What material for this project?

[Salty]

I'm wondering what is available for this small project.
I have a 4 ft long stretch of ceiling across a doorway that is right in the center of the house. They apparently did not put in enough nailers and there is virtually no support for the drywall across much of the span. There is only 1 truss going through the area and the seam has cracked over time. I tried last night to put some screws into the areas where there is support but there is a 2 ft section at one end that has nowhere to fasten it.
So, I have decided to put up a piece of white primed wood or maybe some of the white PVC board and trim the sides with some cove or quarter round. There are ending walls at both ends and they are about 5" wide. But I need to go about 3/4" wider to properly catch the section that has no nailer.
I'm hoping it won't be too noticable after it is painted the same ceiling white as the rest of the ceiling.
Should I look for door casing that may be 5" wide? What else is available that is 3/4" x 5"?

My other 2 options were 1: to go into the attic and install nailers and 2: cut out a section from below and install nailers. Since there is a lot of recently blown in fiberglass up there neither of those options were very appealing.

TIA

Salty

[Daryl]

I think any of the two ways you mentioned are the way to go. If you want to try something else, how about cutting three or four small holes and working a piece of wood over the spot to act as a bridge and something to screw to?

[DaveS]

If it were me, I'd go up in the attic and put in some 3/4" plywood screwed to nailers attached to the trusses, across that area.

I just saw them do this very thing on "Ask This Old House".

If you have attic access, I'd say that is the best option... anything else would look a little conspicuous.

If you were able to just make it look like an opening in the wall - nail a 2x4 up in between those two walls, then sheet rock it on all three sides... that would look ok too.

[Wood_workur]

I'd go up there and put in the nailers. It'd be easier than doing it from below, and it'd be the proper fix.

But if you are itchy from fiberglass then I'd find someone who isn't.

[JoeyGee]

I agree with putting in the nailers. It's easy to say when you're not the one doing it .

[Salty]

Thanks all.
I know the 'correct way' would be to get up in the attic, but you also don't know how much work it is getting up there.
First there is at least a full hour getting all the stuff out of the pantry where the access is located. Then I woul have to be sure and cover everything to keep the fiberglass dust under control. Then I'd have to push all of the fill away from the area leading to the problem spot and put down some boards to walk on.
Then reverse all of that to put things back. Then I would still have to patch the crack!
I think I am willing to live with the filler board, even if it looks a bit out of place.
Then also there is the fact that it may be moving because of the expansion and contraction of the house and I may have to patch the crack again later.
And that stippled ceiling is so hard to match.

[DaveS]

ok... so, if you aren't up for getting into the attic (no pun intended), then I stick with my previous answer - try to make it look an opening in the wall.

Take 2 2x4's doubled up and toe-nail them into the framing on both sides of the wall. Shoot one 4" screw up into the existing rafter that you said runs in between those two walls.

Drywall all three sides of the 2x4s and put on some corner bead,then mud, mud, mud, prime, paint.

[Salty]

ok... so, if you aren't up for getting into the attic (no pun intended), then I stick with my previous answer - try to make it look an opening in the wall.

Take 2 2x4's doubled up and toe-nail them into the framing on both sides of the wall. Shoot one 4" screw up into the existing rafter that you said runs in between those two walls.

Drywall all three sides of the 2x4s and put on some corner bead,then mud, mud, mud, prime, paint.

Yea, that is a good way to go. I'll consider it. However, that won't completely solve the problem. You see, the section that has no support is at the edge of the wall and it still would not be supported unless I ran some trim along the edge where it meets the ceiling. That's whay I was going to use a 5" wide filler and trim the sides with 3/4" for support past the wall edges. If the seam were in the midde it would simplify things greatly.

[DaveS]

I was thinking about this some more... trying to figure out a way to make this look less conspicuous.

What if you trimmed the whole door out with some nice wood trim?

Rather than making it look like a repair, make it look like a decoration.

A really nice wood arch there would look pretty cool.

So, in my mind, I am seeing a nice gentle oak or maple arch at the top of that door - 5 inches wide, 5-6 inches tall on the ends, 2-3 inches in the middle. Trim both sides of the door, and perhaps even the inside surfaces, with the same material, maybe 1x4's for the sides, floor to ceiling.



If the trim in the house painted, you could even make it out of that type of trim - but, I am a naked wood zealot, so I'd put stained/clear wood there anyway...

[crokett]

I would do what Dave suggested. Trim out the entire doorway if you do not want to go into the attic. A piece of wood attached to the ceiling that is wider than the wall is going to look out of place and unfinished.

[Hellrazor]

Me three.. it was going to be my suggestions the minute I read the post. I fixed a problem like this for my dad but I also spent some quality time wrestling insulation.

[Salty]

Yea well, if you guy want to send me the wood, paint and or other finishes I'll do it that way. I have lots of time but this place is turning into a money pit and I am really beginning to hold back on the nice stuff and going for 'well enough'!
I picked up a piece of 3/4" x 5" x 8 ft board at the blue box. For about $12 and a few dollars for a piece of 3/4" cove. Both are already white. I'll put it up tomorrow and post some pics. Then you people can pick it apart.
The better half ticked me off about the whole project so this is my quick and easy solution and I won't even talk to her about it.
Sorry, I getting grouchy!

[DaveS]

Sorry you are having a rough time over this one.

We were just trying to help.

Sorry if it sounded like we were picking you apart.

I have a big pile of red oak here at my house in Pittsburgh, if you can find a way to get it to Akron, you are welcome to it (sincerely).

[Salty]

So sorry all for the rant.
I know you are all trying to help and I should not sound like I don't appreciate it.
Been a rough week at work and money is getting tighter so I need to take a breath.
I've done a lot of good, productive and worthwhile things to this place but now with the value going down through no fault of ours it seems less inviting to continue with more projects.
There I go again with the negitiveness....sorry again...I'll quit!

[ivwshane]

Are you doing projects for your house because you want to increase it's value or are you doing it because it makes you feel good and it feels nice to live in a nice place?

Hopefully it's the latter and if it is then who cares what the value of your house is worth, do the upgrades for yourself not for the market


My homes value also took a huge dump (I think everyones has), but that's not stopping me from improving it and making it a better place for me or my family to live.