Re Lining a Ceiling without Re Lining Walls

amandap11, Jan 29, 7:25pm
Hi Guys, we are starting to renovate our first house and the ceilings are horrible! they are the type thats made of largeish panels with a strip in between, they are all cracked now and we've been told we can't plaster over as it will just crack again. Will we have to reline the entire room or can we just replace the ceiling and cornice? any help is so appreciated thanks!

tillsbury, Jan 29, 7:39pm
Easy, just Gib the ceilings. If you're taking the carpets out you can remove the existing lining (which will be a ludicrously filthy exercise). If, on the other hand, they're ply or hardboard panels then you can simply Gib over them as long as you find the joists and check they can handle it. Put new cornice on to fix the join, or stop square.

d.snell, Jan 29, 7:41pm
From what you say, it seems you might have pinex panels. These have a baton joining them. If so, carefully remove the architrave and the batons and either put gibboard over top and replace architrave or if you want, you can pull down old pinex and then gib, but remember, the old pinex will be far more forgiving than just a gib plastered ceiling as far as bumps and sags etc. are concerned.

hammer23, Jan 29, 9:07pm
Use 13mm gib bd,it hides a lot of up bumps and hollows.
Follow the gib fixing guide and all will be well.

stevo2, Jan 29, 10:31pm
x1
Dont gib over existing pinex.

rak1, Jan 30, 2:55am
I have replaced heaps of ceilings over the years and two things I have found on just about every one. Firstly, the sheets sizes are different to what they once were, so new blocking may be need to give you something to screw the new sheets to. Secondly, run a string line or straight edge over the ceiling to see how flat the ceiling is. If it is too bad, then it may need re leveling.

annies3, Jan 30, 2:41pm
OP what age is your house we found that above a ceiling which was lined with soft board there was a beautiful rimu tongue and grooved lining, so we removed all the soft board and sanded and finished the old rimu, we like it very much.

tillsbury, Jan 30, 4:12pm
Yes, there might possibly be a nice ceiling behind a pinex one. But if there isn't there's no issue. Just make sure you have correctly identified where the joists are and run the gib across, ordering the right length sheets to go right across the room. And use the 41mm screws, of course.

stevo2, Jan 30, 5:18pm
Gib needs to be GLUED to the battens or joists. DONT glue to pinex.
If the substrate is not solid ie. timber or metal, the gib WILL move and pop the gib compound on all of the screws heads and the joints will often crack as well. Have seen it a few times in my 40 years of building.
When Pinex became unpopular many people gibbed straight over it to save time and the terrible mess if they had loose insulation (insulfluff)
Its like putting a sheet of foam rubber between the gib and framing and not expecting movement!

gabbysnana, Jan 30, 10:06pm
builder put 13mm noiseline over my pinex. chipped off the plastic strip and ran the gib the direction of the ceilng batterns. our job was to get into the celing and remove any insulfluff that may be between the battens and pinex. there was only two places where insulation installers had dragged there arses or feet and bowed the pinex.soundproofing and nicer ceilings. didnt cost much.

golfaholic2, Jan 31, 10:33pm
Only a cowboy would run the Gib the same direction as the battens .
Also , 41mm screws may not be long enough depending on the thickness of the pinex .

stevo2, Aug 7, 6:40am
Only a cowboy would gib and then gib stop over a flexible lining such as Pinex anyway. Its like repairing a puncture by using fiberglass