What Causes a Sagging Ceiling, and How It Gets Fixed

A sagging ceiling is usually caused by water or by weight. Water from a roof leak, plumbing or an AC drain line soaks the drywall until it bows. Weight from insulation, on drywall that's too thin for the framing, makes it droop between the framing members over time. Either way, the cause gets fixed first, then the drywall is re-secured or replaced.

Water damage

A sag in one spot, often with a brown stain, usually means water is collecting on top of the drywall. In Florida, a clogged AC drain line or overflowing drain pan in the attic is a common cause, along with roof and plumbing leaks. Wet drywall loses its strength quickly.

If a ceiling is bulging with water, keep people and pets out from under it, move what you can, put a bucket underneath and shut off the water source. A water-filled ceiling can come down without warning.

Weight and thin drywall

When ceiling drywall droops in soft waves between the framing, called pillowing, the drywall is usually too thin for how far apart the framing is. Half-inch drywall on framing spaced 24 inches apart can sag under heavy insulation, especially in humid weather. Ceilings are best hung with 5/8-inch drywall or a sag-resistant ceiling board.

Loose fasteners

Nail pops, and drywall that pulls away from the framing along a line, mean the fasteners have let go. The drywall can often be screwed back up tight before it sags further.

How a sagging ceiling is fixed

• Light sag from loose fasteners: the drywall is pressed back into place, screwed to the framing, and the screws and seams are finished, textured and painted.
• Water-soaked or badly sagging drywall: after the leak is fixed and everything is dry, the damaged drywall is cut out and replaced, then finished, textured and painted to match.

See whether ceiling cracks are a sign of a bigger problem and holes in the ceiling and what causes them.

Sagging ceiling repair in Orlando

New Ceilings repairs and replaces sagging and water-damaged ceilings across Orlando and Central Florida, and matches the texture and paint. Every job starts with a free written quote. See drywall and ceiling repair.