Expert: Dan Griffin - 9/25/2008

Question
QUESTION: Can you put beadboard or wood  directly onto a sheetrock kitchen ceiling that has had previous water damage?  (Leak has been repaired, and the old textured, painted ceiling is outdated.)

ANSWER: Dora,  I assme you are asking if there is anyhthing wrong with going over the top of drywall that had been wet.  IF it is completely dried out ther is no problem if you are fastening the new material through the drywall into the joists.  If the drywall was so wet that it lost its integrity I would be concerned about a glue only intallation.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The ceiling in our new home (previously a foreclosure-sitting empty for two years) HAS dried out.  The water damage is mainly affecting the area nearest the light/ceiling fan area.  My husband was initially intending to only cut out the drywall there: and replace, retexture, repaint.  He now is intending on screwing/nailing the beadboard/wood to the area. I know the joists/supports are fine and all the seams are intact on ceiling. I was concerned about whether the nails/screws would be enough to hold tight to the ceiling. (he is not a builder, he is an electrician, for goodness sake)

I am also worried about the space created between the textured ceiling, and what will now be wood on top of that. Will it not create space for termites, and/or other vermin? We are moving into the woods, deep woods, where there have already been termite activity. Please help a poor city girl being forced to move to country.

Answer
Dora, I would not put a wood/flammable product on ceilings by choice.  If the tape joints of the original drywall never failed, things didn't get very wet.  If it were mine, I would skim coat, texture, and paint.

It will be problematic having sheet goods make centers and provide adequate nailing.  This problem can be dealt with by careful measuring and probing, furring out the original ceiling, glue and staple install to the drywall, or some other compensating method.

 I don't understand your concern about the gap between texture and new paneling.  If you have/get/are prone to termites, they will follow the easiest source of celulose.  They love the paper on drywall and most types of paneling.  Termite issues need to dealt with by an professional exterminator.  The gap between texture and panel won't be on the termite menu for a long time, they will start much lower.