Or even semi experts? I’ve done a few sheets of wallboard on my ceiling when I wanted to put in recessed lights but that’s it. It came out ok but took me forever because I don’t do it daily and have little experience. There’s a small spot in my kitchen that was damaged from a ice dam as far as I can tell, it was there when I moved in. There was a new roof and gutters put on the year I moved in and there’s been no leaks since so I guess it’s time to get around to fixing it. Was gonna try and tackle it tomorrow. Any advice on how you would go about it? I’m planning on just cutting out the bad stuff on the ceiling and wall squarely and putting some new drywall in there, tape, mud, paint and done. Is that about it? Any tips or other ways to fix it? Thank you everyone.
Remove all the loose stuff. If there is an actual crack, v-cut it and fill with plaster and top with paper tape. Once its good any dry knock off any excess and then mud over it, wider this time. Do that one or two more times until it looks good, then sand the last coat. Don't apply any extra mud and you won't have to sand it off
That does look like water ( ice dam maybe ) damage. I would cut out large sections to each stud for nailing of new pieces. Anything that has gotten wet and soft. For where you don't have a stud use a backer board of plywood or wallboard lathe - anything to screw to. Leave a gap wide enough for 5 minute hot mud so you don't end up with a crack right through the paper or mesh tape . Because it will crack if you use regular joint compound. Even with a backer lathe.
If you have a stud finder, try to identify where your wall studs and ceiling trusses are. That will help if you have to cut out a chunk. For the ceiling, do you have batts or blown in insulation? Blown in will get a little messy when you cut it out. Does the paint easily lift away right now? You may be able to lift out the bubbled paint to get a better idea of how much you have to replace. Taping and mudding is pretty straight forward, a tub of pre-mix mud should work fine for that. Paint looks a little thick, after blending and sanding, you could use some topping mud to cover any low spots. It's not a strong mud but sands very easily.
I like Grizzly’s advice. Based on the pics, it seems like his thoughts would be the least disruptive to the ceiling and wall in general. Also, the pics look like plaster wall and ceiling; if that is the case, chances are that the thickness of plaster isn’t going to neatly fit into a standard drywall thickness, which may then require mudding/smoothing more area so that it blends. Or it actually is drywall, and you can disregard much of what I said! Either way, good luck. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Oh and use a drywall knife and scrape the paint backs far as it is loose. if there is a crack v it out and use 20 minute mud to repair. I f not feather edge the paint and repaint.
I like 5 minute and usually only have 1/4 to 3/8 inch gap between boards. I don't try to butt boards because it just doesn't work. I've been asked to fix too many cracks where boards were butted, taped and mudded. 5 minute mud I usually make no more than a one cup batch and Get ER DONE !! Those damaged sections are too big for mud patches, you'll be sanding for days trying to get it flat. Especially around that electrical box. By the time you remove all the soft gypsum there will be nothing to mud to. Unless that is plaster and not sheetrock. In which case never mind and just plaster it best you can.
Thanks guys. I’m actually not sure whether it’s plaster or drywall. I put a through wall fan in the living room and it was drywall so it’s hopefully the same throughout the house. House was built in ‘41. I’ll pick away at the paint tomorrow morning and investigate further. Let you know what I find and if I have some more questions. Appreciate the advice.
Here’s what’s under the paint and loose stuff. I definitely want to go the least disruptive route I can. After ripping down ceilings in living and dining rooms I don’t want to do that again.
Looks like everyone is right, ceiling in board and wall is plaster.. Is that a gable end? How is your roof vented? Asking because your ceiling insulation looks ummm creative
I’m not much of a builder. Gable end is what, end of roof where comes together with wall? This is picture of outside. Working above the window. Guess the house was pretty rough 2 owners prior,(bad roof, no gutters, old windows). Previous owner did a lot of work. Hopefully that “insulation” is old and nothing new has found its way in since the work was done.
So school me on what the walls and ceiling actually are? There’s no lath under them so I just assume it’s not plaster. But it’s not normal drywall either. It’s like 2 separate layers.
Ok gable end.. If you think of a house as a rectangle with a triangle roof on it.. Gable end can have vents to let cool air in, to vent your roof. Most gable ends are not weight bearing and you can cut them out with no damage to load carrying structure.. That is gable end of barn.. Your pics show you have vented soffit which normally goes up to a ridge vent at peak of roof. New builds use pink 4 foot Styrofoam to blow insulation up there.
