a detailed, fixed estimate.
Do you paint after the repair?
Yes. Repairs are primed and can be painted as one project, so the wall reads as one surface.
Part of the Whole
This is part of our drywall repair and prep work. Related: skim coating, interior painting. See everything we do. Based in Highland Park, working across the North Shore and Chicagoland: see the areas we serve.
Let's Begin
Tell us about your project
We will come out, look at the work with you, and send a written estimate with the scope set out. There is no charge and no obligation.