Repair in place
Usually fine for:
- Nail and screw holes
- Small dents and dings
- Hairline cracks and lifting tape on joints
- Popped screws and nails
- Small cut-outs from switches or pipes
Patch with a new piece
Holes bigger than a coin — door handles, impact damage, removed exhaust fans or downlights — are cut back to a clean square, a backing support is fitted and a new piece of plasterboard is fixed in. The joints are taped and set like any other joint.
Replace the section or sheet
Replacement is the better option when the board is:
- Wet, soft or crumbling
- Swollen or bubbling from water
- Mould-affected
- Sagging or pulling away from the framing
- Broken across a large area
A note on safety
If a ceiling is visibly dropping, holding water or cracking quickly, keep people out from underneath it and get it looked at promptly. Some older homes may contain asbestos in wall or ceiling sheeting — if your home was built before 1990 and you're unsure what the sheeting is, have it tested before cutting or sanding.
Questions
Can I patch water-damaged plasterboard?
No. Water-damaged plasterboard should be cut out back to sound material and replaced once the leak is fixed and the area is dry — patching over it won't last.
Do I need to replace the whole ceiling?
Usually not. Most damage can be fixed by replacing a section. A full ceiling replacement is only needed when damage is widespread.
Written by Sydney Plastering Service, family-owned 2nd generation plasterers in Sydney. Updated October 2026. About us
