Walls and Ceilings - Drywall Over Partly Falling Plaster Ceiling
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wbechard
01-04-09, 12:44 PM
Hey folks.
I am trying to determine the best way to fix my living room ceiling. My house was built in 1929, and as such I have plaster ceilings. Most ceilings are in great shape, but in the living room, the plaster (covered in popcorn texture) has dropped about 1/2" on a crack line about 2" from the front wall parallel to the ceiling joists. The previous owner had water damage, and the ceiling was left to dry as it is now, at least five years ago. The cracks do look to be slowly spreading from the water damage, although only the water damaged area is dropped.
I would like to know if I should just screw strapping across the entire ceiling to the joists (16" on center) to level the entire ceiling first. I am concerned about the water damaged areas as to what will happen to that area when I start screwing in strapping. Will chunks fall off, or will it just be forced back flat with just pieces of texture falling?
I do have a few pictures, if they would help, please let me know.
My original plan was to do a small perpendicular exploratory trench about 1" wide for 6' across the center of the room to locate joists (16" elsewhere, but can't verify this ceiling until i've seen it), and confirm where the first joist is located in the water damaged area. I would then use strapping (not sure what size I need) with 2" screws on top of the plaster over every joist. The last step of course would be the 1/2" or 3/8" drywall screwed into the strapping.
Does my plan seem sound and not likely to cause bigger problems? I am very concered about getting the damaged area to the same level without large ceiling plaster chunks coming down.
One last question... The ancient electrical box in the ceiling for my light fixture isn't so much a box as it is a cavity with a large steel bar to attach fixtures (knob and tube, will stay that way, good condition in the ceiling). What is the proper way to extend the box through the plaster, the space created by the strapping, and finally through to the drywall?
Thanks folks, looking forward to any suggestions.
I am trying to determine the best way to fix my living room ceiling. My house was built in 1929, and as such I have plaster ceilings. Most ceilings are in great shape, but in the living room, the plaster (covered in popcorn texture) has dropped about 1/2" on a crack line about 2" from the front wall parallel to the ceiling joists. The previous owner had water damage, and the ceiling was left to dry as it is now, at least five years ago. The cracks do look to be slowly spreading from the water damage, although only the water damaged area is dropped.
I would like to know if I should just screw strapping across the entire ceiling to the joists (16" on center) to level the entire ceiling first. I am concerned about the water damaged areas as to what will happen to that area when I start screwing in strapping. Will chunks fall off, or will it just be forced back flat with just pieces of texture falling?
I do have a few pictures, if they would help, please let me know.
My original plan was to do a small perpendicular exploratory trench about 1" wide for 6' across the center of the room to locate joists (16" elsewhere, but can't verify this ceiling until i've seen it), and confirm where the first joist is located in the water damaged area. I would then use strapping (not sure what size I need) with 2" screws on top of the plaster over every joist. The last step of course would be the 1/2" or 3/8" drywall screwed into the strapping.
Does my plan seem sound and not likely to cause bigger problems? I am very concered about getting the damaged area to the same level without large ceiling plaster chunks coming down.
One last question... The ancient electrical box in the ceiling for my light fixture isn't so much a box as it is a cavity with a large steel bar to attach fixtures (knob and tube, will stay that way, good condition in the ceiling). What is the proper way to extend the box through the plaster, the space created by the strapping, and finally through to the drywall?
Thanks folks, looking forward to any suggestions.