Suspended plasterboard ceiling structures under normal conditions serve for more than a dozen years, retaining their original aesthetic appearance. However, in some cases, they may need to be repaired. When and how best to carry it out, read below. The appearance of defects on the plasterboard ceiling can be caused by carelessness during the installation of gypsum board, the desire to save on materials (as a result, insufficient rigidity of the frame), flooding by neighbors from above and many other nuances. In some situations, a complete dismantling of the structure, correction of errors and the re-installation of new sheets is required. However, there are times when you can get by with a simple repair of an old plasterboard ceiling.
Types of defects on a plasterboard ceiling and their causes
Most of the damage requiring repair occurs as a result of improper installation of the suspended ceiling and its improper operation, for example, the installation of conventional gypsum boards instead of moisture-resistant ones in a room with a high level of humidity.
The main defects that occur in suspended structures are as follows:
- Sag or waves … This problem is formed if the ceiling profiles are located with too large a pitch or the fasteners are too deep in the sheet, which has caused the cardboard to break through and the gypsum board to tear off from the profile. Also, drywall can take on a wavy appearance if neighbors are flooded from above. In this case, the structure of the material softens and it becomes too heavy.
- Cracks … Small cracks may appear if an unsuitable putty is selected or the installation work was carried out under the wrong temperature and humidity conditions. Large cracks usually form at the joints of the gypsum board, if they were not glued with a reinforcing paint mesh or placed not on the base. In addition, the reason may be a large attachment pitch (from 30 cm). If the crack did not start at the junction, but on the sheet itself, then this indicates the shrinkage of the building. Often this phenomenon happens when the gypsum board is fixed on a wooden frame. Changes in moisture levels contribute to wood deformation.
- Through holes … Such defects are possible due to improper use of the coating. Most often this happens through negligence. Although drywall is a fairly durable material, it can be damaged during room renovation or installation of a cornice.
- Stains … If, before the installation of the suspended structure, the surface was improperly prepared and traces of mold and mildew were not removed on it, then they may appear on drywall. Also, this problem arises after flooding by neighbors from above.
The efficiency, labor intensity and cost of repairing plasterboard ceilings directly depends on the type and scale of the problem.
Do-it-yourself drywall ceiling repair methods
In order to properly independently repair cracks or holes, get rid of waves or spots, one must not only take into account the reasons for the formation of these damages, but also know some of the features of these processes.
Elimination of sagging plasterboard ceiling
If the formation of waves is caused by too rare a pitch of the profiles, then the crate must be strengthened in such a way that each cell has dimensions of 0.5 * 0.4 meters. This method involves significant costs, because the dismantled gypsum board are not suitable for secondary installation.
We work in this order:
- Remove the finishing layer on the ceiling with a spatula.
- We dismantle the drywall sheets.
- We attach additional hangers for fixing ceiling profiles with dowel nails.
- We pull a strong thread perpendicular to the direction of reinforcement of the lathing at the level of installation of the rest of its elements.
- Using self-tapping screws, we fix the bearing profiles to the guides and hangers, observing the level along the stretched thread.
- To the resulting frame with cells 0, 4 * 0, 6 meters at five points on each side, we attach a drywall sheet with self-tapping screws.
If waves have formed on only one or some of the sheets, then you can only dismantle them and reinforce the crate at the point of their attachment. But it must be borne in mind that even with such a repair of a suspended plasterboard ceiling, the putty and finish will have to be done again.
Sealing small cracks in plasterboard ceilings
The "web" of cracks formed on the ceiling spoils the aesthetic appearance and usually reappears after painting. To get rid of this problem, we carry out the work according to the following instructions:
- We completely remove the old finishing layer.
- We prime the coating with acrylic compound.
- We glue the joints between the gypsum board and near the walls with a serpyanka tape.
- We glue the fiberglass with an overlap and draw a line at the intersection with a clerical knife, removing the remnants. Fiberglass is usually produced on an adhesive backing. For this purpose, you can also use a regular masking net. You need to glue it on PVA.
- Apply the putty in a layer up to 1.5 cm.
- After drying, we treat the coating with fine-grained sanding paper and prime it with an acrylic-based compound.
In addition to replacing the finishing layer, you can get rid of cracks in the drywall ceiling by pasting the surface with foam or ceramic tiles. In the first case, liquid nails are used for fastening, and in the second, a quickly solidifying glue.
How to remove large cracks in a drywall ceiling
If the gap has formed due to a large step of fastening the sheet, then the old finish must be removed and additional screws must be screwed in, not forgetting to glue the joints with a reinforcing painting net.
In case of cracking due to natural shrinkage of the building, repairs can be performed as follows:
- We embroider the cracks in the plasterboard ceiling before repairing them. To do this, we draw along the gap with a knife or a nail, deepening it by about three millimeters and expanding it by the same amount.
- We remove dust and crumbs in the crack.
- With a thin brush we treat the gap with a deep penetration primer to improve adhesion to the putty.
- We press the starting putty into the hole and level it with a small spatula.
- We are waiting for complete drying, after which the first layer will shrink.
- Apply the second layer and repeat the procedure several times, waiting for the previous layer to dry.
- Sand the surface with fine-grained sandpaper until the filler is flush with the rest of the coating.
- We process the crack seal with an acrylic primer and apply the finish.
If the crack is deeper, then it must be glued with a serpentine tape before applying the putty to make the coating stiff and durable.
Aligning waves on a plasterboard ceiling
If the irregularities on the plasterboard ceiling are insignificant, then they can be corrected by applying a layer of gypsum plaster as follows:
- Removing the finish.
- We process the undulating areas with a belt sander to smooth out irregularities.
- We prime the surface with a long-bristled brush.
- We glue the serpyanka tape at the joints of the gypsum board.
- We glue the entire surface of the ceiling with fiberglass for reinforcement.
- We fix special pins-beacons in the sheets of drywall to determine the level of putty.
- We apply gypsum solution according to the installed beacons.
- After drying, we grind the coating with fine-grained paper and prime it with acrylic compound.
This method will cost significantly less than complete or partial dismantling. However, if the irregularities are large, then applying too thick a layer of putty will make the structure heavier and may provoke other problems.
If the reason for the sagging was the incorrect installation of the lathing (or the use of untreated wood for the frame), then a complete dismantling of the structure may be necessary.
Eliminating small holes in plasterboard ceilings
Repairing holes is considered one of the easiest processes. This method is only suitable for sealing small holes. If the area is inconspicuous, then the finishing layer can be leveled imperceptibly.
If the hole is small, then it can be repaired in this way:
- We clean the edges of the hole from crumbs, chips and loose elements.
- We stuff the crumpled paper tightly into the hole until it is flush with the plasterboard surface.
- Lubricate the edges of the hole and the paper with a starting putty and wait for it to dry for three to four hours.
- We apply plaster mortar in several layers with alternating drying.
- After the finishing layer has hardened, we wipe the surface and prime it.
- We carry out finishing.
If a hole is formed in a conspicuous place, it may be necessary to replace the entire finish (complete painting of the surface or re-gluing wallpaper).
How to seal large holes in a plasterboard ceiling
Before making repairs to the plasterboard ceiling in case of a hole up to 0.5 meters in diameter, it is necessary to make a patch.
We carry out the work according to the following instructions:
- Cut out a round or square patch from drywall, the size of which exceeds the size of the hole.
- We apply the made blank to the surface and outline it with a simple pencil.
- We cut out the gypsum board along the drawn contour using a jigsaw.
- We insert several planks into the hole, screwing them to the drywall with self-tapping screws.
- We fix the patch on these boards using the same screws as for fastening to the base.
- We glue the cracks with reinforcing tape and apply putty.
- We also cover with putty the place of deepening of the fasteners' caps.
- After drying, we grind the surface and remove dust.
- We prime the coating with acrylic compound and apply the finish.
If the hole is even larger, then it makes no sense to repair it. It is easier to dismantle the sheet completely and install a new one.
Removing stains from plasterboard ceilings
Usually, painting the surface or re-gluing the wallpaper does not bring the desired result, and dark spots still show through the finishing layer.
In this case, we proceed as follows:
- Removing the trim from the ceiling.
- With coarse-grained paper we sand the area where the spots are formed as deeply as possible.
- We prime the surface and wait for drying.
- We make a solution of starting putty.
- We process the cleaned surface with the prepared composition.
- After the layer of starting putty has dried, apply the finishing coat, trying to level the coating as much as possible.
- Sand the dried finishing layer with fine-grained paper and treat with an acrylic primer.
After this procedure, the finish will have to be changed on the entire ceiling. However, this is the most effective method for removing mold marks.
Recommendations for the use of plasterboard suspended ceilings
It is not always possible to repair a plasterboard ceiling with your own hands. In some cases, it may be necessary to completely reinstall the coverage.
To avoid this, certain rules should be followed during installation:
- Do not install a suspended structure in a new building. Better to wait at least a year for natural shrinkage.
- Be sure to treat the basecoat with an antiseptic primer to remove rust, mildew and mildew stains.
- Choose quality components that are appropriate for the site of use. For example, for a bathroom it is necessary to use not only moisture-resistant gypsum board, but also galvanized metal parts.
- Accurately observe the step of fastening the profiles and drywall sheets to ensure a high load-bearing capacity of the frame.
- Reinforce the surface with fiberglass to avoid cracking.
- Leave drywall indoors for a few days before installation to adapt to temperature and humidity conditions.
- Carry out installation work at temperatures above +10 degrees and humidity below 70%. The same regime must be observed for the entire period of operation of the ceiling.
- GKL is a fragile material that can be damaged by sharp and bulky objects.
- When finishing the surface, take into account the thickness of the cladding layer so as not to burden the structure.
How to repair a plasterboard ceiling - watch the video:
Replacing the plasterboard structure on the ceiling is expensive. For this reason, many problems can be fixed cheaper and faster by repairing them. However, each defect is removed in a certain way, and in order to carry out the work correctly, you need to know many technological features, which we helped you figure out.
