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Plastering & Rendering

How to stop ceiling cracking and joints between plasterboard sheets swelling

Paul Davison 03/02/2026 - 3.16 PM

We have had continuous issues for many years with 2 adjacent rooms in our bungalow with ceiling cracks, these have been filled and ceiling repainted several times and within 5 days cracks or sometimes joint bulges between plasterboard sheets. We just had the ceiling in one of the problem rooms re scrim taped then Blue Gritted then Re skimmed and 5 days later the joints have bulged out. I went in the Roofspace to look at the gap between the plasterboard sheets and 3 to 4mm and the joists run at 90 degrees to the crack, the cracks are front to rear of the bungalow the joists are from side to side of bungalow, joists are 4 x 1.5 inch braced by nailing a long 3 x 2 batten at 90 degrees across all joists. Would Gap filling between the plasterboard sheets in the roof space stop the Cracking / Bulging joints. Plasterers did a brilliant job of the ceiling, faultless work and they are completely baffled as to why the ceiling has bulged within 5 days.

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2 Answers

Zoltan Built

Rating: 5 out of 5

Nottingham

The problem is movement and lack of support, not the gap itself. Without addressing joist movement and joint backing, the issue will continue regardless of plaster quality. The repeated bulging within days indicates ongoing movement in the ceiling structure rather than a plastering fault. Gap filling from above will not restrain this movement. The joints require solid backing and the joists need to be stabilised. Until the structure is corrected, any skim repair will be temporary.

Answered3 February 2026

All In The Mix Plastering

Rating: 5 out of 5

Tamworth

There is no problem with the plastering, the 3-4mm gap between plasterboard should be ok although the rule is for a 2mm gap. The problem behind the cracking and bulging coming back after any works carried out is due to movement in the joists above. This joists will need to be stabilised before any plaster works.

Answered3 February 2026