ᐅ Increasing Ceiling Height – How Is It Done?

Hello everyone,

Some time ago, I inherited a house that I now want to renovate and rent out. The house is in relatively good condition, but there is one room upstairs that concerns me. By the way, it is an old half-timbered house. In the basement, the ceilings have already been raised by a few centimeters (inches) and covered with panels. However, as I mentioned, upstairs I fear that if I were to remove the wallpaper from the ceiling (because I believe the wallpaper is the only thing preventing the ceiling from collapsing), a mixture of clay and straw will fall down. Nonetheless, something needs to be done to the ceiling, and I would also like to raise it. But how and with what should I start?

To be absolutely sure, you should definitely consult an expert. In houses like these, the structural integrity can quickly be at risk when making modifications. If you’re already afraid to remove the wallpaper, that says a lot.

I would strongly advise against proceeding if you’re already unsure about whether it’s stable. Have it reviewed first by an architect or a structural engineer. Because if the ceiling collapses, you will have a serious problem.

Better have a company that specializes in this handle it. You can deduct the costs from your taxes, since if you rent out the property, all expenses can be considered costs that you can subtract from your income. This way, you can also be sure that the work is done properly.

I wouldn’t handle this yourself either, as it can quickly compromise the entire structural integrity of the house. If that happens, you can forget about renting it out for the time being. And that can become very expensive!

A friend of mine also had a problem with this; he tried to do it himself. But in the end, the house was condemned because it was at risk of collapsing. It became very expensive because he had to have a lot of work done to make it safe to enter again.