Hey everyone! We recently bought a lovely old house built in 1938, and I've started to notice something that's a bit concerning. In our living room, the ceiling has a slight sag—it's not very dramatic, but definitely not as flat as the ceilings in the other rooms. I haven't noticed any cracks or major structural issues, at least not from my amateur perspective. Just wondering if this is a common issue with older homes like mine and whether I should be worried about it. Should I call in a structural engineer, or is this just one of those quirky things that come with older homes? I'd love to hear any similar experiences or advice you might have!
2 Answers
Given that your house is from 1938, it’s likely the ceiling is plaster and lath. If the upstairs floor looks fine, then the joists are probably okay. Sometimes, the plaster can simply pull away from the joists over time. It could be a beauty of a repair, especially since you’ve got a textured ceiling. Just know that if you repair it, there might be some mismatching, but if it’s a flat ceiling, the repair can be more seamless. Hiring a pro might be your best bet!
It sounds like it could be an issue with the joists if the sag is more concentrated in one area. A big sag usually means joists might be undersized. On the other hand, if it’s just wavy, that could indicate a failure with the substrate. How does the floor above it look? That could give you more clues!
The floor above seems level, but I'm not sure about the framing. It’s wood, I think. Thanks for your input!
It's definitely textured, and the sag is about a 5x3 foot rectangle. I guess I'll have to plan for some repairs in the near future!