Ceiling Repair & Popcorn Ceiling Removal in Wilmington, DE

Ceilings are the hardest drywall to repair well. Every flaw shows under overhead light, and the work is done overhead. That's why most homeowners hire ceilings out even when they'd DIY a wall patch.

Cracks along the wall-ceiling corner

A crack that opens up every winter along the top of interior walls, especially on the top floor, is often truss uplift: roof trusses bow slightly upward as their top chords and bottom chords see different temperature and moisture. It's common in homes built with trusses (much of the 1980s-and-newer housing around Bear, Middletown and Hockessin) and usually isn't structural. Re-taping alone won't stop it. Contractors typically fasten the ceiling edge to blocking instead of the truss, or cover the corner with crown molding fastened only to the ceiling or only to the wall.

Sagging ceilings

Sagging between joists usually means too-thin board, wide framing spacing, too few fasteners, or water. It can also mean the weight of insulation blown in later. Sags are usually fixed by replacing the board or by adding fasteners or furring. Ask about the cause.

Popcorn (acoustic) ceilings

Spray-on acoustic texture was common from the 1950s into the 1980s. Material installed before the 1980s may contain asbestos. Have it tested by an accredited lab before anyone scrapes it. Testing is inexpensive, and removing it without testing can contaminate the whole house. If it tests positive, removal should be handled by a qualified, licensed asbestos abatement contractor (check current Delaware requirements); many homeowners choose to encapsulate or cover it with new 1/4" or 3/8" drywall instead.

If it tests negative, a pro will mist, scrape, then skim-coat and prime. Expect the ceiling to need some skim work; popcorn often hides rough taping underneath.