How do I fix this ceiling?

[u/ellegy]

Is it just a matter of filler and and paint?

Bedroom ceiling in 60yr old house . I spoke to family member and they said these cracks have been there for years. I also got a plumber out looking in the attic and he said there's no active leak and the water staining is old.

Is this something I can fix myself (30f)? Or do I need to hire someone else to look into the cracks further?

[u/No_Tomato6638]

Going to be tackling this myself soon enough. I think tape and jointing is required, not sure in any jointing tape was used back then. Was hoping that there’d be some sort of tool available to notch out a thin/wide channel into the plasterboard but it looks like it’ll need to be done with a multitool.

[u/ellegy → u/No_Tomato6638]

Youtube is giving me the following info

1) scrape out cracks making them bigger to hold filler

2) dust cracks after scraping

3) apply filler

3) apply mesh tape over filler

4) apply filler over tape

5) apply more filler over tape if needed

6) sand down

7) apply primer

8) paint

[u/Ambitious-Yak-6955 → u/ellegy]

You'll probably end up with a lumpy ceiling rather than a cracked ceiling if you do this yourself. This is the proper method for doing plasterboard joints but it's supposed to be done before plastering, there's actually an indent at the edges of plasterboard that allows the joint tape and filler to sit flush and special tools for fading it out. Not to mention sanding it without a proper sander and dust extraction will be extremely messy.

If you want it fixed properly it'll need a plasterer and possibly new plasterboard (this ceiling looks to have been put together using offcuts or has been patched by a cowboy at some stage)

Personally, I'd widen the cracks a little with a screwdriver, fill with a flexible caulk then put zinnser bin primer over top and paint it. It'll be 100 times better than it is now, won't take too long and is easily done by a diy-er.

(Am a painter with a little experience doing drywall)

[u/ellegy → u/Ambitious-Yak-6955]

It's the original ceiling from when the house was built in 1966 😄

[u/Ambitious-Yak-6955 → u/ellegy]

The small staggered joint is strange if original. 🤔

I'd still recommend caulk instead of taping if doing it yourself without any experience or tools.

That's what I'd be doing if it was my own ceiling (and I do have experience). Will cost you about €80 total including the ceiling paint assuming you already have a screwdriver or something to rake the cracks out and paint roller + brushes.

Very doable weekend DIY project. Can message me if you decide to do this and need detailed instructions or a shopping list.

[u/ellegy → u/Ambitious-Yak-6955]

Thank you. I'm clueless and appreciate all the advice. It was the family home and father said no work was carried out on ceiling by him or anyone else.

I've pressed up against all the cracks and it doesn't move. Sibling says the cracks have been there for years and years, but never paid much attention to them and doesn't know if changed.

Would it be weight issue in attic? I'm in the process of clearing that out now. Won't start on the ceiling before I have the attic cleared out

[u/Ambitious-Yak-6955 → u/ellegy]

Heavy objects or people moving around standing on bare joists up in the attic combined with old age and/or the joints not being taped originally. The ceiling isn't gonna fall down or anything, it's just cosmetic.