Sagging drywall ceiling joints on back patio

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I'm starting to get a lot of sagging drywall joints in my back patio ceiling - I noticed a little of this after first moving into the home 2 months ago, but it's seem to have gotten worse. During inspection, I asked if they could be due to leaking, but the inspector shrugged that idea off and thought no.

I started peeling away some of the tape / paint where the sagging is, and notice that if I push on the drywall even a foot or so away from the joints, it lifts back up to where it should be. I'm also seeing the initial nails are still there, but are rusted and really hope this isn't from a leak in the roof.

TLDR, questions:

1) How can I tell if this is sagging is due to slow water damage / leak? Looks like the joint nails are rusted

2) Would I be ok to reinforce with screws to lift up, then re-tape / plaster / paint?

3) Any other ideas?

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Comments (5)

PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
5 years ago
Open the drywall up and investigate further and see what the issue maybe it. It could be from lack of ventilation and that would cause excessive moisture build-up which will soften drywall or corrode the fasteners holding up the drywall causing drywall to pull away from the ceiling. It could be undersized ceiling joist which sag from its own weight over time, etc.

Call a local and licensed contractor to take a look, being this a drywall ceiling, it can be easily patched and painted.

Good luck
DavidR
5 years ago
Drywall? On a PATIO?
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Denita
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
^This - change the porch/patio ceiling to something more durable. Wood for example. Or something else that works with the humidity and rain and outdoor elements that the ceiling is exposed to over time. Stucco if you are in an area that uses stucco and your home is stucco. There are other materials. Drywall doesn't work well on an outside patio ceiling. Ask me how I learned this lesson.

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zmith
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I have a drywalled porch ceiling. 1968 house.

Something happened to cause the fasteners to fail; a roof leak or termite damage are the first things that come to mind, speaking from experience.

Have you tried screwing a new drywall screw along the joist? If the joists are badly damaged, it won't hold. Again, speaking from experience with hidden termite damage. I'm not saying your house has termite damage, tho.

ETA: I look at your pictures and it looks like a moisture issue as GN Builders said. Try screwing a new drywall screw near one of the nails to see if it will hold.
PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
5 years ago
Drywalled ceiling is not uncommon, sure there are better materials that can be used on porch area, like vinyl soffit, or like Denita indicated the use of T&G planking or finished grade plywood, etc but if there is a framing issue or lack of proper ventilation in the above space, you can have all sorts of issues.

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Sagging drywall ceiling joints on back patio

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GN Builders L.L.C

DavidR

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