Services | Plaster Repair, Water Damage Restoration & Wall Finishing

Water Damage Wall Repair

Water damage is one of the most common problems we deal with in Brooklyn apartments and homes. Whether it's a slow leak behind the wall that's been going on for months or a sudden pipe burst that soaked everything, the result is usually the same — soft, crumbling plaster, peeling paint, and sometimes mold starting to form underneath.

We start by assessing how far the damage goes. That usually means removing the damaged plaster until we hit solid material. Once the area is stripped and dried out, we rebuild the wall surface layer by layer — scratch coat, brown coat, finish coat. If the lath underneath is rotted or damaged, we replace that too. The goal is a wall that looks and feels like the damage never happened, not just a quick patch that'll fail again in six months.

Water damaged wall being repaired in Brooklyn apartment

Plaster Repair & Restoration

A lot of the buildings in Brooklyn still have their original plaster walls — some of it going back a hundred years or more. Over time, that plaster develops cracks, separates from the lath, or just starts to deteriorate. Replacing it entirely with drywall is one option, but it changes the character of the room and often doesn't match the rest of the walls.

What we do instead is repair the existing plaster wherever possible. We reattach loose sections using plaster washers and adhesive, fill cracks with the right compound so they don't come back, and skim coat areas that have lost their smooth finish. For bigger sections, we apply new plaster over the original lath, matching the thickness and texture of the surrounding wall. It's slower work than slapping up drywall, but the result is a wall that looks like it belongs in the building.

Plaster restoration work on a Brooklyn brownstone wall

Ceiling Crack & Water Damage Fix

Ceilings catch the worst of any water problem. When a pipe leaks or a bathtub overflows on the floor above, gravity sends all that water straight down into the ceiling plaster. You end up with brown stains, bubbling paint, sagging sections, and eventually chunks falling off.

We handle ceiling repairs from start to finish. That means removing the damaged plaster safely, checking the condition of the lath or substrate above, and applying new plaster in proper layers. Ceiling work is physically demanding — everything is overhead — but we take the time to get the finish right. We also address any cracks that have developed from settling or structural movement, filling them with flexible compound that moves with the building instead of cracking again. The finished ceiling comes out smooth and ready for paint.

Interior Wall Finishing

Sometimes the walls aren't damaged — they just need to be finished properly. Maybe a previous renovation left rough patches, or the existing surface has too many layers of old paint creating an uneven texture. Or maybe you're prepping for a fresh coat of paint and want the walls to actually look good when you're done.

We do skim coating, which is applying a thin layer of plaster or joint compound over the entire wall surface to create a smooth, uniform finish. We also handle sanding, priming, and any spot repairs that are needed before the final coat goes on. Good wall finishing is about preparation — if the surface underneath isn't right, no amount of paint will hide it. We make sure the walls are flat, smooth, and free of imperfections before we hand them off to the painter.

Smooth finished interior walls in a Brooklyn home

Moisture Damage Repair

Not all water damage comes from a sudden leak. Sometimes it's a slow, persistent moisture problem — condensation on cold walls, rising damp from the foundation, or humidity buildup in bathrooms and kitchens. Over time, this kind of moisture softens the plaster, causes paint to peel, and can lead to mold growth behind the surface.

We deal with moisture damage by first identifying how far it's spread. We use moisture meters to map the affected area, then remove any plaster that's been compromised. Before we rebuild the wall, we apply moisture-resistant primers and, where appropriate, use materials that can handle higher humidity without breaking down. The repair isn't just cosmetic — we're trying to make sure the wall holds up even if the moisture source isn't completely eliminated. We'll also let you know if we think the underlying cause needs attention from a plumber or waterproofing specialist.

Moisture damage assessment on a residential wall

Drywall & Plaster Blending

In a lot of older Brooklyn homes, you'll find walls that are part original plaster and part drywall. Maybe a previous owner patched a section with drywall, or a renovation replaced one wall but left the rest. The problem is that plaster and drywall have different thicknesses and textures, and the transition between them usually looks obvious — a visible seam, a bump, or a change in surface feel.

We specialize in blending these two materials so the wall looks like one continuous surface. That involves feathering joint compound over the seam, building up or sanding down to match the levels, and skim coating the area to create a uniform texture. It's detail work that takes a steady hand and some patience, but the result is a wall where you genuinely can't tell where the plaster ends and the drywall begins.

Residential Restoration Work

Beyond individual wall and ceiling repairs, we take on broader residential restoration projects. This might mean restoring all the plaster walls in a brownstone apartment after a major leak, refinishing every room in a pre-war unit before new tenants move in, or handling the wall work as part of a larger renovation.

These bigger jobs require planning — figuring out the right order of work, coordinating with other trades if needed, and making sure the finished product is consistent from room to room. We've done enough of these to know how to manage the process without dragging things out. Whether it's one room or an entire floor, we approach the work the same way: assess what's there, fix what needs fixing, and finish it clean.

Residential wall restoration in progress

Our Plastering & Restoration Services