In older construction homes, finding a plaster ceiling is quite common. Swirl plaster patterns were very popular 40 and 50 years ago. If you need to perform repairs on a plaster ceiling with a swirl texture, this article will give you some tips to make your project successful.

Practice First
As with any new type of undertaking, you should practice using a junk piece of drywall to perfect the proper technique before trying the real repair.

The Brush Technique
You can make a swirl pattern in plaster with regular patching mud. Just mix it in a patching tray with a little water to thin it. Apply it to the ceiling with a trowel, and use a dried brush to create your swirl plaster pattern. Don’t use full arm long strokes. Bend the elbow and use short strokes.

Use an Old Sponge
Another technique is to use the same wet patching mud and texture it using an old sponge that you’ve pulled chunks out of. Apply the mud to the ceiling with a trowel and texture it with the sponge. Again, short strokes are the key.

Don’t Use Long Strokes
Long strokes will make your swirl pattern turn out wrong. When applying the pattern, use short strokes.