1730 House how to make Ceiling Level
We had a fire last year and had to remove our plaster ceilings. We’re left with beams that have all kinds of shims etc. that were used to level the lath. Every drywaller has had a different idea of how ceiling should be prepped. A few have said they didn’t want the job.
None of the joists are structural. I just checked the floor/ceiling above and it is pretty level and flat.
The floor of the room is definitely not level so measuring up from the floor (one suggestion) wouldn’t work. The beams are definitely not level as they are all different sizes and have been affected by settling. We are installing floor to (almost ceiling) pantry cabinets on one wall.
Would it be easier to just remove the old joists (we would reuse them wood for a furniture project) and add new ones - measuring down from ceiling/upstairs floor to the lowest point of the beams?
The picture with door shows the one beam that has 2.25 change in level.
Thanks for your input.
drywall ceiling old-house
edited yesterday
isherwood
48.4k456122
asked yesterday
Mark BeaMark Bea
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add a comment |
We had a fire last year and had to remove our plaster ceilings. We’re left with beams that have all kinds of shims etc. that were used to level the lath. Every drywaller has had a different idea of how ceiling should be prepped. A few have said they didn’t want the job.
None of the joists are structural. I just checked the floor/ceiling above and it is pretty level and flat.
The floor of the room is definitely not level so measuring up from the floor (one suggestion) wouldn’t work. The beams are definitely not level as they are all different sizes and have been affected by settling. We are installing floor to (almost ceiling) pantry cabinets on one wall.
Would it be easier to just remove the old joists (we would reuse them wood for a furniture project) and add new ones - measuring down from ceiling/upstairs floor to the lowest point of the beams?
The picture with door shows the one beam that has 2.25 change in level.
Thanks for your input.
drywall ceiling old-house
edited yesterday
isherwood
48.4k456122
asked yesterday
Mark BeaMark Bea
161
New contributor
Mark Bea is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
What do you mean by "none of the joists are structural"? They all seem to be holding up a floor.
– isherwood
yesterday
The joists were put up for to hold lath and plaster and “level” the ceiling. The beams are supporting the floor.
– Mark Bea
yesterday
Hello, and welcome to Home Improvement. I think that means that those aren't "joists". Would you clarify, perhaps with some arrows on your pictures to show which you're talking about?
– Daniel Griscom
yesterday
add a comment |
We had a fire last year and had to remove our plaster ceilings. We’re left with beams that have all kinds of shims etc. that were used to level the lath. Every drywaller has had a different idea of how ceiling should be prepped. A few have said they didn’t want the job.
None of the joists are structural. I just checked the floor/ceiling above and it is pretty level and flat.
The floor of the room is definitely not level so measuring up from the floor (one suggestion) wouldn’t work. The beams are definitely not level as they are all different sizes and have been affected by settling. We are installing floor to (almost ceiling) pantry cabinets on one wall.
Would it be easier to just remove the old joists (we would reuse them wood for a furniture project) and add new ones - measuring down from ceiling/upstairs floor to the lowest point of the beams?
The picture with door shows the one beam that has 2.25 change in level.
Thanks for your input.
drywall ceiling old-house
edited yesterday
isherwood
48.4k456122
asked yesterday
Mark BeaMark Bea
161
New contributor
Mark Bea is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
We had a fire last year and had to remove our plaster ceilings. We’re left with beams that have all kinds of shims etc. that were used to level the lath. Every drywaller has had a different idea of how ceiling should be prepped. A few have said they didn’t want the job.
None of the joists are structural. I just checked the floor/ceiling above and it is pretty level and flat.
The floor of the room is definitely not level so measuring up from the floor (one suggestion) wouldn’t work. The beams are definitely not level as they are all different sizes and have been affected by settling. We are installing floor to (almost ceiling) pantry cabinets on one wall.
Would it be easier to just remove the old joists (we would reuse them wood for a furniture project) and add new ones - measuring down from ceiling/upstairs floor to the lowest point of the beams?
The picture with door shows the one beam that has 2.25 change in level.
Thanks for your input.
drywall ceiling old-house
drywall ceiling old-house
edited yesterday
isherwood
48.4k456122
asked yesterday
Mark BeaMark Bea
161
New contributor
Mark Bea is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited yesterday
isherwood
48.4k456122
asked yesterday
Mark BeaMark Bea
161
New contributor
Mark Bea is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited yesterday
isherwood
48.4k456122
edited yesterday
isherwood
48.4k456122
edited yesterday
isherwood
48.4k456122
48.4k456122
asked yesterday
Mark BeaMark Bea
161
New contributor
Mark Bea is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked yesterday
Mark BeaMark Bea
161
asked yesterday
Mark BeaMark Bea
161
161
New contributor
Mark Bea is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Mark Bea is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Mark Bea is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
What do you mean by "none of the joists are structural"? They all seem to be holding up a floor.
– isherwood
yesterday
The joists were put up for to hold lath and plaster and “level” the ceiling. The beams are supporting the floor.
– Mark Bea
yesterday
Hello, and welcome to Home Improvement. I think that means that those aren't "joists". Would you clarify, perhaps with some arrows on your pictures to show which you're talking about?
– Daniel Griscom
yesterday
add a comment |
1
What do you mean by "none of the joists are structural"? They all seem to be holding up a floor.
– isherwood
yesterday
The joists were put up for to hold lath and plaster and “level” the ceiling. The beams are supporting the floor.
– Mark Bea
yesterday
Hello, and welcome to Home Improvement. I think that means that those aren't "joists". Would you clarify, perhaps with some arrows on your pictures to show which you're talking about?
– Daniel Griscom
yesterday
1
1
What do you mean by "none of the joists are structural"? They all seem to be holding up a floor.
– isherwood
yesterday
What do you mean by "none of the joists are structural"? They all seem to be holding up a floor.
– isherwood
yesterday
The joists were put up for to hold lath and plaster and “level” the ceiling. The beams are supporting the floor.
– Mark Bea
yesterday
The joists were put up for to hold lath and plaster and “level” the ceiling. The beams are supporting the floor.
– Mark Bea
yesterday
Hello, and welcome to Home Improvement. I think that means that those aren't "joists". Would you clarify, perhaps with some arrows on your pictures to show which you're talking about?
– Daniel Griscom
yesterday
Hello, and welcome to Home Improvement. I think that means that those aren't "joists". Would you clarify, perhaps with some arrows on your pictures to show which you're talking about?
– Daniel Griscom
yesterday
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
1st off, make sure all structural elements are sound before closing. And it's a good idea to clean up the patchwork up there. It's actually very easy to level. Use a lazer level adjusted to your lowest point. Sister any joists to that line. This image shows how with T-bar drop ceilings but the concept is exactly the same.
This one shows how to do it using steel stud.
answered yesterday
Joe FalaJoe Fala
949111
New contributor
Joe Fala is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I like the look of old beams exposed if such is possible. The character you get from them outshines anything new.
What you could do is run a line from wall to wall to find the lowest beam and them from there sister 2x6 (probably even 2x4) against the line. This would then make the ceiling the same height for the drywallers and could forgo having to shim.
answered yesterday
Micah MontoyaMicah Montoya
54116
We’re keeping the beams exposed in another room. The beams here are only in part of the room - in a previous remodel 100 years ago - the back porch was closed and made part of the kitchen.
– Mark Bea
yesterday
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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oldest
votes
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votes
1st off, make sure all structural elements are sound before closing. And it's a good idea to clean up the patchwork up there. It's actually very easy to level. Use a lazer level adjusted to your lowest point. Sister any joists to that line. This image shows how with T-bar drop ceilings but the concept is exactly the same.
This one shows how to do it using steel stud.
answered yesterday
Joe FalaJoe Fala
949111
New contributor
Joe Fala is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
1st off, make sure all structural elements are sound before closing. And it's a good idea to clean up the patchwork up there. It's actually very easy to level. Use a lazer level adjusted to your lowest point. Sister any joists to that line. This image shows how with T-bar drop ceilings but the concept is exactly the same.
This one shows how to do it using steel stud.
answered yesterday
Joe FalaJoe Fala
949111
New contributor
Joe Fala is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
1st off, make sure all structural elements are sound before closing. And it's a good idea to clean up the patchwork up there. It's actually very easy to level. Use a lazer level adjusted to your lowest point. Sister any joists to that line. This image shows how with T-bar drop ceilings but the concept is exactly the same.
This one shows how to do it using steel stud.
answered yesterday
Joe FalaJoe Fala
949111
New contributor
Joe Fala is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1st off, make sure all structural elements are sound before closing. And it's a good idea to clean up the patchwork up there. It's actually very easy to level. Use a lazer level adjusted to your lowest point. Sister any joists to that line. This image shows how with T-bar drop ceilings but the concept is exactly the same.
This one shows how to do it using steel stud.
answered yesterday
Joe FalaJoe Fala
949111
New contributor
Joe Fala is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited yesterday
answered yesterday
Joe FalaJoe Fala
949111
New contributor
Joe Fala is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered yesterday
Joe FalaJoe Fala
949111
answered yesterday
Joe FalaJoe Fala
949111
949111
New contributor
Joe Fala is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
Joe Fala is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
add a comment |
I like the look of old beams exposed if such is possible. The character you get from them outshines anything new.
What you could do is run a line from wall to wall to find the lowest beam and them from there sister 2x6 (probably even 2x4) against the line. This would then make the ceiling the same height for the drywallers and could forgo having to shim.
answered yesterday
Micah MontoyaMicah Montoya
54116
We’re keeping the beams exposed in another room. The beams here are only in part of the room - in a previous remodel 100 years ago - the back porch was closed and made part of the kitchen.
– Mark Bea
yesterday
add a comment |
I like the look of old beams exposed if such is possible. The character you get from them outshines anything new.
What you could do is run a line from wall to wall to find the lowest beam and them from there sister 2x6 (probably even 2x4) against the line. This would then make the ceiling the same height for the drywallers and could forgo having to shim.
answered yesterday
Micah MontoyaMicah Montoya
54116
We’re keeping the beams exposed in another room. The beams here are only in part of the room - in a previous remodel 100 years ago - the back porch was closed and made part of the kitchen.
– Mark Bea
yesterday
add a comment |
I like the look of old beams exposed if such is possible. The character you get from them outshines anything new.
What you could do is run a line from wall to wall to find the lowest beam and them from there sister 2x6 (probably even 2x4) against the line. This would then make the ceiling the same height for the drywallers and could forgo having to shim.
answered yesterday
Micah MontoyaMicah Montoya
54116
I like the look of old beams exposed if such is possible. The character you get from them outshines anything new.
What you could do is run a line from wall to wall to find the lowest beam and them from there sister 2x6 (probably even 2x4) against the line. This would then make the ceiling the same height for the drywallers and could forgo having to shim.
answered yesterday
Micah MontoyaMicah Montoya
54116
answered yesterday
Micah MontoyaMicah Montoya
54116
answered yesterday
Micah MontoyaMicah Montoya
54116
answered yesterday
Micah MontoyaMicah Montoya
54116
54116
We’re keeping the beams exposed in another room. The beams here are only in part of the room - in a previous remodel 100 years ago - the back porch was closed and made part of the kitchen.
– Mark Bea
yesterday
add a comment |
We’re keeping the beams exposed in another room. The beams here are only in part of the room - in a previous remodel 100 years ago - the back porch was closed and made part of the kitchen.
– Mark Bea
yesterday
We’re keeping the beams exposed in another room. The beams here are only in part of the room - in a previous remodel 100 years ago - the back porch was closed and made part of the kitchen.
– Mark Bea
yesterday
We’re keeping the beams exposed in another room. The beams here are only in part of the room - in a previous remodel 100 years ago - the back porch was closed and made part of the kitchen.
– Mark Bea
yesterday
add a comment |
Mark Bea is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Mark Bea is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Mark Bea is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Mark Bea is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
What do you mean by "none of the joists are structural"? They all seem to be holding up a floor.
– isherwood
yesterday
The joists were put up for to hold lath and plaster and “level” the ceiling. The beams are supporting the floor.
– Mark Bea
yesterday
Hello, and welcome to Home Improvement. I think that means that those aren't "joists". Would you clarify, perhaps with some arrows on your pictures to show which you're talking about?
– Daniel Griscom
yesterday