How do I repair my mother's drooping ceiling?

Rose Allen
by Rose Allen

Her house is 30 years old, and some of the ceiling tiles are drooping terribly. I’ve nailed them back up, but they’re brittle and drooping again. I’m afraid the rest of her ceiling is about to do the same. Should I nail plywood up there to cover them?

  5 answers
  • It depends on how they were installed. Are they attached to dry wall/ the studs?

  • William William on Jun 19, 2019

    I agree with Ann. Is there a ceiling there? Are they glued or nailed to drywall? Or are there wood firing strips. They would need to be removed before puting anything else up. covering them with anything may make for an uneven and bumpy ceiling. Also whatever you put up can come back down if not installed properly.

  • John Grimley John Grimley on Jun 19, 2019

    You don't say what these tiles are made from.

    I'd tend to agree with William, strip the lot and start afresh. Screwing plasterboard (sorry, drywall) to a ceiling isn't a doddle but neither is it difficult. Make a simple 'deadman' using a length of wood (2x2, 3x2, whatever, and an inch or two taller than your ceiling) and nail a square of ply to the end. With 2 people lifting the drywall into place and the 'deadman propped against your wall, it's easy for one person to place the deadman in position to wedge the sheet against the exposed joists. That person then goes to the other end to start driving screws in. More or less as soon as the first screw is home, you can both put the screws in (make sure not top drive the screws too deep, the head needs to just dimple the paper surface).

  • Rose Allen Rose Allen on Jun 19, 2019

    Thanks for your answers guys! Her ceiling tiles are celetex, and they’re nailed to furring strips. John, it sounds like you’ve done this before! Thanks for your input.

  • Umma Umma on Jun 22, 2019

    I am more concerned with WHY the tiles are sagging.

    Sounds like a moisture problem of some sort. A dehumidifier

    might help with longevity of future ceiling tiles.