Most repairs ceiling is water more or less to avoid damaging somebodies feet, or something that falls through the plaster (from ceiling), gypsum and related problems. Fortunately, the repair techniques are the same whether it is stucco or plaster. Gesso offers more versatility with cheap materials and tools. Repair of existing plaster includes a method of 3 hand using specific materials and requires some 'experience, more or skills;level.
Cracks in plaster normally appears on the joints or corners and may be due to 2 things, 1, poor original recording and task 2, frame, movement or deterioration of wood, which is the most likely culprit, but only for the surface crack is very odd. Cracks in plaster is more widespread around windows and doors. Now, if you can plaster cracks appear in any place which is usually to the homes of elderly people with plaster, it's just the nature ofit.
As long as the plaster falls and it's still safer to board and design, you can continue with the general process include gypsum, with the exception of 2 things, first, clean and better with a good depth primer (gesso The majority is quite clear) and partly by 2-inch tape fiberglass mesh tape instead of paper. Paper tape works well on thin cracks, but for larger cracks mesh belt. Remove the loose patch recording and fill flush with a quick, there are 20 or 40minutes of mud. If the cracks are really good, some latex Caulker and deletes them, wipe gently with a damp cloth, which can do the trick, if it reopens, it will strip them.
Holes in the ceiling of any breakage or damage caused by water, requiring removal of the damaged area, patch or plaster, the rank of square shape and the location of a piece of plaster back into place and record and end with 2 -3 layers of mud or all-purpose gypsum topping. Always usetape or mesh with the goal of mud for maximum adhesion. Decorations are great for 2 and 3 coats, trowels when they were smoother and easier to sand.
A few small loose plaster, and wall or ceiling, a newer type of glue that bonds are re-plaster to the board, of course, must be pushed into place and supported injected, but to do so. If the ceiling was too much damage, cracks and loose material, and is too far, or would be a lot of work to do to make it lookwell, then the second option to consider is that the cap of the skin with 3 / 8 inch of plaster. You will receive a new area of work.
Another possibility, and is a big job, but I would only recommend that the above methods do not work and can be a disaster, and it would be all the old plaster and board, remove and install all new 1 / 2 cm plaster. This will provide ceiling beams, which may explain why the chalk, but the recoverywill also be a new flat surface to work with and no more problems with the ceiling again.