A regular reader sent in these photos of his recent efforts to repair the plaster crown moldings in his Clinton Hill brownstone. Turns out that back around 1910 someone added a screen to the parlor ...

Q: Our plumber has had to cut two holes in our dining room ceiling and remove a section of original cast-plaster crown molding to assess, access and repair the second-floor bathroom plumbing above.

We removed cheap wood paneling in basement to reveal original plaster and base moulding. Not in too bad shape. I want to skimcoat, patch plaster where needed, husband wants to put drywall up. Any ...

A: It depends on the type and size of the crack. Hairline cracks take only a little patching plaster. Larger cracks require reinforcement with mesh tape. Cracks larger still, where the plaster keys ...

Peter Poulin learned his trade the old way, by his father's side. His dad, Gerry Poulin, was a plaster guy who supported a family of 13 working on Boston's brownstones and Newport's mansions. Peter ...