We recently had our house releveled. We knew that there would be cracks, etc that may come up after it was done. We noticed that our hall ceiling sheetrock has a sag or maybe it's a bulge where the sheets are joined. Will we have to have it all ripped out and redone or is there something else that can be done?

Sounds like they used sheetrock nails originally, and they loosened up when the house was leveled. If it looks in good condition, I would try to push it back up, and use sheetrock screws. Then patch an finish as usual. If it breaks up in the process it doesn't look right, then replace it. I usually try to repair first, then replace if necessary. Typically saves a few bucks.

If it is where the butt joints are, that being then ends of the sheetrock and not the sides it could just be they didn't feather the joint out far enough. Butt joints of sheetrock don't have any taper to them so there is a bulge at a butt joint. To make it less noticeable the drywall finisher will taper the joint out fairly wide to ease the transition between the sheetrock and the mud.

To test my theory, push up on the sheetrock at the joist above. If it pushes up the nails or screws are not holding it tight against the joist. If it doesn't move the sheetrock is tight against the joist and the problem is the joint isn't tapered enough. If it is loose you can add drywall screws to reattach it to the joist and then taper the mud out further to make the joints less noticeable.

Butt joints are more noticeable on ceilings than on walls because there isn't furniture and pictures to break up the plane of the ceiling and you also have shadows from the room lighting. This is one of the reasons builders like textured ceilings they disguise all kinds of sins on a ceiling. Typically they stagger the joints so you don't have 8' of butt joint all in a row. That and reducing the number of butt joints is why most professional rockers will hang sheet rock horizontally rather than vertically on a walls. It is also stronger that way, and by using 12' pieces they can eliminate a lot of vertical seams in typical rooms.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sparky,

I would like to know what year was your house built, to see if you may have plaster if this is the case it would be best to remove it as soon as you can, a hallway ceiling could weigh a few hundred pounds, if it is sheetrock it may be bellying cause there are no screws or nails in the feild. use a T frame of 2x4's try and push the section up. but if it's plaster take the plaster off the lath if you can, then remove lath cause there could be insulation above that will come down on you. make sure you wear a dust mask and eye protection.

www.frankawitz.net