I own a late 1800s colonial home and I am in the process of installing a new ceiling in the pantry. My issue is that I have removed the old plaster ceiling as well as the wooden slats and now I am wondering how I am to install a new sheetrock ceiling that will be both secure and flat! I had originally planned to simply remove a smaller damaged area of plaster and make a patch (the roof used to leak and caused the plaster to come down), however, I became overly aggressive as the demo man. Please help!
Signed, Robert
A: Dear Robert,
I am tempted to write a song about your efforts and title it “What comes down, must go up.” Seriously, installing strapping properly is the secret to a secure and flat ceiling. Strapping is typically a 1x 3 pine board that comes in various lengths. The reason you use strapping is to protect against movement with the particular framing you are attaching to.
Here are some tips that will allow you to properly install your strapping.
1. Start your first row along a wall and run your strapping perpendicular to the framing. Be sure to measure the spacing between your strapping so that it runs 16 inches on center. Once you mark it out, snap a chalk line from one end to the other to insure a straight run. Snap all of your lines before installing the rest of your strapping. Be sure to cut your pieces to a length that lands in the center of the framing member you are attaching to.
2. The reason for attaching with screws is that you can adjust your strapping to remove any waves, thus giving you a flat ceiling. To insure a flat finish, nail a two-inch thick block to each end of the strapping and run a taunt string. Because your strapping is 1/2 inch thick, you will want to have a 1 1/2 inch thick block to slide between the string and strapping to insure a straight line.
3. As I wrote earlier, you will want to cut each piece to a length that will land in the center of the framing you are attaching to. To avoid cracking and splitting, I recommend drilling pilot holes before inserting screws.
4. To prevent cupping and improve holding strength, insert two screws side by side at each attachment point.
Note: The most common mistake people make when installing strapping is that they strap enough area to install one row of sheet rock. It is important to strap the entire area before starting any sheetrocking. A great strapping job can give a home of any age a perfectly flat ceiling. Good luck!
Kaile Warren of Windham is CEO/Founder of the national handyman franchise Rent-A-Husband. Kaile is also a national home improvement expert for the CBS Early Show, HGTV and Parade Magazine and appears locally on WCSH’s 207. When not on the road or working he spends his time teaching his newly adopted white shepherd, Maintenance, how-to ... Send your questions for Kaile to editor@themaineswitch.com.