Before you start on a ceiling repair job, it is important to carefully assess the ceiling as well as the damage that has occurred. If your home 25 years old or more, you should first check to make sure the ceiling doesn't contain asbestos. Sanding or scraping a ceiling that contains this hazardous substance can be quite dangerous to your health, so if any asbestos is found, you should turn the job over to an expert. It's also important to make sure the ceiling supports are structurally sound before embarking on any cosmetic repairs.

If your smooth drywall or plaster ceiling has developed a crack you'll should employ standard repair techniques. Use a putty knife to remove any loose areas of the drywall or plaster, so that you are left with a sound surface area. If the crack is small, you can simply fill it with drywall compound by using a mud trowel. However, if the crack is large, reinforced drywall tape is a good idea. To apply the tape, apply a thin layer of drywall compound. Then, seat the tape in the compound, press down with the trowel, and apply a thin layer of compound over the tape. Allow to dry, sand, and repeat until the area is smooth.

If your ceiling is textured, you'll first need to smooth the surface around the area that is cracked. Once the textured surface is smooth, you can fill the crack in the same method as described above for smooth ceilings. After the final patch coat has dried, sand it smooth and apply drywall compound to the ceiling with a sponge, brush, comb or other implement. Try to replicate the original textured finish as closely as possible, so that the repaired area blends in with the rest of the textured ceiling.

Even if your ceiling hasn't cracked, it might have nails or screws that have "popped" and are no longer level with the ceiling surface. In the case of screws, you will simply need to tighten them with a screwdriver so that the heads go back below the surface. In the case of nails, pound them with a hammer until they are countersunk below the surface. Then, use a mud trowel and drywall compound to fill in the recessed areas over the screw or nail heads. Allow to dry, sand, and coat with more drywall compound if necessary. Sand the area smooth after the compound has completely dried.

If you are lucky enough to still have some of the original ceiling paint, you might be able to repaint only the patched area. Ceiling paint generally has a flat sheen, which can help a repainted area blend in invisibly. However, if you don't have some of the original ceiling paint, you'll get the best results by repainting the entire ceiling.

Jessica Ackerman writes for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com where she provides detailed instructions for decorating with garden wall decor and large outdoor clocks.