Hello forum,
Our drywall ceiling was recently installed upstairs (under the pitched roof) and unfortunately, it now hangs unexpectedly low. It immediately felt oppressive and I noticed it also because I could reach it without jumping.
So I measured: 244cm (96 inches) from the top edge of the screed.
With the flooring and painter’s fleece added, it’s probably only 242cm (95 inches), which is a bit disappointing.
I checked the plans again and they state 250cm (98 inches). This matches the walls and roof beams (which I also measured). The ground floor fits perfectly as well (250cm/98 inches), even with the interior plaster on the ceiling.
So the ceiling hangs 6cm (2.4 inches) below the roof beams.
What else was installed in between? The boards themselves are only about 1.25cm (0.5 inches) thick, I believe. Is the counter-battening that thick? (That would be around 4.75cm (1.9 inches)).
Is this normal?
We’re just a bit disappointed because we expected 250cm (98 inches). A 6cm (2.4 inches) difference makes a noticeable impact, and we’re wondering why it was done like this.
There is insulation between the horizontal roof beams, meaning above the boards, but that should not matter.
Good luck
Our drywall ceiling was recently installed upstairs (under the pitched roof) and unfortunately, it now hangs unexpectedly low. It immediately felt oppressive and I noticed it also because I could reach it without jumping.
So I measured: 244cm (96 inches) from the top edge of the screed.
With the flooring and painter’s fleece added, it’s probably only 242cm (95 inches), which is a bit disappointing.
I checked the plans again and they state 250cm (98 inches). This matches the walls and roof beams (which I also measured). The ground floor fits perfectly as well (250cm/98 inches), even with the interior plaster on the ceiling.
So the ceiling hangs 6cm (2.4 inches) below the roof beams.
What else was installed in between? The boards themselves are only about 1.25cm (0.5 inches) thick, I believe. Is the counter-battening that thick? (That would be around 4.75cm (1.9 inches)).
Is this normal?
We’re just a bit disappointed because we expected 250cm (98 inches). A 6cm (2.4 inches) difference makes a noticeable impact, and we’re wondering why it was done like this.
There is insulation between the horizontal roof beams, meaning above the boards, but that should not matter.
Good luck
Would you say from the architect’s plan I attached that the clear ceiling height is 250cm (98 inches)? Or does that measurement refer to the 250cm (98 inches) up to the beams (which would be correct)? Unfortunately, it’s not entirely clear. You might assume it refers to the beams, but as a layperson, you tend to think it means the finished ceiling height.
Apparently, two counter battens were installed underneath to make it more stable than just one. Perhaps one would have been sufficient, but the drywall installer chose to use two.
However, the problems continue: the tiler has now installed the tiles up to the ceiling (100% level according to the spirit level), and it has become apparent that the ceiling is uneven. Over a tile length of about 90cm (35 inches), there is a deviation of approximately 1-2cm (0.4-0.8 inches). Normally, this wouldn’t be noticeable, but now the increasing gap between the ceiling and the tile is clearly visible.
Are such sloppy workmanship issues common? What can be done? Can the ceiling be corrected, or will the painter have to compensate later with filler work (which would further reduce the height of the ceiling :-/)?
However, the problems continue: the tiler has now installed the tiles up to the ceiling (100% level according to the spirit level), and it has become apparent that the ceiling is uneven. Over a tile length of about 90cm (35 inches), there is a deviation of approximately 1-2cm (0.4-0.8 inches). Normally, this wouldn’t be noticeable, but now the increasing gap between the ceiling and the tile is clearly visible.
Are such sloppy workmanship issues common? What can be done? Can the ceiling be corrected, or will the painter have to compensate later with filler work (which would further reduce the height of the ceiling :-/)?
As everywhere, there are certain tolerances that you have to accept. I would personally say that 1-2cm (0.4-0.8 inches) over 90cm (35 inches) might exceed what is reasonable, but you should ask a professional about that.
I would probably be annoyed too, not least because nowadays, thanks to appropriate tools (lasers) and more dimensionally stable materials, it should generally be possible to install a suspended ceiling accurately.
Nevertheless, you should consider whether you could live with a temporary solution like the (decorative) moldings suggested by Nordlys. That can look quite good on its own, saves you from having to fill the joint with acrylic or similar material, and in the end, you have to realize that even a “standard-compliant” execution will never be as perfect as some mechanical engineers imagine on construction sites ;-)
I would probably suggest to the drywall installer to either correct this or install appropriate moldings at their own cost. You won’t be able to fix this with filler anyway...
I would probably be annoyed too, not least because nowadays, thanks to appropriate tools (lasers) and more dimensionally stable materials, it should generally be possible to install a suspended ceiling accurately.
Nevertheless, you should consider whether you could live with a temporary solution like the (decorative) moldings suggested by Nordlys. That can look quite good on its own, saves you from having to fill the joint with acrylic or similar material, and in the end, you have to realize that even a “standard-compliant” execution will never be as perfect as some mechanical engineers imagine on construction sites ;-)
I would probably suggest to the drywall installer to either correct this or install appropriate moldings at their own cost. You won’t be able to fix this with filler anyway...