Gaps between drywall and ceiling

4 years ago

I'm working on my mother in law's house. The former contractors (scammers) put up drywall but didn't finish it, and it's not flush to the ceiling. There's anywhere from a 1/4" to a 1" gap (maybe more) all along the seam.

Am I right in my theory that I should use something like latex caulk to fill this in, to allow for any flex in the house? Or is it standard to just use drywall tape and mud it up?

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Comments (7)

stellarceline
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
That is really annoying. It should connect it completely to the ceiling drywall and be taped and mudded to the ceiling. Caulk will look awful.

Could you do a simple small crown molding?
Jason, zone 7A, near Greensboro NC
Original Author
4 years ago
They did incredibly bad work, @stellarceline :-( I couldn't tell you how many times they put up drywall somewhere and left a 3-4" gap between the next sheet!

Don't even get me started, though... they built 3 closets, and in each one they cut a 24" opening for the door! I'm going to have to go through and reframe every one of them myself >:-(

But anyway.

We talked about molding, but the ceiling is only 8' and I think it will make the room look shorter. It's going to take forever to go through and create corners all around the house, but I think she would be a lot happier with it in the end. I have the tape and the mud, it's just finding the time...
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PRO
PPF.
4 years ago
Pictures?

Take the drywall down and do it correctly.
Jason, zone 7A, near Greensboro NC
Original Author
4 years ago
@PPF., I haven't been over there to take pictures yet, but I'm leaning towards that exact thing... rip it down and start over.

I hate to do it because the drywall has already been mudded in the middle, and we're talking about 55 sheets of drywall to be taken down and adjusted so it's going to take forever! But long term, I know that's the right solution.

The MIL is leaning towards just installing cheap molding to hide it. She's been couch surfing for MONTHS and is understandably desperate to get back in her house, so I get it. I think it's the wrong choice, but at the end of the day it's her house so she has the final decision.
Alan Strassberg
4 years ago
If you decide to go the crown molding route (would be my choice) this video shows an easy way to do it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1MIi6v34_o
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
4 years ago
No need to remove it. Drywall the 1" areas; mud and tape.
cat_ky
4 years ago
If you end up with the moulding, just paint it to match the walls, and it shouldnt make the ceilings look lower.. If you paint it to match the trim, then it very well could do that. Its too bad, that she has paid so much money and still doesnt have it decent. Its very nice you are doing all this for her.