How To Repair A Tile Ceiling

Over the last couple of years I've had at least a dozen calls concerning Celotex ceiling tiles. The reasons for these calls can range from the ceiling having a wet spot from a leak, tiles being damaged to the point that they are sagging, or the customer wanting to alter the looks of their ceiling.

And so you may be wondering, what is Celotex ceiling tiles? The pic to the right shows some Celotex tiles (CT). CT was a production that was used in the past to embrace ceilings. If I had to judge I would say it was something that was used up until the early to mid 80's (based on past piece of work experience) when canvass stone became the staple for all wall and ceiling coverings. It usually comes in 12″ 10 12″ tiles that fit together much similar the new laminate flooring does. These tiles were stapled over some blazon of bankroll (plywood strips or i×ii″ furring strips) that were laid out on 12″ centers perpendicular to the ceiling joists. So if you wait at the photo, wherever in that location is a seam there will usually exist a furring strip used to attach the tile.

CT'southward had some advantages. They were relatively cheap and easy to find every bit virtually building supply stores carried them. They were piece of cake and fast to install, making them more than feasible than to install sheet stone. And with the several choices in color, one could cull anything between a plain ceiling white to something as crazy as an off white with grey or gold accent lines (oops, distressing I hit the sarcasm button on my laptop). One other advantage, which at the time was not a big deal, was the fact that the tiles did add together some insulation. Maybe not a lot, but they did aid.

Now for the disadvantages. As is usually the case with things that are cheap and easy to install, they did pose a few bug when information technology came to maintenance. One trouble is if they ever go wet, say from a leaky roof, then there is very little chance to remedy the state of affairs. You tin prime number and repaint to have care of the stain, only if CT'due south get also wet then the chances are expert they will start to sag and even fall if the material breaks down. Besides, if CT's are not stapled sufficiently then that could cause them to sag. If you lot do develop a sag, they are nigh incommunicable to face nail without dissentious the finished side.

So, lets say you lot have a trouble with your tiles and you want to fix them. Near people assume that the best thing is sheet rock. And if you're a sheet stone prince/ princess living in a sheet stone palace, then yeah, that is the all-time set (Again, I striking that sarcasm button. Just to be articulate I am not a hater of sheet stone. My house is a sail rock palace. Although, I do wish I had more contrasting materials in my home other than deadening quondam canvass stone.) Merely there is another option out there that, and given the age of your habitation, may make more sense.

Aye, dewdrop board. Its pretty easy to find at most home centers. It does cost more than than sail rock, but lets look at the advantages. Its more durable, it will last forever if installed correctly, and it will add a little something that well-nigh homes in your neighborhood are lacking: character.

The great matter about going over the CT'due south (Remember that thing before that I said about a picayune added insulation. Now a days that'southward a pretty large bargain) is that the bead board is pretty easy to install. You only snug it up to the previous board and nail, at an angle, through the tongue of the lath you're installing. I use a 16 Ga terminate nailer, with 2″ nails, and information technology's nailed at every seam of the CT'due south (every 12″). Thats all there is to it. Sure, information technology will not exist perfect. At that place will exist the occasional minor gap in the grooves that will need some caulk attention. And there volition be a few knots that will need some wood putty. Only you know, its like a lot of things. Some may run across it as being imperfect. I similar to retrieve of it equally beingness rich in character, showing a certain patina that comes from years of use.