Restauration d’un appartement de 1939 à Montréal – Projet de réparation de murs plafond patrimoniaux

3. Heavy-Duty Repairs – Plastering & Patching: Now the real transformation begins. For smaller cracks and holes, we applied a high-quality patching compound in layers[6]. Each layer was smoothed and allowed to set, effectively filling minor voids. However, many sections required heavy-duty repair: for example, where an entire chunk of plaster had detached and lath was visible, a simple patch wasn’t enough. In those spots, we performed re-plastering – essentially rebuilding the plaster surface from scratch. We started by embedding a fiberglass reinforcing mesh across wider gaps and over the wooden laths[7]. This mesh provides tensile strength and ties the new plaster to the old structure, preventing future cracking. Next, we mixed a two-coat plaster (a coarse base coat and a fine finish coat, as per traditional methods for heritage walls). The base coat plaster was applied firmly into the lath gaps (“keys”) and over the mesh, then scratched to create a good grip for the finish coat. Once it set, we added the finish coat, troweling it smooth and feathering edges into the surrounding old plaster. In some areas, we used modern drywall joint compound for a skim-coat over large surfaces to even out irregularities – this is especially useful when blending old plaster with new patches. By combining traditional plastering techniques with modern materials, we restored the wall’s integrity and left it perfectly flat and solid[8][9].
4. Finishing Touches – Sanding, Painting & Cleanup: After curing time, our team lightly sanded the repaired surfaces to eliminate any minor trowel marks and ensure a uniform texture. At this stage, the apartment’s walls and ceilings were structurally sound and looked brand new in terms of shape – but we weren’t done yet. The final step was to make everything aesthetically seamless. We spot-primed all patched areas with a stain-blocking primer (critical on any remaining water stain traces) and then repainted the entire wall and ceiling sections with premium interior paint to match the apartment’s decor. The finish paint color was perfectly blended with the existing color, so you can’t tell where the old ends and the new begins[4][10]. Once painting was completed, we conducted a meticulous cleanup: removing all protection materials, vacuuming and wiping surfaces to catch any fine dust. True to our promise, we left the apartment cleaner than we found it, with the only evidence of our presence being the beautifully restored walls. The tenants could move back furniture and resume use of the space immediately, with no additional cleaning needed on their part.

Throughout the process, quality control was top of mind. A senior crew member checked each stage of work – ensuring, for example, that every crack was properly V-cut and filled, every plaster layer fully dried, and paint edges cut in neatly. This attention to detail is how we exceed expectations on every job. The outcome for this 1939 apartment? Strong, smooth walls that honor the building’s heritage while being ready for many more years of use. It’s a transformation you have to see to believe.