J. Perry & Sons repairs plaster walls and ceilings in the older homes of Broward and Palm Beach counties, the 1920s–1960s houses in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Delray Beach and West Palm Beach with plaster over block or wood lath, and applies Venetian, lime and polished plaster finishes to new drywall for owners who want a surface paint cannot give. Both are done by our stucco and drywall finishing crews. Repair means matching the original material and keeping the wall, not tearing out plaster to hang drywall. Decorative work means a Level 5 base, the right primer and several hand-troweled coats.
Plaster Repair Cost in South Florida: $350–$1,200 per area, Venetian plaster $12–$25 per sq ft
| Scope | Typical size | Installed range |
|---|---|---|
| Crack repair in plaster, mesh and setting compound, per room | 5–8 cracks | $350–$900 |
| Patch a hole or loose section, three-coat plaster over lath or block | up to 10 sq ft | $400–$1,200 per area |
| Re-key loose plaster to lath with adhesive and washers | per room | $600–$1,800 |
| Water-damaged ceiling plaster cut out and rebuilt | 10–40 sq ft | $800–$2,500 |
| Skim coat an entire plaster room smooth, walls only | 300–500 sq ft | $3.50–$6 per sq ft |
| Venetian plaster, two to three coats, burnished | 100–400 sq ft accent wall | $12–$25 per sq ft |
| Lime wash or Roman clay finish over primed drywall | 300–1,000 sq ft | $6–$12 per sq ft |
Repair pricing covers removal of loose material, bonding, base and finish coats and sanding, with the painter doing primer. Venetian plaster pricing includes the Level 5 base prep, primer, plaster coats, burnishing and wax or sealer where used. Minimum service call for plaster repair is typically $400–$600.
Free Estimate
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com with project photos, the city, approximate dimensions, and material selections.
Plaster problems and decorative finishes
Cracks. Plaster cracks at corners, over openings and along ceiling joists. Hairlines are filled with setting compound. Wider or recurring cracks are V-cut, bridged with fiberglass mesh, and filled in two coats so they do not telegraph back.
Loose and keyed-out plaster. On wood lath, the keys that hold the plaster break and the wall sounds hollow or bellies out. We drill, inject plaster adhesive and pull the plaster back to the lath with washers, then patch the holes. This saves the wall and the original surface.
Holes and missing sections. Patched in three coats: a scratch coat into the lath or onto block with bonding agent, a brown coat, and a lime or gypsum finish coat floated flush. Old plaster is often 3/4 to 1 inch thick; drywall patches sit below the surface and show.
Water damage. Soft, stained plaster under a roof leak or an upstairs bath. The damaged area is cut to sound material after the leak is fixed, the lath is checked, and the plaster is rebuilt. If the lath is rotten, we replace it.
Venetian plaster. A lime-based or acrylic plaster applied in two or three thin coats with a stainless trowel, then burnished to a marble-like depth and sheen. Used on feature walls, fireplace surrounds, powder rooms and range hoods. It needs a Level 5 base; every flaw in the drywall shows through the sheen.
Lime wash, Roman clay and tadelakt. Matte, soft finishes with movement. Lime wash is brushed in two coats over a mineral primer. Roman clay is troweled. Tadelakt, the waterproof Moroccan lime plaster, is burnished with stone and soap and is used in showers and around tubs.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com. Send a photo of the damage, or of the finish you have in mind, and we'll return a range the same day.
How we repair plaster and apply Venetian plaster
- Assessment. We tap for hollow areas, check crack width and direction, and find the cause of any water damage. Pre-1980 homes get a material test before anything is sanded or cut.
- Stabilize. Loose plaster is re-adhered to lath. Failed material is removed to a sound edge, undercut so the patch keys in.
- Bond. Lath is wetted or a bonding agent is applied to block and old plaster edges.
- Base coats. Scratch and brown coats of gypsum base plaster or a setting-type compound, scored and cured between coats.
- Finish coat. A lime-gypsum finish troweled flush and floated to match the surrounding texture, smooth or sand.
- Decorative prep. For Venetian plaster, walls are skimmed to Level 5, sanded, and primed with the manufacturer's bonding primer tinted toward the finish color.
- Plaster coats and burnish. Two or three tight coats, each troweled in random strokes and allowed to set, then burnished with a clean trowel to bring up the sheen. Wax or sealer in wet areas and high-traffic walls.
Plaster in South Florida: humidity, old houses and wet rooms
Humidity. Lime plasters cure by carbonation, slowly, and summer humidity stretches cure time. We leave more time between coats and do not seal a wall that is still curing or it blushes.
Older housing stock. Fort Lauderdale's Victoria Park and Rio Vista, Hollywood Lakes, Delray's Old School Square neighborhoods and the older streets of West Palm Beach have real plaster. Matching it is what keeps the house from looking patched.
Block walls. Plaster applied directly to block is common from the 1950s on. Cracks there usually follow block joints and need mesh, or they come back.
Wet rooms. Tadelakt and sealed Venetian plaster work in bathrooms with good ventilation. In a shower we build the same waterproofing we would for tile behind it.
Permits. Cosmetic plaster repair needs no permit. Ceiling plaster removal over a certain area and anything tied to a leak repair may fall under the related permit, and we advise case by case.
Related stucco and drywall services
- Drywall finishing Levels 3, 4 and 5: the Level 5 base under every decorative finish.
- Smooth stucco finish: the exterior equivalent of a smooth plaster wall.
- Stucco repair: cracks and water damage on the outside face of the same wall.
- Fireplace refacing: Venetian plaster and stone surrounds.
- Interior painting: primer and paint over repaired plaster.
What a plaster estimate includes
- Crack footage, patch areas and hollow sections by room
- Substrate: wood lath, metal lath or block
- Repair method: re-key, three-coat patch, skim
- Cause of water damage and whether the leak is fixed
- For decorative work: square footage, finish type, number of coats, sheen, sealer
- Level 5 prep on new drywall
- Sample board for color and texture approval
- Paint, if included
Plaster repair by city
Stucco & drywall in Fort Lauderdale · Stucco & drywall in Miami · Stucco & drywall in Boca Raton · Stucco & drywall in West Palm Beach · Stucco & drywall in Weston · Stucco & drywall in Delray Beach · Stucco & drywall in Parkland · Stucco & drywall in Wellington
Planning guides: Drywall Level 5 finish explained · Stucco textures explained · Stucco repair cost per sq ft · Stone fireplace surround cost · Interior painting cost guide
Plaster repair and Venetian plaster — FAQ
How much does Venetian plaster cost? $12–$25 per square foot for two to three burnished coats over a Level 5 base, including primer and sealer. Accent walls of 100–400 square feet are the usual scope.
Should I replace old plaster with drywall? Usually not. Sound plaster is thicker, quieter and harder than drywall, and re-keying loose sections costs less than demolition and new board. We recommend drywall only when most of a wall has failed.
Why do my plaster cracks keep coming back? They were filled without mesh. Plaster moves at those lines, so the crack has to be cut open, bridged with fiberglass mesh and filled in two coats.
Can Venetian plaster go in a bathroom? Yes, sealed, in a ventilated bathroom. For the shower itself we use tadelakt or a sealed lime plaster over full waterproofing.
How do I get an exact price? Call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com with photos and rough dimensions. A written estimate is typically ready within 24–48 hours after a site review and scope confirmation.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com. Licensed Florida general contractor CGC1540699. Serving Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Permits and compliance handled. J. Perry & Sons pulls the permit, schedules the inspections, and builds to the city and county codes that apply — Broward and Palm Beach municipal building departments, HVHZ requirements where they apply, and HOA/condo association rules. Licensed Florida general contractor CGC1540699.
Free Estimate
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com with project photos, the city, approximate dimensions, and material selections.