Ultimate Guide: What to Know About a Sagging Ceiling?
All ceilings in Perth WA will end up sagging, some sooner than others. If left unrepaired they will continue getting worse until they completely collapse. It is extremely important to spot the early signs of your ceiling sagging to prevent this disastrous outcome.
We at Advanced Ceiling Restorations are here to help.
The causes of Sagging ceilings in Perth are as follows,
Plasterboard ceilings (Gyprock)
The sun cooks the roof space over time hardening the glue and causing it to separate from the plasterboard sheet, the few screws holding it in place then pop through the sheet and your ceiling is on its way to total collapse! The lifespan of these ceilings from new is approximately 10-25 years before maintenance is required to keep them safe, secure and looking good.
Plasterglass ceilings
The sun cooks the roof space over time disintegrating the plaster and fibreglass (sometimes called horse hair or coconut fibre) straps or grouts. There are no other fixings like screws or nails holding these older type ceilings so when the straps are gone total collapse is imminent! The lifespan of these ceilings from new is approximately 40-50 years before maintenance is required to keep them safe, secure and looking good.
Water damage
Most Water damaged ceilings that are sagging will require replacement, if it is storm damaged then it is the only time that your insurance will cover the repairs. We suggest you call them immediately to prevent total collapse. We do not do partial or total ceiling replacements at Advanced Ceiling Restorations, preferring to focus all of our attention and skills on Restoring ceilings sagging from old age as mentioned above which is not covered by insurance.
Sign of a Sagging Ceiling
Take a good look at your Ceilings, do you see any of the following?
LARGE OR SMALL CRACKS? Even hairline cracks are not good and are sure signs your ceiling is moving.
LINES SHOWING along your ceilings causing a “pillowing” type effect are certain signs that the glue has failed and your ceiling requires urgent attention, leaving this saying to yourself “it’s been like that for ages” is not a good strategy as people also say “it suddenly collapsed!” You never know the day this will happen unfortunately so it’s best to be safe than sorry.
SCREW POPS, these are easy to spot and once you look properly you will see if there’s one there will be plenty more. This is also a clear sign that your ceiling is starting to collapse!, if your glue is failing the minimal amount of screws fitted are all that’s left holding the ceiling up, once these completely pop through the sheet it’s almost all over for that ceiling and urgent attention is required.
CORNICE’S COMING AWAY FROM THE WALLS. Cornice’s cracking or bowing are also clear signs that your ceilings are collapsing, check feature brick or rendered walls especially in garages and alfresco areas where it is very common and can be seen quite easily. In these areas the cornices are not attached to the wall so as not to damage the look when first built, but they are a very common weak spot for outdoor type ceilings.
HOW TO PREVENT A SAGGING CEILING
Once you have noticed any signs of your ceilings sagging as mentioned above the best way to prevent your ceiling from sagging further and totally collapsing is to Contact Advanced Ceiling Restorations for an obligation free inspection and quote
If your ceilings look ok but are over 5-7 years old it’s worth getting them checked every 12 months to avoid any future problems as all ceilings sag in time.
DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME
Repairing a sagging ceiling is not recommended for the handyman or DIY home owner. Often repair attempts by others fail and look unsightly leaving them more difficult and costly for us the experts to rectify.
When contracting Advanced Ceiling Restorations to inspect and repair your sagging ceilings you are safe in the knowledge that you are getting the best experienced tradesman to rectify the problem with a 5 year warranty on all workmanship.
ARE SAGGING CEILINGS DANGEROUS?
Yes absolutely, sagging ceilings are not attached to the joists properly and pose a severe risk of collapsing causing serious damage to your home including damaged walls, furniture, light fittings, carpet, artwork and even you and your family.
INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER THIS, so obviously this should be avoided at all costs. The cost of maintaining your ceiling before this catastrophic event is miniscule in comparison not to mention the pain and stress caused by your house looking like a war zone, and having to be sorted out immediately at your considerate expense. Contact us at Advanced Ceiling Restorations for a free inspection and quote, we pride ourselves on a speedy service to ensure your total safety and usually can attend within 24 hours, in most cases the same day.
WHO TO CALL FOR SAGGING CEILING REPAIRS
If you notice any screw pops, lines or cracks or cornice’s coming away from the walls your ceilings are starting to sag and you will need to act sooner rather than later. Contact us at Advanced Ceiling Restorations by phone 0419852578 or email [email protected] alternatively you can use the contact form on our website ceilingrepairperth.net.au. We will respond promptly and be at your house within no time to provide an on the spot written quote so you can be reassured things will progress quickly to make your ceilings safe and secure with a warranty.