Can iPaint handle plaster walls and textured ceilings in older Westbrook Estates homes?

Yes, iPaint Painting specializes in the plaster-over-lathe walls and textured ceilings found throughout Westbrook Estates. Homes built in the 1960s and 1970s in this neighbourhood used construction methods that require different preparation than modern drywall. iPaint Painting's crew has over 15 years of experience working with these era-specific materials, using crack stabilization, skim-coating, and high-adhesion priming techniques that deliver smooth, lasting finishes on surfaces that are 50 to 60 years old.

Plaster Wall Preparation in Westbrook Estates

Plaster-over-lathe construction was standard in Edmonton homes built before 1975. The plaster layer (typically 12 to 19 millimetres thick) is applied over wooden lath strips nailed to the wall studs. After five or six decades of seasonal temperature swings from minus 35 to plus 30 degrees Celsius, these walls develop hairline cracks, larger settlement cracks around door and window frames, and areas where the plaster has separated from the lath (called "blown plaster").

iPaint Painting addresses each condition with a specific repair protocol:

• Hairline cracks: Sealed with Zinsser Gardz (a penetrating sealer at approximately $45 per gallon) that soaks into the porous plaster and creates a flexible, paintable membrane.
• Settlement cracks: Routed out, filled with fibreglass mesh tape, and skim-coated with setting-type joint compound (Durabond 90) for a permanent repair that resists re-cracking.
• Blown plaster: Loose sections are removed, patched with new plaster or setting compound, then sanded flush with the surrounding wall surface.

After repairs, iPaint Painting applies a full coat of high-adhesion bonding primer (Sherwin-Williams Extreme Bond at approximately $50 per gallon) before two finish coats of Benjamin Moore Regal Select or Sherwin-Williams Emerald. This three-coat system on properly repaired plaster delivers a 10 to 15 year finish life.

Textured Ceiling Options

Stippled ceilings (sometimes called "popcorn" or "swirl" texture) are present in roughly 70 percent of original Westbrook Estates homes. iPaint Painting offers two approaches depending on your preference and budget:

• Paint over texture: Using thick-nap rollers (19 millimetre) and ceiling-specific paint (Benjamin Moore Waterborne Ceiling Paint), iPaint Painting coats textured surfaces without pulling or damaging the existing texture. Cost: $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot.
• Remove and smooth: The texture is scraped, the ceiling is skim-coated with two passes of joint compound, sanded to a Level 5 finish, primed, and painted. Cost: $3.00 to $5.00 per square foot. This option modernizes the look of older Westbrook Estates homes significantly.

Original Wood Trim Restoration

Many Westbrook Estates homes retain their original solid wood baseboards, door casings, and window trim. iPaint Painting strips, sands, primes with Zinsser BIN shellac-based primer, and applies two coats of cabinet-grade enamel (Benjamin Moore Advance) for a factory-smooth finish that highlights the craftsmanship of these vintage homes.

Get a detailed quote for your Westbrook Estates plaster and ceiling project. Request a free estimate or call iPaint Painting at 780-938-9555.