Smooth Ceiling Problem

Hometown

A homeowner called me to look at the smooth ceilings on a home I built this year. Many of the drywall joints are showing especially in the evenings when the light hits it just right. What has caused this and how do I fix it? Thanks for your help.

Rx8

showing as in humped out? or tape showing, or not enough paint... try to be a little more specific as to how the joints are showing if you can. also how long ago abouts was this job completed?

DecksEtc

Hardly a question a General Contractor should be asking...

Here's your answer though:

It wasn't done right.

Static Design

I have had problems with joints over a door or window when cold weather hits, no ceilings unless it wasn't done right.

Tim0282

Good thing you build decks...

Muddauber

OK, so if the lumber warps on a deck that you build then it was'nt done right?

MUDBUCKET

Was the ceiling skim coated before sanding and painting? If not you may be seeing the differance in the sanded mud and sanded paper of the drywall .
If it was skimmed then you just maybe seeing the seams humped or hallowness when the light shines across them.
I would suggest reskimming -sanding and repainting with a low sheen paint.

DecksEtc

Don't quite understand what you mean?

My point was that I doubt the OP is really a GC - if he was he should know what could cause the problem and what should be done to rectify the problem.

And for the record, I would come here asking why lumber, as you say, "warps" - decks are my profession - I know the answer.

Brocktologist

And this is why drywall is SUPPOSED to be textured!

ASSuming the joints are in good shape do you think he might get away with respraying with something like Builder Solution and repainting?

bwalley

There are a couple of reason drywall is textured, part of it because no one knows how to frame the right way, hang drywall the right way, or finish drywall the right way, or paint the right way, so the crapwork gets covered up with texture.

Rx8

Since we haven't heard what the problem was exactly, i would have both sides of the joint floated out with a 12'' knife, obviously sand (by hand not pole) with a light and put a nice prime/paint on it. This will generally fix it as long as its not a temperature, settling, or structrual problem wich will re-occur. Without more specifics its hard to identify what the actual problem is.

Tim0282

Checked out our website, DecksEtc. Nice site and nice decks!

Tim0282

Jeepers, what got under your saddle?

Brocktologist

Stick with A/C since you obviously know nothing about drywall.
If you did know even a little you'd know mudd and paper will absorb the primer and paint differently, therefore you need to texture or skim coat.
Later DH!

Brocktologist

Looks like some fun projects. Good work...

Sir Mixalot

Sounds like you need to get out of Plant City dude.

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-Paul

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Melbourne, Fl Painting Contractor | Melbourne, Fl Drywall Contractor

bwalley

I work in Tampa mostly, have been in construction for over 25 years.

Guys will buy a screw gun, a level (if your lucky) and a pair snip's and they are a metal stud framer.

Guys will buy a screw gun tape measure and knife and they are a drywall hanger.

They will buy some Ames finishing tools and now they are a finisher.

Problem is when each one of them screws up, they expect the next craft to fix it, by the time it gets to the painter, it usually is just a CF and can't be fixed.

I do high end work and expect it to be done right.

Sir Mixalot

Sounds like the lowest bidders are getting the jobs your on. Beleive it or not there are still professionals out there. I know I wouldn't go on A/C contractor message board and say "no one knows how to do A/C work the right way"

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-Paul

PeckDrywallandPainting.com
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Melbourne, Fl Painting Contractor | Melbourne, Fl Drywall Contractor

bwalley

I guess I should have been more clear on who I said does not know how to do drywall.

Wal Mark does good work, they are now a General Contractor and I try to avoid using my competition as a sub contractor.

BTW Many people in the A/C business don't know what they are doing and there are hacks that prematurely condemn units so they can sell the client a new system.

Recently I gave a second opinion on a system, the unit was less than 3.5 years old and the installing company was trying to sell the cleint a new system, even though the old one could have be warrantied and the client would have only had a labor bill for about $350, but they ended up buying a new system for $5,400 from them (Because they have always used them in the past) and the equipment cost was about $1,400.

WarnerConstInc.

I hate textured ceilings, looks cheap. Only way I roll is smooth, yeah it takes longer, you need some more skill and patience to do it, you need some long handeled big wide knives, and preferably the Porter cable sander. Hell you might as well hang blue board and veneer plaster it.