All You Need To Know About Ceiling Repairs in Wichita Metro Area

The saying is to have a roof over your head while it's a ceiling in truth. There are many types within residential and commercial spaces. Depending on your home’s age and condition, you might have minor hairline cracks in your walls and ceiling caused by house settling, which is normal due to ground shifting a few years after building. That said, some types like beam ceilings don’t always take house settling too well and might need reinforcement. If you have cracks in your plaster or drywall, ceiling repair may take a day or two and includes sanding, taping and painting.

Ceiling repair in Wichita is very common in residential and commercial properties. While home and business owners would also benefit from regular maintenance services and inspection, they have too much on their plate, which we fully understand.

It’s not until they see big cracks, water stains or sags that they call their Wichita handyman for rescue. Some cases might not be safe to handle or investigate closely. We recommend calling certified and licensed experts, such as the expert ceiling repair professionals here at Mr. Handyman of Wichita. Our team carries over 20 years of experience and takes pride in delivering outstanding workmanship and customer service.

Types of Ceilings and Their Advantages

We refer to our ceilings as an overhead interior surface—an overhanging shelter. While not many people view it as a structural element, it’s still a finished surface that holds the roof structure or floor.

Let’s look at types, their advantages and how they are used in certain properties—both residential and commercial.

• Conventional: These are drywall finishes commonly found in homes. Drywall panels are made of gypsum board, which is calcium sulfate, often combined with additives like clay or cellulose. They are durable with an average thickness of 1/2 inch. They’re affordable and easy to install because they’re plain and flat, up to nine feet high.

• Suspended: This type is referred to as “dropped” because it hangs from a metal grid below an existing ceiling. It’s popular in many commercial buildings where business owners add fancy electrical fixtures to make that particular drop look aesthetically pleasing and inviting. Because their main purpose is to conceal messy electrical wiring and plumbing pipes, they are also known as t-bar* or acoustical. The suspended variant allows designers to be creative.

• Coffered: Coffered is more technical in an architectural sense and requires a team of handyman professionals. You recognize it by its indentations or hollows on the ceiling’s surface. Sometimes it’s designed to hide imperfections or create an illusion of height and also expresses some historical vibe. It’s one of the more expensive options that you will primarily find in museums, libraries, hotels and even expensive residential homes.

• Tray: Also called inverted or recessed, it’s similar to coffered, except it resembles a huge upside-down tray that’s set into the ceiling. For design purposes, it depends on how you decorate the room; you can place a focal point, i.e., a king-size bed or high-end couch directly below the tray to enhance its appearance.

• Coved: Coved is designed to eliminate the 90-degrees look, where wall meets ceiling. Unlike the standard crown molding application, it creates a more rounded and curved frame, giving the room a more elegant finish. Imagine dome-like designs in cathedrals, for example. But there are traditional and modern designs and may not look simple but are, in fact, very easy and fast to install. Our team at Mr. Handyman of Wichita is happy to guide you through the process.

• Barrel-vaulted: This is a form of vault created from a single ongoing archway, providing beautiful circular curves, making rooms appear more spacious and feel airier. It also allows more natural light into your home.

• Beam: Normally made from timber combined with other materials, it features exposed beams and joists, which give your home a natural and rustic look. Although it’s mostly used for structural support, they might strike some people as noisy or visually unappealing, which is why they’re sometimes covered up with drywall or tiles.

• Tiles: Tiles or panels are naturally light-weight and placed on aluminum grid. They’re the same as t-bar* and serve for acoustical and insulation purposes.

*Note: T-bar or grid allow handyman pros to easily remove panels and conduct repairs. You might have noticed them in schools and corporate offices with fluorescent light boxes and AC vents.

These are some of the essential types to give you an idea of increasing curve appeal or boosting home value.

Inevitable Signs You Need Wichita Ceiling Repair

More serious cracks than just a hairline? If you need help to find the exact cause of the damage, your team of handyman pros at Mr. Handyman of Wichita has the tools and expertise to inspect it for you. The cracks could be bad use of joint compound, but never rule out the possibility of water damage even if you see no water stains.

• Cracks and Openings: Check nearby windows and doors for cracks because frequent closing and opening make your foundations vulnerable. Settlement cracks for houses recently built or renovated are normal. But if they become more noticeable or deteriorate further, a Wichita handyman should handle it.

• Sagging ceiling floor (if no water damage): It could mean your ceiling is carrying your attic’s heavy insulation weight. You should never leave a sag unnoticed for too long as an unexpected collapse could cause fatalities. If you have drywall, our Wichita drywall repair service can easily fix that for you. We will most likely replace your existing one with a 5/8 inch whiteboard and add spacers that can handle your attic’s insulation weight.

• Peeling Paint: Excess moisture could cause this or improper paintwork. We recommend checking your ceiling’s condition underneath, as leaks are possible. It could be an attic ventilation issue that you need to address.

• Mold: Mold is another sign of moisture issue, which you can determine by its green, brown, orange or black color and musty, damp smell. Black mold is highly dangerous and a certified specialist should run remediation.

• Watermarks: More moisture problems. Water can do a lot of damage to your home’s entire structure, calling for expensive repairs. Check if your plumbing systems show signs of bursts; they could get worse if not taken care of immediately. But if your ceiling drips after heavy rain, you’ll need to locate that leak’s origin. Severe weather can cause roof collapse. There might be a hole or gaps in your roof that you will need to fix first. Afterward your local Wichita handyman can conduct professional ceiling repair.

• Cracking Sounds: If you hear frequent cracking and creaking sounds from your ceiling (and you don’t have people living above you), it could signify deteriorating plaster or weakened timber that a professional should investigate for you.

Wichita ceiling repair is best left to professionals because exposed insulation, plumbing and electrical wiring pose safety hazards to you and your family. An expert handyman can determine the severity of damage and inform you about the necessary steps for repairs.

Older homes are more likely equipped with plaster ceilings, although in some cases, they still serve as an aesthetic upgrade for some homeowners. Some do-it-yourselfers install drywall on existing plaster, which we do not recommend. When plaster starts to deteriorate, it needs to be removed.

Our expert Wichita handyman will carefully remove it and replace it with new quality drywall. If building frames and shims and applying screws into joists sound nerve-racking enough, you will benefit from our technicians' workmanship. We will safely lift and position your new drywall panel with a jack and deal with all that wiring and stringing as well, not to mention clean up our mess like nothing ever happened.

Frequently Asked Questions about Wichita Ceiling Repair

We have provided home and business owners with hundreds of Wichita ceiling repair services to ensure safe living spaces with quality drywall, wood and other materials. Ceilings still come with many other components, and we have answered some of your questions.

Is Ceiling Repair Suitable for DIY?

Unless you have experience fixing them in the past, we recommend leaving it to a professional, as it poses a higher risk of injury. Besides, it’s not always easy to determine the cause of damage, and you might end up covering a crack that actually indicates structural damage. But we do encourage home and business owners to take fast action by calling us and carefully describing their ceiling problems. Calling a professional will keep you on the safe side if you can't pinpoint the problem, whether it's a sag, mold or creaking sounds.

Is An Average Wichita Ceiling Repair Expensive?

This depends on the type and material you choose and how many hours of labor are required. At Mr. Handyman, scheduling is easy, and we provide upfront pricing with no overtime and hidden fees. Our work and expertise are backed by our done right guarantee, giving you the peace of mind that each step will lead you towards success.

What Cracks are Considered Serious?

If you experience cracks running across the ceiling and down the wall, it’s a sign of structural damage. Your home could be old or has suffered severe water damage that has seeped through your systems. It’s crucial that you contact foundational specialists to investigate this further.

Should I Remove Popcorn Ceiling?

While popular in the 60s and 70s, popcorn ceilings are highly frowned upon today, as they give off an old-fashioned vibe with underlying issues. They also reduce your home’s overall value because people connect it with Asbestos-related problems. Identify the exact texture used for your existing popcorn ceiling to be sure what your next steps will be. We recommend removal and fixing up your ceiling with durable drywall panels instead.

Does My Insurance Cover Ceiling Repair?

If the cause was sudden or accidental, homeowners’ insurance policies would mostly cover water damage to ceilings, walls, pipe bursts and other essential parts of your home. The two types of coverage to look at include dwelling and personal property. They cover home structure damage and personal belongings or assets within your home. Bear in mind that you might have to pay a deductible before you receive coverage.

When Should I Call An Expert?

Suppose you are not equipped with appropriate tools (i.e.g, dust mask, safety glasses, putty knives, drywall compound, etc.). In that case, we recommend you call an expert right away, so you can focus on work or personal time while we will take care of everything else. You’ll never know if it contains Asbestos, mold or other harmful chemicals. Plaster dust is caustic, and drywall dust can cause respiratory issues.

Do You Do Ceiling Fan Installation & Repair?

Certainly! They are perfect for air circulation and can help you regulate your heating and cooling systems. Whether you need us to remove, install or repair a ceiling fan, Mr. Handyman is your reliable, one-call solution.

Choose Your Local Wichita Handyman for Ceiling Repair Services!

Whether you are in Wichita or a nearby area such as Garden Plain, Augusta, or Andover, you can trust the team of handyman professionals at Mr. Handyman of the Wichita Metro Area to focus on quality customer service and workmanship.

Pick up the phone and get in touch with us today to book a convenient appointment time or chat with our friendly office staff about what we can do to make your Wichita home safer and more comfortable.