Northern suburbs

Ceiling Repairs in Stirling

Stirling and the suburbs around it were built mostly in the 1960s and 1970s, and that era means plaster-set ceilings: plasterglass sheets glued and strapped to timber joists, finished with cove or decorative cornice. Fifty years on, the glue has dried out and these ceilings are sagging, cracking and in some cases coming down. We re-fix and restore them, and replace them when that is the better call.

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Finished plasterboard ceiling with downlights, a scaffold tower still standing in the room
Local knowledge

Ceilings in Stirling homes

Stirling itself is a relatively small suburb wrapped around the civic centre and Stirling station, with Karrinyup Road and the freeway on its edges. The housing is classic post-war Perth: single-storey brick-and-tile with terrazzo or jarrah floors, plasterglass ceilings in every room and cornice that ranges from plain cove to quite ornate stepped profiles in the front rooms.

Those plasterglass ceilings were made by casting plaster over a bed of sisal or hessian fibre, fixing the sheets to the joists with plaster-soaked hessian straps and dabs of adhesive, then setting the joins. It was a good system, but the straps and glue were only ever going to last so long in a Perth roof space. Most of the ceilings we see here are original and most are showing their age.

There is some newer stock too. Infill development has replaced older homes with two-unit and three-unit sites, and those have plasterboard ceilings. Along the main roads there are small apartment blocks from the 1980s onward. But the character of Stirling is still the 1960s and 1970s house, and that is where most of our work is.

What we get called out for

Common ceiling problems in Stirling

Plasterglass ceilings sagging between joists

The hessian straps holding the ceiling to the joists have rotted or the adhesive has let go, and the sheet drops. You see it as a gentle wave across the ceiling, often worse in the middle of the room. Re-fixing from above with new strapping and fixings at every joist brings the ceiling back up without replacing it.

Cracks running parallel to the walls

When a plasterglass ceiling drops, it hinges along the lines where it is still held, usually near the walls, and cracks there. These cracks are a symptom of the sag rather than a problem on their own, and they close up once the ceiling is re-fixed.

Cornice pulling away from the ceiling

As the ceiling drops, a gap opens between the cornice and the ceiling line, sometimes with the cornice cracking at the corners. Once the ceiling is back in place we re-set the cornice join, and where cornice is broken we replace it with a matching profile.

Old leaks and soft plaster

Tile roofs of this age leak at ridge caps and valleys, and plasterglass that has been wet goes soft and powdery. A ceiling that has been soaked more than once may not be worth re-fixing. We tell you honestly when replacement with plasterboard is the better option.

With Stirling council offices, the station precinct and Osborne Park light industry close by, we also repair ceilings in small offices, showrooms and strata units in the area, working around opening hours where needed.

Ceiling services we bring to Stirling

Most requested here

Sagging Ceiling Repair

Dropped plaster ceilings re-fixed and pulled back flat

 Most requested here

Ceiling Re-strapping

Sagging ceilings pulled back to the joists and strapped from the roof space

 Most requested here

Cornice & Decorative Plaster Repair

Cornice, ceiling roses and ornate plaster repaired and matched

 Most requested here

Ceiling Replacement

Old or ruined ceilings taken down and replaced with new plasterboard
Water DamagePlasterglass CeilingsPlasterboard CeilingsCracks & CosmeticEmergency & CollapseCommercial
Quote request

Get a quote in Stirling

Tell us what the ceiling is doing and where you are. We will call you back to talk it through and arrange a time to look at it.

Prefer to talk? Call 0485 084 943

FAQ

Stirling ceiling questions

Can a sagging plasterglass ceiling in Stirling be saved, or does it have to be replaced?
Most can be saved. If the plaster is dry and sound and the sag is from failed straps and glue, re-fixing from the roof space with new fixings at every joist restores it. Replacement is for ceilings that have been wet, are crumbling or have so many old repairs that a new ceiling is the cleaner job.
Will re-fixing the ceiling fix the cracks too?
Usually yes. The cracks along the walls are the ceiling hinging as it drops. Once it is pulled back up and fixed, those cracks close and are set over as part of the job, leaving the ceiling ready for paint.
Our front room has a decorative cornice. Can you match it if part is damaged?
Yes. Many of the stepped and patterned cornice profiles used in 1960s Stirling homes are still available or can be matched closely, and short damaged lengths can be repaired in place. We identify the profile on the first visit and tell you how we will match it.
How much mess does re-fixing a ceiling from the roof space make?
Less than you would expect. Most of the work is done from above, so the room below is protected with sheeting and the dust is mainly from re-setting the cracks and cornice line. We clean up each day and leave the room ready for painting.

Nearby areas we also cover

BalcattaScarboroughMorleySubiaco
All Perth areas →

Ceiling trouble in Stirling?

Describe it over the phone and we will tell you whether it needs looking at this week or can wait. Perth-wide, Monday to Friday.

Call 0485 084 943 Get a Quote
Call 0485 084 943 Get a Quote